As we draw near to Christmas and Hannukah, many of us look forward to enjoying lifelong traditions. For me, traditions aren’t so much a clearly delineated set of acts but rather a jumbled collection of activities gathered over continents. We …
Recently, while listening to a podcast, I heard one of the presenters, a sports coach, use an expression that was new to me. He said: “You can’t always win, but you can always have a winning experience.” He went on …
Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day in the US, and despite everything going on in the States—and the world—millions of people took a moment to be thankful. This wonderful holiday has a special place in my heart. Like most Americans, I love …
Over the last few months, who hasn’t dreamed of finding a magic switch that reboots their happiness quotient? Many of us are feeling ground down by the ongoing relentlessness of these pandemic days. Add to this the climate crises and …
The time has come to remind ourselves that civility matters. It is the grease that allows the squeaky wheel of humankind to move along smoothly. A giant dollop of civility will reduce the annoying screech of feuds, thereby enabling societies …
Most of us like to feel in control. We adopt routines and put systems and schedules in place so that we have a pretty good idea of what will happen when, where, and with whom. Surprises are fun, but being …
What to Do When Everything Feels Out of Control. Read more »
I catch myself doing it every night. I cannot walk upstairs to bed until I’ve done it. I walk around our lounge, front room, dining room, and kitchen, and I tidy up, straighten up and generally sort out everything in …
Friendships are those magical relationships we choose to have simply because we enjoy someone’s company. In a way, I envy my children’s friendships. My daughter had just turned seven years old when we moved to the USA, and my son …
I study my hands like a mother studying her baby’s breathing after their first full night of sleep. I look at the endless freckles that cover the backs of my hands and imagine the burning African sun drilling its heat …
Maybe it is just me, but I was shocked to find out September started this Tuesday! I had been checking my town’s recycling reschedule and thought I’d flipped two pages together. September—how on earth could it possibly be the ninth …