Commentary

It’s not always easy to ask for help

March 26, 2025   ·   0 Comments

Ronald Reagan once said that we can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone. In this third instalment of my limited series, I’m going to explore the idea of helping others and ourselves. My daughter’s questions to me were: “Do you ask for help? Do you need it? If so, how do you plan to get it?” A lot of things come into play regarding this one.

Finding, and defining joy in our lives

After examining one’s purpose in my last column, here is a new introspective question to ponder. My daughter asked: “Do you want to feel more joy and what are some things you can do to feel this way?” Joy. Hmmm.

Taking a look at our purpose in life

My oldest daughter, as an offshoot of her own spiritual journey, asked me to reflect on a series of questions to help me “heal.” “What do you think is your purpose in life, and how do you want to fulfill this purpose?” Wow. We all have a raison d’etre I suppose, but one’s real, true purpose may be elusive. How do we know why we’re here on earth? Some say there’s a plan, it’s just not revealed to us very often, if at all.

Democratic principles even more important today

Ontarians just had a chance to exercise their privilege of voting in last week’s provincial election. Like the outcome or not, we are lucky that our system allows for, and even encourages, our input and participation. Believe it or not, our politicians want us to be engaged. We have a bit of a love-hate relationship with democracy but now, more than ever, our democratic principles are vitally important.

Are we all more closely connected than we think?

tuck in our own heads, it’s easy to get distracted by our self-centredness. To us, and our brains, we are all that really matters. Everything else is just a bonus.

Are we accidental-like or is there more to this?

“By the grace of God, I am what I am.” Think about this for a moment. The odds of any one of us being here today is roughy one in 400 quadrillion. Sheer chance, or by the grace of a supreme deity?

Why ‘doing nothing’ just isn’t an option

We are reminded, time and again, to use our time wisely while we’re running around on this planet. We should make the most out of every day, every hour in fact. And yet, there are days, maybe even weeks, when we are struggling, and resort to just doing nothing at all.

We should celebrate our very existence

I have a good story to tell. It’s not just my story. It may not be impressive, but it’s like many others out there – all of us in fact. Experts estimate that the odds of my (our) existence today is roughly one in 400 quadrillion. Yes, that’s a huge number – approximately the volume in cubic metres of the Atlantic Ocean. A Buddhist version of our existence notes that if there was just one life preserver floating around the ocean and only one turtle in the water, our odds would be the same as that turtle sticking its head out in exactly the centre of that preserver.

Every day is a challenge for many

For those who are suffering – from any kind of illness – every day is a challenge. It takes every ounce of strength just to get out of bed, go through the motions, only to sink back into your pillow at night with a sense of indifference, even dread. We put on a brave face – for our friends and loved ones. When asked how we are doing, we mutter something like “okay.”

Courage, fortitude needed to face the year ahead

Jan. 1 was like any other Wednesday, other than it was a day off. It was a day to reflect, ponder and look ahead, because looking back was no longer an option. Like a “bridge over troubled water,” I had been weary, feeling small, with tears in my eyes. There were multiple times in the past year when I simply had “to lay me down.”

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