Advent Calendar Blog -2022 – Leading the Changes in Your Life

We’ve often been given the metaphor of making our way down a road or path as a comparison to going though life. I agree that in many ways, there are similarities, for example the final destination is unknown, but we have a map, general knowledge of points of interests along the way, and we haveContinue reading “Advent Calendar Blog -2022 – Leading the Changes in Your Life”

Advent Calendar – Dec 24th: Final Comment

More than three weeks have passed since I started this Advent Calendar blog, faithfully delivering a post each day to follow through on my promise. It has been a very interesting experience, and I confess that I had not considered all the challenges an Advent Calendar blog could present when I came up with theContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 24th: Final Comment”

Advent Calendar – Dec 23: Toby the Cat

Did you know I am an ailurophile? I will say that my husband is as well, and others in my family. This is the term used to describe a cat lover, derived from the Greek word “ailouros” which means cat and the suffix “phile“, meaning lover. While I don’t discriminate against dogs, I must confessContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 23: Toby the Cat”

Advent Calendar – Dec 22nd: The Music of Your Life

“Hey Google, Play Jewel 98.5” And just like that, our favourite radio station is pulled in from the airwaves, and begins to fill the room with music, and we go about our business, having never even moved from our seat to turn on the radio. For the millennials reading this article, it used to beContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 22nd: The Music of Your Life”

Advent Calendar – Dec 21: Sunrise

The best part of my day, is watching a sunrise. The cover pic is a photo I took earlier this year from my east facing hotel room as the sun rose over Miami. You would be surprised how quickly it happens, from the moment the pinkish red glow appears on the horizon to the timeContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 21: Sunrise”

Advent Calendar – Dec 20th: Cottage Weekend

Canadians love going to the cottage. If you are in Alberta you go to the cabin and if you live in BC you call it a chalet. In northern Ontario, you go to camp! Whatever you call it, its a great place to get away from the city hustle and bustle to commune with nature,Continue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 20th: Cottage Weekend”

Advent Calendar – Dec 19th: December Concerts

December always brings forward so many beautiful memories of time spent as a family. I was thinking today of all the school recitals and concerts we attended while our children were growing up. We have only one daughter, but we were very fortunate to raise her in a small community where two of my cousinsContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 19th: December Concerts”

Advent Calendar – Dec 18th: Pinterest is my Virtual Assistant

Is it just me, or has life become simpler and yet more complicated with Pinterest? How did we ever live our life before having access to an unlimited compendium of recipes, decor suggestions, fashion hints, life hacks, funny quotes and so much more? Ten years ago, my social media apps consisted primarily of Facebook, andContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 18th: Pinterest is my Virtual Assistant”

Advent Calendar – Dec 16th: My Favourite Things

Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things I have fallen behind on delivering one fresh post every day in December as part of my Advent Calendar series, and to catch up today, IContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 16th: My Favourite Things”

Advent Calendar – Dec 15th: Finding Purpose in Retirement

Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” – Fred Rogers I retired from my career two years ago without a long-term plan. I had very clear ideas about what I would be doing for the first year, but beyond that, plans were still fuzzy. ItContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 15th: Finding Purpose in Retirement”

Advent Calendar – Dec 14th: Skating (or walking) Ottawa’s Rideau Canal

If you have ever been spent time in Canada’s Capital as a visitor or a resident, then you likely know of the Rideau Canal. The narrow channel weaves through Ottawa landmarks and neighbourhoods along an 8km stretch, connecting the metropolitan’s two universities while delivering the most picturesque scenery a city can provide. Many of usContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 14th: Skating (or walking) Ottawa’s Rideau Canal”

Advent Calendar – Dec 13th: The Twelve Dates of Christmas

Yes, you read that title correctly and it was not a typo. Traditions have always been big in my family, thanks mostly to my husband who was a big fan of repeating events and activities that our daughter enjoyed while growing up. Camping out in the backyard to mark the last day of school, endingContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 13th: The Twelve Dates of Christmas”

Advent Calendar – Dec 12th: The 24-Hour Positive Challenge

Every once in a while, I am reminded of the power of my subconscious thoughts and the dramatic influence they can have on my day, and my life. It’s hard to be aware of these thoughts let alone hear them, but if you slow down enough, and if you still and quiet your mind, youContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 12th: The 24-Hour Positive Challenge”

Advent Calendar – Dec 11th: Settling Into a New Neighbourhood

Change is a good thing. It makes you more resilient, and increases your ability to deal with unplanned events and adapt to the changing world around us. My husband and I have certainly become more resilient to change since 2013, when we sold our house and belongings of 20 years, and uprooted ourselves to Halifax,Continue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 11th: Settling Into a New Neighbourhood”

Advent Calendar – Dec 9th: Humans Need Connection

Travel should be about helping you connect with the people of the countries you are visiting, to understand their culture, their economy and their history. What I like about cruising is that we get that opportunity, not only in port, but also with the people we meet on board. There are typically over 60 nationalitiesContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 9th: Humans Need Connection”

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