Gun, can of gas in vehicle
Rush hour rampage
Carrying the torch
Wildfire largely contained
4 kids killed on fishing trip
Town evacuated due to fire
Biden signs debt ceiling bill
Deaths in border shootout
Train crash kills 280
Delays plague Air Canada
YouTube changes policy
Net benefits unquestioned
Vees announce new recruits
Falcons open 2023 season
Blazers hopes dashed in OT
Photog sues Kanye
Stewart halts catalogue sale
Joel to end marathon
The Happiness Connection
Back to old relationship habits
When the pandemic first started, there was a lot of speculations about the effect lockdown would have on marriages and committed relationships. Many experts...
Dealing with the impact of both busyness and boredom
This year the Easter weekend snuck up on me. That isn’t unusual. I struggle to keep track of the days of the week, so it makes sense that long weekends,...
Good fences make good neighbours
When I first moved into my house, I had the back yard landscaped. I have what’s known as a bare land strata. I own my house and surrounding property, but...
Growing together not apart
Knowing others is intelligence. Knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power. Lao Tzu Research supports the...
The human brain can fill in what we don't see
I had a strange experience this week. It’s one that I’m sure many people can relate to. A little over a year ago, I had my first appointment with a...
You may not be as open-minded as you think you are
Are you openminded? Open-mindedness is the willingness to find and consider a variety of perspectives, values, opinions or beliefs, even if they contradict your...
Not up to you to make your partner happy
I love meeting people for coffee. The conversations that accompany the beverages are a great source of column topics for me. This week I found myself talking...
'Big T' or 'little t' trauma — it all packs a punch
Years ago, when I was first dipping my toe into the world of professional speaking, I was encouraged to create a signature story. This is the term used to...
Optimism is more than just looking on the bright side
I had a conversation last week with a young woman who was feeling anxious about the events in Ukraine. Eventually, she put her main concern into a question....
Research shows hugging really is good for us
Over the past two years, I’ve experienced a drastic reduction in the number of hugs I receive. With both my children living in the U.K., COVID protocols...
Believing these myths can adversely affect your friendships
Having friends that you love and trust, is an amazing gift. This is especially true when you’re weathering a storm like COVID-19. Research shows feeling...
Emotion can be more contagious than a virus
COVID-19 is contagious. It’s easily passed from one person to the next. But did you realize you’re surrounded by something even more contagious than...
Ways to make the world a better place
All animals have a drive to make their world a better place. For many species that means working towards greater safety and a more comfortable existence. But...
Ways to avoid our own pandemic 'Groundhog Day'
As Groundhog Day approaches, I know I’m not alone when my thoughts go to the 1993 movie with Bill Murray rather than wondering about a little rodent who...
Breaks can be more beneficial than powering through a task
Because the end of my week was going to be quite busy, I wanted to get my column written on Wednesday. I came up with an idea for it, did some research, and...
Life can be like a game of Snakes and Ladders
As Forrest Gump famously said: “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” Personally, I like to think of...
What does happiness and success mean to you?
Do you ever stop to wonder whether you’re making a success of your life? It’s a question that often drifts into my mind as I move through December....
Finding happiness in stressful times is possible
I’m sitting in front of my computer, shaking my head. British Columbia must be setting some kind of record for the greatest number of bizarre,...
There are valuable benefits of fighting through challenges
This is the 257th column I’ve had published on Castanet. Yes, I am sad enough to have taken the time to count. To professional columnists, that may seem...
Are you a "glass half-empty" or a glass half-full type of person?
Black Friday sale promotions began infiltrating my email a few weeks ago. Some people love this day of deals, others hate it. I can’t remember there...
