Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-64) Just as a butterfly has never landed on me, happiness continues to elude me, even when I sit quietly. Instead I follow measures recommended for feeling happy […]
INTERGENERATIONAL VACATIONS
With summer on the horizon, many of us start thinking about vacations. If we want to include other generations — adult children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews — in our plans, we need to confirm arrangements soon. Multi- or intergenerational vacations require a considerable effort in conceiving, coordinating, executing. I’m not talking about adult children visiting us […]
TOP TV VIEWING OF 2018
Last year I discussed the value in couples watching TV together. While it passes the time pleasantly in an evening, good shows also generate conversation with our partners, friends and family. Because of its social benefits, TV viewing scores high as a pastime, despite being a rather sedentary activity. Just as we can join Book or […]
LOSING A SIBLING
Laurie — my only sister and the eldest of seven children in our family — would have turned 70 this year. If she had not died suddenly, unexpectedly, at age 27. On International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day (November 17), I recall the circumstances leading to Laurie’s disappearance from our lives. In May of 1975, […]
GREY UNION OR GREY DIVORCE
Canadians continue to see a steady increase in life expectancy; between 1921 and 2017, men’s went from 58.8 to 79 years of age, women’s from 60.6 to 83 years. Concurrently, grey divorce is also on the rise. The longer we live, the more time we will spend with our life partners. Some couples don’t relish […]
BUCKET LIST: TO HAVE OR HAVE NOT
The expression “bucket list” came into wide use after the release of the movie Bucket List in December 2007. It derives from kick the bucket (to die) plus list, hence a list of things to do before we die. Although the prospect of a bucket list may seem morbid, there are sound reasons to craft a list — by […]
TRAVELLING SOLO
Half the fun of travelling for me lies in the planning, but travelling solo means we cannot share the anticipation of adventure with anyone. The trip’s in our own head, from beginning to end. On the other hand, we can choose the destination and activities with no regard for another’s wishes. In retirement we may […]
LIBRARIES: A GO-TO PLACE
If we downsize in retirement, as Glen and I did, we need to adapt to small spaces. This process involves efficient furnishing, putting every square inch to maximum use. But it also means devising ways to spend time — and not always money — away from our home, to ensure our walls do not feel […]
FIRST AND LAST TIMES
We remember doing something for the first time. Firsts are milestones in our memories, the occasions when we get our driver’s licence, fly in an airplane, see awesome scenery — Banff National Park, the Grand Canyon or the Pacific Ocean (for landlocked Prairie people) — taste alcohol and, dare I say, have sex. But how often […]
TAKE A WALK
To empathize: walk in my shoes. To be authentic: walk your talk. To behave boldly: walk on the wild side. To reminisce: walk down memory lane. To promote wellness: take a walk. Walking doesn’t always get the credit it deserves. Low Intensity Steady State cardio (LISS) is indisputably good for us. LISS involves elevating your heart […]