Monday, January 18 is the day to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King. Dr. King is recognized all over the world for his contribution to racial equality through the civil rights movement in the United States. He was a strong proponent of non-violent resistance as a means of ending racial segregation. January 15, 1929, […]
Personal Growth
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 […]
My Mother is Me
Increasingly, I find my mother is me. As I grow older I am becoming more and more like my mother. My husband tells me that I look like her especially since my hair grew longer in the spring after the pandemic shutdown of hair salons. It curls in the same places as her hair curled. […]
Pandemic Malaise
Has pandemic malaise hit you? It’s Day 83 of COVID-19 isolation for my husband and me. That’s almost 12 weeks without social contacts except for social media and virtual conversations on zoom! Readers — this post was written before the horror of news videos showing George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police. I’m […]
Mentality of Scarcity
For many, living through this pandemic has created a mentality of scarcity. It began in early March when toilet paper flew off the shelves as did bleach and disinfectant wipes. Next came a rush on flour and yeast as everyone began to bake bread, and/or cinnamon buns while isolated at home. Recently, fear that meat […]
Joy of Slow Living — A Blank Calendar
Since March 13, my husband and I have experienced what some call ‘slow living’. Thanks to Public Health Canada’s advice to stay at home to avoid the threat of contracting the COVID-19 virus, our retirement schedules are clear of activities and obligations. There’s a blank calendar. Everything is cancelled or closed. My gym and pool are […]
International Women’s Day — How are we doing?
It’s International Women’s Day — a day to celebrate female achievements and reflect on women’s rights. It’s also a day to be a proud feminist. At age 74, I’ve witnessed many achievements for women. Leading feminists such as Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem used their notoriety to launch the fight for equality and women’s rights. […]
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 […]
Nurture Creativity As You Grow Older
It was surprising to read that creativity studies in adults conducted by psychologists at the University of California Berkley showed that creativity tends to decline with age. Their research found that older adults showed fewer creative thought processes than children. https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/114/30/7892.full.pdf This study supports the idea that older people aren’t creative. Society generally regards elders as […]
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, […]
