It’s springtime and here comes motherhood on our pond. Regular readers of my blog know that I’ve been practising the art of noticing as a means of stimulating curiosity and creativity. Paying attention to the music of nature such as mating birdsongs and wind in the trees calms my head that is often filled with useless […]
Lifestyle
World Laughter Day
Tomorrow, Sunday May 2, is World Laughter Day. Readers may wonder why I acknowledge something as frivolous as a day for laughter. Given the pandemic isolation that most of us experienced, for more than fourteen months, a good dose of laughter is overdue. More than ever, the world needs a good belly laugh as much […]
Stop Thinking About ‘Before’ Covid Times
Sometimes referred to as BC or Before Covid, I work hard to stop thinking about those ‘before’ times. I’m not sure that it’s useful to spend time longing for the past. It’s now almost 14 months since the pandemic hit Europe and North America. So much is different. Massive changes everywhere have affected us socially, […]
What Bothers Me About the Third Wave in Ontario
I’ve been tracking what bothers me since the third wave of COVID hit Ontario and other parts of Canada. In Ontario, it is causing more lockdowns and more shutdowns. Schools are closed again. People are both fearful and angry. Public Health advice is augmented with provinces invoking Emergency Measures Acts to issue ‘stay-at-home’ orders along […]
Buyer’s Remorse After a Dishwasher Replacement
I have a case of buyer’s remorse after an unnecessary dishwasher replacement. Last week we had a new dishwasher installed. It works well. It looks good. But, it also replaces a 14-year-old model that was working just fine. Buying a new dishwasher was unnecessary. Whyever would we replace a dishwasher that worked? Why would I […]
Why I Carry a Notebook
Sometimes I’m asked why I carry a notebook in my purse or my backpack. I always keep the notebook with me when I’m out and about. While on my daily walk, I may stop abruptly to capture a thought, idea, or memory. It’s not uncommon for people to take a second look at me when […]
Adopting A Positive Winter MIndset
Winter 2021 challenged me to adopt a positive winter mindset. In my part of Ontario, the Premier issued a ‘Stay-at-Home’ order in early January. It was finally lifted last week but vaccines for people my age are not available yet. It will likely be another 4 – 6 weeks before my turn comes up. To […]
Where’s My Lipstick Gone?
Frequently, I ask myself ‘where’s my lipstick gone?’ I have an ambivalence about lipstick these days. I remind myself that I no longer need to reach for lipstick whenever I leave the house because I wear a mask. With a mask, the lipstick gets smeared and the mask gets stained. Nobody sees my lips. The […]
Memories of Lunar New Year Celebrations
I have many memories of Lunar New Year celebrations as the Lunar New Year was a huge event in my former home of Markham Ontario. Tomorrow, February 11, marks the 2021 Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year). Based on the cycle of the moon, Lunar New Year falls on different dates each […]
The ‘Bleak’ Mid-Winter
As the pandemic rages with vicious variants identified, I’m focusing on positive thoughts for getting through the 2021 ‘bleak’ mid-winter. Although Christmas is over, the words of the famous poem by Christina Rossetti, adapted into a Christmas carol, ring through my thoughts. In the bleak midwinter Frosty wind made moan Earth stood hard as iron […]