During this time of staying home to avoid COVID-19, I’m coping by lowering the bar. Today marks 24 days of staying at home. Consequently, I’ve given myself permission to lower the bar. Filling my days with a sense of purpose doesn’t work. It’s impossible to focus for any length of time when I’m preoccupied with […]
COVID-19 — My Way of Keeping Perspective
Keeping perspective when subjected to a daily barrage of media about numbers of people contracting COVID-19 and numbers of people who die is not easy. My husband and I both fall into high-risk categories for a serious and, possibly fatal episode if we should contract the virus, because of our age. Though not frail, my […]
International Women’s Day — How are we doing?
It’s International Women’s Day — a day to celebrate female achievements and reflect on women’s rights. It’s also a day to be a proud feminist. At age 74, I’ve witnessed many achievements for women. Leading feminists such as Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem used their notoriety to launch the fight for equality and women’s rights. […]
Mistakes and Bad Decisions — Understanding the Difference
All of us make mistakes; all of us also make bad decisions. Do we understand the difference? If I take a wrong turn when driving or miss an exit, it’s a mistake. When I decide to stay up late watching multi episodes of a Netflix show and then have difficulty getting up in time for […]
Conventional Wisdom vs Facts
What’s the difference between conventional wisdom and fact? Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish one from the other. Conventional Wisdom Defined Conventional wisdom is defined as a generally accepted theory or belief; an accepted truth that is undisputed. It’s sometimes called commonplace knowledge. Conventional wisdom helps us to see patterns and make decisions based on information […]
Keeping Promises to Yourself
What’s your track record on keeping promises to yourself? Most of us work hard to keep the promises we make. Solemn promises such as wedding vows or professional oaths, or commitments to professional standards of conduct are high-level promises — to ourselves and to others. Our word becomes a commitment. When I make a promise […]
Psychological Fitness
How much time and effort should one devote to psychological fitness? Many of us pay attention to physical fitness, especially after the December holidays. January is the time of year when people typically start new exercise programs or go back to the gym after a couple of weeks away. Sadly, most of us give little […]
Disasters in our World and The Weight of a Snowflake
In the short two and weeks since the dawn of 2020, I am shocked by the daily news of disasters in our world. Rising tensions between the US and Iran have involved murder, and missile strikes. The shooting down of a civilian aircraft that killed all 176 people on board shocked Canadians as 138 passengers, […]
Nurture Creativity As You Grow Older
It was surprising to read that creativity studies in adults conducted by psychologists at the University of California Berkley showed that creativity tends to decline with age. Their research found that older adults showed fewer creative thought processes than children. https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/114/30/7892.full.pdf This study supports the idea that older people aren’t creative. Society generally regards elders as […]
Understanding the Science of Happiness
In the past few days, almost everyone who I’ve met wished me a ‘Happy New Year’. These wishes reinforce the truism that people generally seek happiness for themselves and for others. Bookstores, bloggers, and podcasts offer countless self-help ideas to improve happiness. We’re urged to drink more water, get enough sleep, practise mindfulness, exercise regularly, […]