Sometimes ‘doing nothing’ is something

September 25, 2024 · 0 Comments

“Il dolce far niente” is an Italian phrase, and philosophy, that roughly translates as “the sweetness of doing nothing.” To them, it can mean having a cup of coffee with a friend, heading to the beach or sitting idly on a bench watching people go by. The Dutch call it “niksen,” literally doing nothing or being idle. They embrace the idea of sitting in a chair and just looking out a window.

Car ownership comes with a hefty cost

In 2021, there were an estimated 11 million licensed drivers in Ontario, representing 72.3% of a total population of 15.2 million. There were 9.5 million registered motor vehicles (Ontario Ministry of Transportation, 2022). We have a serious dependency on vehicles and this has created our biggest love-hate relationship. They say when you’re in motion, you’re bound to collide with something eventually.

Males shouldn’t ignore prostate health

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer – and third leading cause of cancer death – among Canadian males. That should set off some alarm bells. It’s Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (PCAM) at The Canadian Cancer Society. It’s something all husbands, fathers, brothers, uncles and even sons should take notice of.

Learning to enjoy a half-filled glass

What is a full life, and conversely, what’s a half-lived life? That’s a question that springs to mind lately, when I’m starring at the clock, taking stock. According to Herman Melville: “Perhaps the most devastating scenario imaginable is to face death knowing that because of some imagined fear, you have, you have always chosen a half-lived life in which you avoided doing the things your heart beckoned you to do.”

The intricacies of human venting

Venting: “… to give often vigorous or emotional expression to … to relieve by means of a vent.” We all do it. Sometimes it’s as if the human shell is one giant pressure cooker, hissing inwardly until she blows. And the results can be quite loud and messy.

Knowledge, wisdom are meant to be shared

Our entire species and our history is built on accumulated knowledge. From our earliest ancestors who created fire and the wheel, to today’s cutting-edge medicine and space exploration, our knowledge is expanding exponentially. Thanks to the internet of all things, we can access, decipher and yes, share this newfound information. Offering it is one thing, but all we know you can lead our fellow horses to water, but we can’t make them drink.

Why do animals trust humans?

We intelligent bipeds share this planet with billions of other creatures. We’d like to think we’re on top of the food chain, but we still have a long way to go. And we have much to learn from our animal brethren. I am constantly amazed by videos and stories on social media about the strong bonds between animals and humans. From geese running to owners with outstretched wings, to giant lions giving their human friends a “hug,” it’s all really fascinating.

Hoping we take the love inside with us …

Legendary rock band Queen once asked the ultimate question: “Who wants to live forever … when love must die?” Even though Freddie Mercury and Brian May said the world has but one sweet moment set aside for us, maybe forever is within our grasp. “But touch my tears with your lips … Touch my world with your fingertips … And we can have forever … And we can love forever …”

Taking time to pause and ‘stop the world’

The 1982 classic by Modern English broke the silence from my alarm clock the other day. “I’ll stop the world and melt with you … You’ve seen the difference … And it’s getting better all the time … There’s nothing you and I won’t do …”

Checking things off my bucket list

I never really thought of “bucket list” ideas until recently. I loved the 2007 movie of the same name starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Some say that’s where the term got its popularity and it’s tough to actually track down the origins of this saying. Simply put, it’s a list of the things that a person would like to do or achieve before they die.

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