I value volunteering. I’ve volunteered all my life in all sorts of ways. While my kids were growing up, my volunteer focus centred on their lives. I accompanied them on field trips when I could. I went camping with the scouts to help with the group. I sat on a board for the local daycare….

I just returned from a weekend break. My head said it was a waste of time, but my heart said it was time well wasted. Why the dissonance? Let’s pull the teasing thread to see where it unravels to. We saw The Passion Play at the Badlands Amphitheatre in Drumheller, Alberta, several years ago on…

I think when trying to unravel mysteries, one frequent option to understand a tangled web better is to ‘follow the money.’ I listen to Daybreak on Saturday and Sunday mornings on CBC. It is an eclectic, low-budget show hosted by Paul Karchurt. A recent 13-minute segment discussed the business of streaming music, specifically the length…

I was catching up on the impacts of this year’s Nobel Prize winners. I was mainly interested in scientific advances. Riveting, I thought, without a hint of sarcasm. Two researchers, Victor Ambrose and Gary Ruvkun, discovered microRNA, tiny bits of genetic material which control what cells do and when they do it. Without getting too…

I looked back over the years at how I celebrate Remembrance Day. I remember when I was a cub and then a scout. I would be in my uniform, and I would march in a community parade in Montreal. I forget the starting point, but the destination was the cenotaph in the nearby park. November…

I recently visited a friend in the hospital for an unexpected admission and an unexpected lengthy stay. During one of my visits, shortly after his admission, he was understandably not in a good mood. In part, I noted he was upset with a staff member who seemed curt with him. Short on patience. He also…

I am fascinated with how humans connect with religion, spirituality, and science. There are many variations, combinations, and permutations – whatever the latter means. I came across an article in Wired magazine based on David DeSteno’s book How God Works: The Science Behind the Benefits of Religion. A gold mine for connecting the dots of…

I heard this phrase, and it got me thinking about my own moments in life. Did that moment define me or remind me? It usually occurs at an extraordinarily high or low point—when all is lost or when I’m simply the best. After one moment in which I tried to be funny but thoughtlessly, I…

I was strolling through my limited social media channels and came across a ‘discouraging older quote’ that made me laugh. I thought it was worth sharing. “You are the sand in the swimsuit of the organization.” It got me thinking about its meaning to me. I’m not very much of a rebel but more of…

I think my mental health is generally pretty good, but maybe I’d be the last to know if it wasn’t. This Thursday, October 10, 2024, is World Mental Health Day – a timely opportunity to check in and self-evaluate. Socially Engaged: Just so we are all on the same page, I think of this area…