Last week, I heard of some new research about Ikigai, the Japanese concept that loosely translates to your life purpose or reason to get out of bed in the morning. I’ve long been a believer in Ikigai, but the research confirms it can not only add years to your life, but also life to your years! Read on to learn how Ikigai can help you … Continue reading Ikigai Can Add Years to Your Life – And Life to Your Years!
Last week, my younger daughter left on an extended work trip, leaving us with no kids at home for the first time in almost 24 years. This prompted me to do some reading and thinking about empty nest syndrome. As I usually do in these situations, I made a list of practical ways to cope with what can be a challenging time for many parents. … Continue reading Coping With Empty Nest Syndrome
Do you consider yourself a minimalist? My focus on decluttering and sustainability might lead some to call me a minimalist. I’m not a fan of labels, but I prefer the term essentialist. If you’re not familiar with essentialism, read on to learn about its core principles, and how they can help you get more out of life. I heard the term essentialism for the first … Continue reading How Essentialism Can Help You Get More Out of Life
It’s official. I’m suffering from the winter blahs, the doldrums, or perhaps it’s just the post-holiday letdown that plagues many people this time of year. If you’re feeling the same way, I hope you’ll enjoy my list of 8 remedies for the winter blahs. I said to my daughter the other day that I wasn’t sure what was wrong with me. I was feeling very … Continue reading 8 Remedies for the Winter Blahs
You’ve likely heard the term FOMO recently. If you haven’t, it stands for Fear of Missing Out. You may also be familiar with FOMO’s cousin, YOLO—You Only Live Once. But FOMO and YOLO have a younger and brighter cousin that you may not be aware of—JOMO. Read on to learn how embracing the Joy of Missing Out can restore a sense of calm and balance … Continue reading Say Good-Bye to FOMO and Hello to JOMO!
Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe it’s 2024. Are you a new year’s resolution person, or is today just another day for you? Regardless of how you feel about resolutions, opening up a new calendar at the start of the year provides a blank page and a new opportunity. Are you ready to write your best chapter in 2024? Let’s get started! Let’s be … Continue reading A Blank Page – Write Your Best Chapter in 2024!
Merry Christmas! I didn’t write a full post for today but wanted to drop in to share a simple message for the day. This is our Christmas tree. You won’t find a tree like this on the pages of a magazine but it’s a tree full of precious memories. It inspired me to write a short poem about what really matters—at Christmas time and all … Continue reading Memories of a Mismatched Christmas Tree
Joy. It’s a simple word, and one we hear often. But what does it really mean to be joyful? Is joy the same as happiness? And how do we bring more joy into our lives? Many people spend their lives on a continuous quest for happiness, but is that the right goal? In their book Love People, Use Things, The Minimalists Joshua Fields Millburn and … Continue reading Choosing Joy Over Happiness
With so much conflict in our world these days, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. How do we shut out the noise and find that feeling of peace and tranquillity that feels so elusive? Understanding what’s behind all the turmoil is a good place to start. Continue reading Restoring Peace and Tranquility in Our Lives
Is charitable giving in your plan for the holidays? Many organizations would welcome a gift of your time, talent or treasure. And research shows that helping others is good for you. Read on to learn about the helper’s high and how you can reap the rewards of giving to others. Continue reading Charitable Giving and the Helper’s High
As we approach the end of November, the holiday season has officially shifted into high gear. For many, this time of year is synonymous with overindulgence, overspending, and overscheduling. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Read on for ten ways to reduce stress and bring the peace and joy back to your holiday season. Continue reading Reduce Stress by Rethinking Your Holiday to do List
Friday is Black Friday—a day I would love to erase from the calendar. Why? Because it’s symbolic of the out-of-control consumption that is taking over our world. In addition to harming our bank balances, overconsumption impacts our mental health and it’s destroying the planet. But there is an alternative! Friday is also Buy Nothing Day. Continue reading Turn Black Friday Into Buy Nothing Day
Good habits can start from the smallest change but getting started is often the hardest part. If you’re feeling stuck, the two-minute rule can help you overcome procrastination and set you on the road to your goal. Continue reading Feeling Stuck? The Two-Minute Rule Can Help!
Time. It’s a precious commodity that no one ever seems to have enough of. This past weekend, I had the unexpected luxury of a bonus hour. If you live in North America, you are probably thinking it’s no big deal because you also enjoyed an additional hour. But my extra hour was special because it wasn’t repayment of an hour I had previously lost. Allow … Continue reading How would you spend a bonus hour?
When faced with unplanned travel disruptions, do you get frustrated or take it all in stride? This week, as I experienced the latest in a long string of travel delays, I had a chance to think about how far I’ve come in coping with these frustrations. In today’s post, I’ll share the tricks that help me stay calm when things don’t go as expected. Continue reading Making the most of travel delays
There’s nothing like a funeral to make us aware of the passing of time and the shortness of life. Listening to the tributes at my brother-in-law’s memorial service, I recalled a poem called The Dash that I heard years ago. It was a reminder of the importance of making the right choices about how we spend our time. Are you making the most of your dash? Continue reading A Life Well Lived – How Are You Spending Your Dash?
Climate anxiety is real. Dire environmental news is everywhere, and it’s easy to think individual actions don’t matter. But they do! Adopting a positive mindset and some new habits can make a big difference. Today’s post has 7 steps you can take today to live more sustainably. Continue reading 7 Steps You Can Take Today to Live More Sustainably
Life is far from simple. It’s easy to feel burdened by the complex challenges our world is facing. Over time, I’ve learned the best thing to do is take a deep breath, shut out all the noise, and embrace the peace that comes from simple living in a complex world. Will you join me? Continue reading Simple Living in a Complex World
