Go to the Water

Today is a sad day for me. It is July 31, 2024, which means July is over and it will not be back for another 11 months. I realize some of you are sad as well, while others are glad to see a new month arrive. I wait all year with anticipation for July, it is the summer month that makes me feel like a kid again. It says to me this is summer holidays.  I decided that you probably wanted to know what makes July so special in my world. Who doesn't want to know that type of information. So here goes with my list.   #1 The pool. The pool that is at my condo complex is basically a wading pool for adults. It is too shallow to swim in, so no pressure to exercise, just a spot to hang out with friends. I have met some good friends at the pool. In 2010, when the pool opened there was a group of us that meet at 2 o'clock every day. We called it the 2 o'clock meeting. As you can imagine we didn't want to miss the meeting for fear of being behind in the news. The pool is still the meet...

Well look at that, someone has taken the time to survey people in every province and the results indicate which province is the happiest and why they are so happy. Apparently, where you live directly impacts your overall happiness. The survey included questions regarding  life satisfaction, family income, unemployment risk, average life expectancy, perceived health, perceived mental health, crime rate and air quality.    # 1. Quebec is the happiest province in Canada, with a rating of 8.3/10. They scored a perfect 10 in life satisfaction and unemployment risk (lowest in Canada at 4.5%). They also had high scores in life expectancy, perceived health and mental health.   #2. BC is the next happiest province, with a rating of 5.38/10. They have decent employment opportunities and a low unemployment rate (5.2%). They scored high regarding income with an average family income of $99,610/year. Health held them back with low scores in perceived health and mental health...

The simple meaning of a semicolon is that the author could have ended the story but didn't. I recently asked a young woman about her tattoo, "cont;ue". She went on to explain what a semicolon tattoo meant. For her it meant her story hadn't ended. I have since realized there is a whole phenomenon out there about the semicolon. When you ask someone who has a tattoo what the story is behind it, they are more than happy to share. The semicolon tattoo speaks volumes without the person even uttering a word. It is a piece of soul exposed to the world. The semicolon is a symbol of a battle fought, a pause that wasn't a stop, and the ongoing narrative of mental health.  Project Semicolon was started in 2013 by a young woman who was struggling with the effects of mental health issues. She chose the semicolon as a beacon to guide people through the journeys with depression, suicide and self-harm.  It is a movement that is encouraging individuals to take their darkest moments...

A simple definition of procrastination is to unnecessarily postpone decisions or actions. It affects 20% of adults and 50% of students. For them procrastination is a lifestyle. They don't pay bills on time, they miss opportunities, they don't cash gift certificates or checks and the list goes on. It is not a problem of time management or planning; they are usually doing other things. Procrastinators are made not born. There are big costs to procrastination. It shifts the burden of responsibilities onto others, who may become resentful. Procrastination destroys teamwork in the workplace. Students that procrastinate have a compromised immune system with more colds and flu, gastro issues and insomnia.  There are three types of procrastinators:  Thrill-seekers who wait until the last minute to do things.  Avoiders who are avoiding the fear of failure or success, concerned about what others think of them. Decisional procrastinators  cannot make a decision. By not making...

I had volunteered at the gym to empty the garbage and fill up any necessary paper containers during a competition they were hosting. I had just thrown 7 bags of garbage into the outside container and a sense of accomplishment came over me. I said to myself, "this is exactly how I dreamed my retirement would be". Not becoming a cleaning lady for a gym but doing what I could to help others. The gym was hosting a competition and they had asked for volunteers. I knew judging and competing was something I couldn't do. But I could clean up, empty garbage and stock supplies. I know there are many jobs that are above me, but there aren't any jobs beneath me. As I went about my business, I was aware of how neat the athletes kept the gym. I picked up nothing other than the garbage containers. A surprising thing was happening, many of the participants thanked me for what I was doing. That was a lovely bonus. I didn't even know most of those people. I came away with a mental ...

Bill Gates is 68 years old and is best known as the co-founder of Microsoft since 1975. He has been on the Forbes list of the world's top billionaires since 1987. In 1999, he became the first ever centibillionaire with a net worth of over $100 billion US dollars. He is the founder and chairman of several companies. He and his wife developed a charitable foundation known as the "Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation". It is known as the world's largest private charity. Along with Warren Buffet, they founded "The Giving Pledge", where they along with other billionaires' pledge to give at least half of their wealth towards philanthropy.  Bill Gates 's remarkable success can be attributed to his passion for computers, relentless effort, and his ability to learn from failures. When Microsoft became successful, he was the company's largest individual shareholder.  Bill Gates to me is one of those people that gets up every day to make money. He  has worked ...

  I just want to give a big shout out to the people that live in Souris Manitoba. When my cousin visited, we spent a day in this little town. Souris is  steeped in wonderful history, and they have made those spots into amazing tourists stops.   The day began at the "Courtyard" found at the hospital and long-term care facility. A good friend of mine offered to give us a tour. She is responsible for the stunning display of flowers and plants. There is no doubt she is passionate about this area, she rattled off the name of every plant and the care they need to grow. It is wonderful for the residents to have such a beautiful, safe area to enjoy.  Next up was a stop at the "Minary Homestyle Bakery". It is renowned for their baked goods and after being there I can see why. When you step into the building the smell is unbelievable. I struggled to make a decision and settled on an apple fritter. There is no way one person could possibly eat all of it in one sitting. Around ...

A friend of mine once said to me, "when I wake up early, I just get up. We never know how many days we have left on this earth, so why not get up and enjoy them." So, on Friday morning at 4:44 AM, I embraced her words and did just that. It was still dark, but it was starting to break daylight. I opened the door and all I could hear was the birds chirping and I felt the coolness of the night. I decided it was going to be a good day.  The day began by starting my coffee which is always made the night before and settled into my usual routine on the computer. I had put on Thursday's  "to do" list to write more draft blogs. Well, there was a fountain of information on many sites and my fingers were on fire. There was a quote on Facebook that said, "Fact: Every night I look forward to my morning coffee" That is so true for me. Not only is it morning coffee but it is strong and black. I can't imagine what it must be like to not drink coffee.  I am one of ...

The Royals have always been fascinating to me. As a child I looked at their lives as magical. The women wore gowns with a tiara, the men would wear uniforms adorned with medals. They lived in a castle and traveled by horse drawn carriages. What a beautiful life they lived. I have since learned that they are very hard-working people, their life is steeped in tradition, protocol and devotion to their role in the monarch.   I often think of William and Kate and how they are handling her health crisis and life in the public eye. Dealing with chemotherapy at any time is difficult, let alone at 42, with 3 small children and married to the future King. P rincess Kate's first appearance since her cancer diagnosis was the "Trooping of the Colors". This is one of the most important events on the Royal calendar. It is to celebrate the King's birthday which will be in November. She looked radiant as always, despite how she must have felt on the inside.  I read Kate's message ...