Playing my own personal version of Jenga

October 23, 2024 · 0 Comments

There are days when I feel like I’m playing life-size Jenga with myself. Each new piece added to the top makes the structure unsteady, ready to topple. Maybe it’s the change of seasons and the chilly weather descending upon us. Maybe it’s a case of transition, moving forward yet being somewhat stuck.

Someone should do something about this!

Someone should really do something about this! I’ve heard this phrase so often throughout my life that it’s almost synonymous with the human condition. Yes, they should. But just who is this “someone?”

A little bit of hope is a powerful thing

A well known prayer asks the Good Lord to give us the strength to accept things we cannot change. Let’s not forget about hope. It’s been said that we should try to take more out of life than it takes out of us. John F. Kennedy once said: “We should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes.”

Pay attention to litany of harmful food additives

We are what we eat, has been our catch phrase for generations. And yes, what we put in our mouths and bellies is more important today than ever before. Unfortunately, the list of additives on our food packages continues to grow, leaving us scratching our heads. These substances may also be making us sick, and ultimately shortening our lifespans.

Sometimes ‘doing nothing’ is something

“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.

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