Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love. This is the perfect time to show love and affection to those people with whom we have important relationships. Valentine’s Day is associated with cards, flowers, chocolates, and romantic celebrations. Big gestures of love often occur on Valentine’s Day. One might receive a gift of expensive jewelry, […]
Happiness in Retirement
Intentions for 2021
During the first week of 2021, I’ve been setting intentions for 2021. I reflected on 2020 and evaluated all that happened in a memorable year. I stopped making resolutions and setting rigid goals many years ago, but I like to start the year with some thoughts about how I want this next year of my […]
Pandemic is the Word of the Year
It’s no surprise that editorial staff at Merriam-Webster chose pandemic as the 2020 word of the year. The word was based on usage of the word as well as statistics including the number and frequency of online searches. Merriam-Webster’s definition of a pandemic is as follows: ‘an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide […]
The Pandemic and Life Edits
The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed me to do some life edits. I’m thinking deeply about my life as a 75-year-old woman and what changes to make as I learn to live with restrictions Just as I edit clothes as the seasons change, doing a life edit as seasons of life change is appropriate. Some experts recommend […]
What I’ve Learned About Myself During the Pandemic
There’s been oodles of time to learn about myself during the pandemic. Hours spent isolating at home and isolating at our cottage gave time for self-reflection. It’s more than 160 days since Canada issued the ‘stay-at-home’ recommendation/order that essentially put the population — except for essential workers — under house arrest. Initially, it was a […]
Celebrating Ten Years of Retirement
At the end of June 2020, I celebrated ten years of retirement! It’s been a time for retrospection and also for looking ahead. I remember so well walking out of my office. I was relieved to be done with achieving and striving to fulfill the multitude of expectations that comprise the work of a leader […]
Mistakes and Bad Decisions — Understanding the Difference
All of us make mistakes; all of us also make bad decisions. Do we understand the difference? If I take a wrong turn when driving or miss an exit, it’s a mistake. When I decide to stay up late watching multi episodes of a Netflix show and then have difficulty getting up in time for […]
Conventional Wisdom vs Facts
What’s the difference between conventional wisdom and fact? Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish one from the other. Conventional Wisdom Defined Conventional wisdom is defined as a generally accepted theory or belief; an accepted truth that is undisputed. It’s sometimes called commonplace knowledge. Conventional wisdom helps us to see patterns and make decisions based on information […]
Understanding the Science of Happiness
In the past few days, almost everyone who I’ve met wished me a ‘Happy New Year’. These wishes reinforce the truism that people generally seek happiness for themselves and for others. Bookstores, bloggers, and podcasts offer countless self-help ideas to improve happiness. We’re urged to drink more water, get enough sleep, practise mindfulness, exercise regularly, […]
Why September is My Favourite Month of the Year
September is my favourite month of the year. An eon ago, when I went to school, September meant new shoes, new clothes and new school supplies. At university, September meant a return to studying as well as meeting new people and enjoying new experiences. In my career, September always brought a surge of energy — […]