A couple of weeks ago, I read two posts providing very distinct insights on generational differences. This led me to consider how the assumptions we make can get in the way of the intergenerational cooperation that could benefit us all. The first post was from Pete Springer who shared a story of a lovely friendship with an older lady he met while volunteering in a … Continue reading Fostering Intergenerational Cooperation
And just like that, it’s July! Reaching the halfway point of 2024 also means it’s the start of Plastic Free July. If you’re considering making some changes to reduce your footprint, you might be surprised to learn that sustainable living can make your life better in many ways. Plastic Free July started in Australia in 2011. It has since grown into a global movement that … Continue reading How Sustainable Living Makes Life Better
On Saturday night, I saw Keith Urban in concert. One of my favourites of his songs is Wasted Time. It’s a song that reminisces about the lost days of youth and days spent just hanging out with friends. When I hear that song, I’m taken back to my teenage days. I have vivid memories of lazy days by the pool, at the beach, or just … Continue reading In Praise of Wasted Time
As I was thinking about my dad this Father’s Day weekend, I recalled something he often said when I was growing up. “Kindness costs nothing.” It’s a simple phrase—yet a phrase that makes you wonder why kindness appears to be such a rare commodity these days. One of the nicest compliments I’ve received in the weeks leading up to my retirement is “Michelle is one … Continue reading Sprinkling a Little Kindness Into Our World
Last week, I had a chance to celebrate my upcoming retirement with work friends and colleagues. As I look back on my career, I’ve been thinking a lot about the value of work friendships. I’ve worked in a lot of roles with many different people over the years. When I look back, the most memorable accomplishments were with teams I felt a strong social connection … Continue reading The Value of Work Friendships
Do you spend your life rushing from one task to another? Do you struggle to say no and end up exhausted from taking on too may commitments? Do you spend your life trying to win the approval of others? If you said yes to any of these, there’s a good chance you’re an overachiever. In last week’s post, Done is Better Than Perfect, I … Continue reading Breaking the Cycle of Overachievement
“Practice makes perfect.” You probably heard that expression hundreds of times growing up. It sounds like an admirable goal, but the pressure to be perfect creates stress and anxiety, with little payback. Today, I challenge you to say no to perfectionism and embrace a new expression: “Done is better than perfect!” My Journey Toward Imperfection Let me tell you a little secret: I am a … Continue reading Done is Better Than Perfect
Your health. There’s nothing more important, but health misinformation is everywhere these days. Do you know how to protect yourself? In a 2022 poll, close to three-quarters of American adults reported they had been exposed to inaccurate medical and health information. That’s a shocking statistic, but not surprising in the world we live in. The poll is two years old, but I suspect if it … Continue reading Protect Yourself Against Health Misinformation
The calendar says spring officially arrived in the Northern Hemisphere on March 19 but, in typical Canadian fashion, it has only really started to feel like spring in the last week. I love spring. Seeing things come back to life after a long winter is a reminder of the cycle of life and the resilience of nature. A few days ago, SeekerFive asked for hacks … Continue reading A Simple Spring Interlude
For many reasons, I’ve been thinking a lot about values lately. More and more, it feels like my personal values are in conflict with characteristics society looks up to. I suppose I’ve been thinking about this because the world keeps putting reminders in front of me. It started earlier this month during a weekend retreat. My reflections after returning home prompted me to write … Continue reading Are You Feeding the Right Wolf?
Happy Earth Day! How will you celebrate our wonderful planet today? One of the best things you can do is take some time to reconnect with the Earth. Read on for five ways to do just that. It won’t take a lot of time, but it will do you, and the planet, good. It’s no secret that our Earth is in crisis. Extreme weather events … Continue reading 5 Ways to Reconnect with the Earth
On Friday, I went for a reflexology treatment for the first time. I first learned about this natural healing art when a friend and colleague certified as a Reflexologist and opened her own practice after she retired from her primary career. If you’ve never tried reflexology, read on to learn about its origins, health benefits, and what to expect at a visit to a reflexologist. … Continue reading The Healing Benefits of Reflexology
Good morning! As I shared in last Monday’s post, I took some time this past weekend to fully unplug and recharge. It was refreshing! I don’t have a full post today, but wanted to drop in to share a quote that I wrote down during one of the videos on my weekend retreat. If only we could live two lives: the first in which to … Continue reading Mistakes! I’ve Made a Few!
In our fast-paced world, taking the time to unplug and recharge is not only good for our mental health, it can also improve our productivity and focus. Read on for signs that it might be time to take a break, and for some ideas on ways to get away from it all…even if only for a few minutes. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve … Continue reading Signs It’s Time to Unplug and Recharge
The 2024 World Happiness Report results are in. Once again, the tiny nordic countries of Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Norway all rank in the top 10. These countries are clearly doing something right. What’s their secret? And what can we learn from the nordic countries about happiness? It’s fascinating to me to see these small countries top the World Happiness Report rankings year after … Continue reading What Can We Learn From Nordic Countries About Happiness?
Over the weekend, I attended a talk by Jeremy Nobel, author of Project UnLonely. Dr. Nobel discussed why we need to be concerned about the increase in loneliness and disconnection we are seeing in our world today. He also offered some possible solutions to the loneliness crisis. Being Alone vs. Being Lonely Dr. Nobel started his talk by showing us a picture similar to the … Continue reading Do We Have a Loneliness Crisis?
Yesterday on my personal blog, I wrote about an earworm that popped into my head as I was shopping for a green dress to wear to an event on St. Patrick’s Day. Writing that post reminded me of all the ways music has enriched my life. And scientists agree that music is good for us—offering a long list of mental and physical health benefits. I’m … Continue reading Why Music is Good For Us
Why are many humans on an endless quest for greener grass? Rather than enjoying the here and now, we convince ourselves that retirement, a different job, a bigger house, or a new relationship, will be the key to our happiness. But is the grass really greener? And even if it is, will the sight of that lush green grass satisfy us, or will we continue … Continue reading The Endless Quest for Greener Grass
Yesterday, I shared on my personal blog that I’m retiring at the end of June. After working full time for over 40 years, I’m excited to get started on my next chapter. In the back of my mind, though, is a small seed of concern about being made to feel irrelevant thanks to the negative stereotypes of older adults that I see in the world … Continue reading It’s Time to End Negative Stereotypes of Older Adults
Last week, at a meeting about a writing project I’m involved in, someone said, “Only people with a growth mindset will want to read this.” This made me think about how a growth mindset is a key determinant of success in life. Read on to learn how someone with a fixed mindset can take steps toward adopting a growth mindset. The Difference Between a Fixed … Continue reading How to Develop a Growth Mindset
