Everyone wants to be happy. We search for ways to be happy. But do we take time to reflect on our happiness, what truly makes us happy, and practice the gratefulness that makes us happy? Living in Mexico has altered my perception of happiness. I have visited city neighbourhoods where people have dirt floors and... Continue Reading →
Defining happiness and success
Some thoughts on happiness
New Year, New Start
I continue to enjoy sharing experiences with you through this blog, which will celebrate its second birthday next month. I am always honoured by the number of people the blog reaches, and the positive comments I receive to my various posts. I have enjoyed the journey and continue to enjoy the experience of writing. So... Continue Reading →
Celebrating life
Why is it that we wait until someone’s passing to celebrate their life? This week was the 10th anniversary of the passing of my big brother. Last month was the third anniversary of the passing of my father. I have lost two friends to cancer in the last month – not close friends, but people... Continue Reading →
The Christmas Spirit
There was a time when Christmas, for me, was a lot of work and stress. Don’t get me wrong. There was also a lot of fun. But it seemed the season involved a big buildup of pressure to make everything right. The anxiety included shopping in crowds. There was stress about getting what people liked,... Continue Reading →
Lessons of a road trip
A recent and extremely long road trip provided some good lessons, also applicable to life. These are all good hints if you’re driving, but equally as important in everyday life, professional and personal. Start early, end early. We made the mistake of leaving late one day, and had to drive a treacherous road... Continue Reading →
Road trippin’
Some of the most classic movies are about road trips. We made our own movie recently with a road trip of immense proportions – 6,192 kilometres, which, for my American readers, is 3,847 miles. That was 18 days in total, and 12 days in the car. And what a trip. From Midwest Canada to the... Continue Reading →
“Social” cooking
One of the highlights of our recent trip to Europe was the opportunity to spend time with friends. In the Alsace region of France, we got to immerse ourselves in the area thanks to friends who hosted us. While staying at their home, we also got to experience – and learn to cook - a... Continue Reading →
What we ate
One cannot describe a trip to Europe without describing the amazing food. While some people like the comfort of home, and like to eat the same things when they travel, I love to experience what local people eat when visiting different areas of the world. Our recent trip to Switzerland, Germany and France provided plenty... Continue Reading →
Sacre Couer
An enjoyable area off the beaten path in Paris is the Montmartre district, including the Sacre Couer. The real name of the church is Basilique du Sacre Coeur de Montmartre. It's situated on a hill overlooking Paris, and worth the trip for the view itself. But there's more there than the view. The church is... Continue Reading →