Nowadays it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the daily tasks we are supposed to accomplish. On top of that , do you have an ever-growing pile of books on your nightstand? But what if I told you that this pile isn’t a sign of failure or procrastination, but rather a testament to your intellectual curiosity and potential? Welcome to the art of tsundoku—the Japanese … Continue reading Tsundoku or Your Unread Books
My curiosity towards other cultures is never ending and I found another Scandinavian concept worth to be explored, “sisu“. In the heart of Northern Europe lies Finland, a country renowned for its stunning landscapes, innovative education system, and, perhaps most intriguingly, its unique concept of sisu. This Finnish term, which defies direct translation, embodies a profound inner strength and resilience that has become a cornerstone … Continue reading Sisu: The Finnish Secret to Resilience and Happiness
I often feel as if our beautiful world of wonder slips away, hidden beneath layers of routine and responsibility. Bruno Humbeeck’s enlightening work, “Comment cultiver le goût du Merveilleux chez l’enfant et le restaurer chez l’adulte,” invites us on a transformative journey to rediscover that lost sense of awe, not just in children, but within ourselves as well. The Lost Art of Marveling As we … Continue reading Cultivating the Sense of Wonder: Bruno Humbeeck’s Insights
I recently came across a thought-provoking LinkedIn post discussing the “enemies of creativity.” It got me thinking about my creative journey and the times I’ve felt stifled or blocked. The post highlighted some common creativity killers: fear of failure, self-doubt, and a lack of inspiration. These resonated with me, as they do with many other people too. Fear can be paralyzing, preventing us from taking … Continue reading The Enemies of Creativity
Why is it so difficult to form healthy habits or overcome bad habits? In many cases, we have good intentions, and we know what we need to do. Yet it’s so difficult to translate those good intentions into action. Read on to learn how you can bridge the gap between good intentions and healthy behaviours. A few weeks ago, I saw a presentation by Monica … Continue reading The Keys to Forming Healthy Habits
On Wednesday, I attended the first session of an 8-week Brain Booster Challenge hosted by Booming Encore. This free webinar series is a journey into the world of brain science and successful aging. The speaker for the series is Dr. Gillian Leithman, Assistant Professor at Montreal’s Concordia University and founder of Rewire to Retire. Despite what many people believe, Dr. Leithman made it clear that … Continue reading Five Surprising Facts About Your Brain Health
Here in North America, it’s Labour Day (or Labor Day for my American friends). The unofficial end of summer also means it’s back to school time for students across Canada and in some US states. But heading back to school isn’t just for kids. There are many good reasons for people of all ages to set some learning goals. A few years ago, I attended … Continue reading Back to School … Not Just for Kids
“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
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
When I was 17 years old, I worked in a grocery store. One day a co-worker and I were pushing a giant skid full of milk cartons through the store. The skid was piled high with milk crates and was much taller than we were. We were using a skid mover, which was being steered by yet another coworker; driver in the front, two “engines“ in the back. Continue reading Judge Me, Judge Me Not
Yoda famously said to Luke Skywalker, “Do or do not, there is no try.” And even though I understand what the great Jedi master is talking about, I’m going to risk the wrath of the force by disagreeing with him. After all he’s just a little green puppet in an old movie. There is “try”. Or at least there should be. Continue reading There Is Try: Why Yoda Was Wrong
“No fair,” cries my son when he thinks his sister got a bigger piece of candy. “No fair,” he cries when I tell him he can’t go outside and play until he cleans his room. I politely remind him that sometimes, life isn’t fair. We see this often with children, but we don’t recognize it in ourselves as adults. How many times have you ever … Continue reading “No Fair”: Fairness isn’t real
We can all learn something from our losses. Some of you may remember Yoda saying on Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Pass on what you have learned. Strength, mastery, hmm… but weakness, folly, failure also. Yes: failure, most of all. The greatest teacher, failure is. Somehow, Yoda finds himself explaining how failure is a characteristic that often differentiates a beginner from a master. There … Continue reading Re-framing Failure: Learning from your losses
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – attributed to Mark Twain I had a friend ask me about fear, how to think about it and handle it. I … Continue reading Are You Using Your Fear Properly?
Have you ever felt like quitting? Whether it’s a martial art, a marriage, or a job, we’ve all felt like giving up the fight at some point in our lives. So what do we do when we face the temptation to walk away? Why people quit. Some do it because of the stress involved in the activity. Others may stop because of a particular person … Continue reading Quitting: Should I walk away?
Inside this chest pounds a heart so steady. Inside this head lives a brain so alive. And somewhere in between rests a spirit so gentle, even the tiniest of scratches leaves a scar. . . . How would you describe your spirit, Dear Reader? What inspires you? What shakes you to your core? (Such easy questions to answer, I know!) 🙈 We’re in this thing … Continue reading SnapDragon Speaks: On The Gentle Spirit.
I fondly remember the days of grammar-school playgrounds; of brown-bagged lunches; of field trips to museums, caverns, and coal mines. I remember the sense of belonging within those classroom walls. There was a constance amongst us kids: a comradery that strengthened with each lesson, each game, each talent show. The questions we asked were not stupid, but welcomed. We were family. And as the decades … Continue reading SnapDragon Speaks: On The Same Side.
Greetings, Dear Reader! The SnapDragon Family is currently on the road, seeing some sights during this all-too-depressing season of lockdown during winter in Pennsylvania. (starts shivering, and hides head beneath a blanket) We’re cozied up in our Berkshire Class-A RV, embracing the open road and relishing the chance to travel to the American southeast. Sure it’s just us three—we’re still in a pandemic, mind you—but … Continue reading SnapDragon Speaks: On All I Need.
Hello, Dear Reader. It’s nice to see you again. I’m still here. I’m still SnapDragon, but now I’m a mom! (gasp!) Our little boy came ten weeks early, and while it’s been an insanely stressful adventure, I’m happy to report he’s doing well. He’s our little champ, getting stronger every day. And so, in this new year and new journey into motherhood, I’m assessing all … Continue reading SnapDragon Speaks: On Being Lost & Found.
It’s That Simple Life is so simple and beautiful. More than anything, it so magical and alive. I can see it dancing everywhere around me in the form of my surroundings. A few minutes earlier, I was sitting in my balcony. Luckily, my head slowly tilted upwards as I looked into the sky to watch the clouds. Their beauty left me speechless. They were so alive, so … Continue reading Life Is The Dancer And We Are The Dance
