We have all experienced moments where we find ourselves seized by an occurrence that will stop us in the midst of our busy lives because our attention has been captured. I have been reflecting lately on whether that occurs because we noticed, or because a greater force made it that we would take notice. Even…
Canadians look forward to Christmas every year, and the first details to nail down, are where to gather for the event. Whose turn is it to host? What are the plans for Christmas Eve? Many people make these plans long in advance because of the need to arrange travel etc. For blended and reconstituted families,…
Various researchers and institutions around the world have been actively studying happiness for the last two decades. Understanding the factors that contribute to happiness has implications for individual well-being, mental health, and overall life satisfaction. But, understanding what influences happiness, can also inform government-led interventions and strategies to improve people’s quality of life. Governments are…
“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 be…
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,…
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 us…
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 nationalities…
St. Nicholas was a Bishop who lived in the fourth century in Turkey. He was a kindhearted and generous man, and because he had inherited large wealth from his parents at an early age, he developed a reputation for helping the poor and giving secret gifts to people who needed it. The stories of this…
Let me take you back to the summer of 2019. The air is warm, people are out and about and you are sitting out, possibly enjoying a refreshing beverage, listening to the sounds around you. You hear the birds of course, maybe a light breeze rustling through the trees and general murmurs and clatter people…
How is it that we travelled in the summer and the fall to all these warm places, and then made it back just in time to go through another winter in Ottawa? What is wrong with us? Most Canadians that have the travel bug fly south for the winter, but we seem to do things…
Funny how opposites work. In couples, you often find that opposites attract each other, perhaps to complete one another, finding the Yin to your Yang, or your soul mate as its very often coined. In this couple, the dreamer is well balanced with the analyst, a realist that keeps the spontaneous one grounded. An opposite…
It’s a cold day in Iano today, well it dipped to 14C, which for early October is still fairly warm. It reminds me of home and the crisp fall air of Ontario. Some leaves are turning yellow here, and the wind and rain from yesterday has scattered some of them, but it is not like…
