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…
I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive. Joseph Campbell Not long ago I celebrated my birthday, an event made more memorable by my friendly neighbourhood drugstore, which announced that as a “young senior,” I now qualified for a special…
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. Picasso Creativity isn’t the exclusive domain of the Picassos or Mozarts of our world. In truth, we are all creatives and creative expression comes in all shapes and forms. Here are simple everyday activities we can all do…
The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it. Thich Nhat Hanh As 2016 draws to a close and a new year approaches, a common refrain I hear from many people is what a lousy year it has been for them individually – illnesses, injuries, relationship woes,…
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…
To be loved means to be recognized as existing. Thich Nhat Hanh Have we become invisible to each other? This thought crossed my mind on a recent visit to a favourite café. As I sipped my tea and nibbled on a pastry, I quietly observed a couple seated nearby. It seemed strange to me that…
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…
In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few. Shunryu Suzuki Roshi Patience was never a particular strength of mine. As a child I was fidgety, and as a young woman I was always striving to get my ducks in a row and fixated on the destination rather than…