I would rather die of passion than boredom. Octave Mouret in Au Bonheur des Dames by Émile Zola Happy New Year! As 2018 unfolds, I wish everyone health, joy and prosperity. The last year for me was a transformative one, filled with travel, new friendships, and assorted challenges. Two pivotal moments stood out – one…
The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. Joseph Campbell This summer I challenged myself – I signed up for a stand-up comedy course. The course is Comedy Girl, an all-female stand-up class taught by seasoned performer and writer Dawn Whitwell. The Level 1 training at Comedy Bar was no walk in…
Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. Rachel Carson What a glorious summer. The season has been remarkably sunny and hot (a gift for those of us weary of long winters), and I’ve returned from trips to the Bruce Peninsula National Park and the…
Spring is when life’s alive in everything. Christina Rossetti There’s nothing more exhilarating as a sunny spring day. Mother Nature in her glory of colours, scents and sounds not only awakens our senses to life in bloom but also stirs within us a sense of excitement, joy and hope (especially after a long winter). I…
The key to finding a happy balance in modern lives is simplicity. Sogyal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying In the profoundly moving New York Times essay My Own Life, neurologist and author Oliver Sacks recently revealed that he’s dying of terminal cancer. Referring to himself as “a man of vehement disposition, with…
A rare opportunity to travel to Indonesia has popped up for me. This trip couldn’t have come at a better time as I seek to reboot and rebalance my life. Before I head off on my adventure, I’d like to share with you one of my favourite poems by Shel Silverstein. What better way to…
Smile, breathe and go slowly. Thích Nhất Hạnh “Where’s the fire?” a friend asked good-naturedly as I hastily said goodbye and bolted out the door. Bolting out-of-doors had become the norm with me of late. Several weeks ago, I did not exercise good judgement on a particular project, simply because I was in a hurry….
The future is completely open, and we are writing it moment to moment. Pema Chodron, teacher, author For many of us dealing with life transitions, new beginnings can be strange and confusing – we fear them as much as we anticipate them. More often than not, there will be moments along our journey when filled…
freak flag n. A characteristic, mannerism or appearance of a person, either subtle or overt, which implies unique, eccentric, creative, adventurous or unconventional thinking. Urban Dictionary My freak flag has been flying since day one. I had always been the “odd duck” of the family. I was the child repeatedly reprimanded by her schoolteachers for…
All great changes are preceded by chaos. Deepak Chopra Not a day goes by that I don’t find myself chasing tiny balls of solder from various corners of our home, reminders of recent re-piping and renovation work. The need for re-piping had presented the ideal occasion to initiate much neglected and long deferred projects. For…