When I google* the word of the year for 2021, different dictionaries cite allyship (supportive association with another person or group), vax and vaccine. But Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO at Thrive Global, chose a word that resonates with me: resilience+. Defined as “the ability of a person to adjust to or recover readily from illness, […]
LISTEN UP!
“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” — Simone Weil (1909-43) Putting ourselves on mute when others talk is sound advice to follow during our conversations. This tactic ensures hearing, defined as the “the faculty or sense by which sound is perceived.” But how about listening, which means “to pay attention to sound; […]
NATURE DEFICIT DISORDER
Richard Louv coined the expression ‘nature deficit disorder’ (NDD) in his 2005 book about the detrimental effects on children of spending too much time indoors in front of screens. He associates the lack of nature in the lives of today’s wired generation to disturbing childhood trends: obesity, attention disorders, depression. Now we’ve learned adults too […]
GRATITUDE REWARDS
“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) Some time ago we began reading and hearing about the value in feeling and expressing gratitude. Apparently being grateful can boost our immune system, reduce stress levels and improve sleep. It can […]
PERKS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
At this stage in life, and also to endure pandemic restrictions, we’re advised to take up new pastimes: to improve our brain as well as our general well-being. Last year I joined the jigsaw puzzle craze, but to little avail. Five hundred pieces lie scrambled on a portable puzzle board. I also renewed my interest […]
TO HUG OR NOT TO HUG
“Canadians who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can hug each other” headlined national news of the Public Health Agency’s new guidelines effective June 25th. Next I await announcement of a “B.C. Hug Day”, as pitched to our Premier by health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, who says “it’s one of the things I’m missing most in […]
DON’T HOLD YOUR BREATH!
Our son claims it took him almost three decades to learn how to breathe. While that may seem an odd remark for him to make, if we analyze our breathing, chances are we seldom do it in advantageous ways. Often we almost hold our breath rather than inhale and exhale deeply, perhaps even audibly. Having […]
WHAT A LAUGH!
Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.” Lord Byron (1788-1824) Reader’s Digest filled the shelves in our childhood home, such loyal subscribers were our parents. When a new issue arrived in the mail, we turned to its humour: the jokes, one-liners and riddles. SAMPLES A woman accompanied her husband on his annual checkup. […]
SOLACE IN SOLITUDE
Then stirs the feeling infinite, so felt in solitude, where we are least alone.” Lord Byron (1788–1824) In early 2018 then Prime Minister Teresa May launched the first cross-Government strategy to tackle loneliness, “one of the greatest public health challenges of our time,” she said. Among other initiatives (e.g. the appointment of a Minister of […]
INTERNATIONAL COLOR DAY: ABOUT BLACK
Four years ago I wrote a post on the importance of colour in our lives. Today, on International Color Day, I revisit a favourite subject — but with a twist. We’re meant to appreciate how colours influence us on this Day. Because colour evokes feeling. It arouses emotion. It affects our mood, behaviour, productivity. We […]