The Happiness Connection
Embrace rejection
The only way to become a competent winter driver is to drive in winter conditions, including snow. You may know to pump your brakes and steer into the skid, but...
Spock wasn't always right
As I sat in my car waiting for the traffic light to change, the licence plate holder on the car in front of me caught my attention. Service before Self. I think...
Are you still growing?
Whenever I see my friends’ young children and grandchildren, I find myself commenting on how much they’ve grown. They tend to look at me with...
Stop shoulding yourself
How many times a day do you use the word should or some variation of it? The best way to get an accurate answer is to ask a few people to be your “should...
Dive into the new
I have many friends of all ages who have left long-term relationships in the past year or two. As an observer of people, I am fascinated by the different...
Reason for a season, lifetime
We moved a lot when I was younger. My dad would get transferred to a new province and off we’d go. I always felt I missed out, because I wasn’t...
Lucky or unlucky?
Are you lucky? How you answer that question may affect your life more than you realize. Luck is viewed as success or failure that results from chance rather...
No. 1 communication skill
Arguably, the most important skill anyone can have is the ability to communicate clearly. There are two halves to communication. Sharing your thoughts...
Are you still in the closet?
Coming out of the closet is a commonly used expression to describe people who are LBGTQ coming to terms with their sexuality and sharing who they are openly....
Visualize the life you want
Visualization: formation of mental visual images. Merriam-Webster.com Visualizing yourself dealing successfully with a difficult situation, remembering the...
Memory and menopause
Did you see that movie (long pause) about the queen? You know, the one that stars (another pause) that actress who was in (yet another pause) that series about...
Believe it and achieve it
I’ve lived for most of my life with a lack mindset. I went through school, subconsciously believing that there were only so many good marks given out. If...
Create your own self-esteem
When I was growing up, complaining about my shoes, or clothes, got very little sympathy from my parents. I was told to be thankful that I had clothes at all....
Creating self-esteem in kids
When I wrote about five essential parenting skills last week, I didn’t explain why they are so important. Thank you to everyone who contacted me, wanting...
5 essential parenting skills
When I taught elementary and middle school, I always found September the most challenging month. The work I put in at the beginning of the academic year set the...
How's your self-esteem?
I was speaking with a woman recently who separated from her husband. A major life change like this requires adjustment. It takes time regardless of how amicable...
Take Marilyn's advice
Being alone does not mean you are lonely. I’ve talked about loneliness before, but based on the discussions I’ve been having lately, I think it is...
You are the creator
My mom and dad have an amazing neighbour who helps them with all sorts of things. Recently, he pruned the trees and bushes at the back of their house. The...
See-saw myth shattered
When I was growing up, I knew my parents loved me. It wasn’t because they heaped praise on me. In fact, about the most glowing comment they gave me, and...
Let August challenge you
The summer is only half over, and yet back-to-school ads are everywhere. I’m not sure if it’s from my years as a teacher, or because I went to nine...