Interest in owning islands is on the rise. Are people seeking the quiet life or simply trying to escape societal woes?
Born and raised to the age of eight in the largest, noisiest, sharpest-elbowed city in Canada, I gave no thought to the pastoral life of country folk I’d occasionally see on CBC television during the supper hour. All that began to change in 1971 when my father managed to acquire a 10-acre piece of land…
September is around the corner. I was in school for so long, I think September will always feel like the start of the year. One of the things on my to-do list for the fall is to take my annual personal retreat. The retreat is my time to sit back and reflect on the past…
Rather than pursue a "future" based on past practices, governments should be working towards a future based on equity, well-being and sound environmental management
“The power of creating a better future is contained in the present moment: you create a good future by creating a good present.” – Eckhart Tolle Emerging conditions mean we’re likely to face a large global recession in the next two to three years. Part of the reason is the significant and substantial growth of…
Apparently, as you get older you get happier. Sclerotic, arthritic, calcified, deaf, blind, stupid and poor equals happy? Where do I sign up?
In a few years, people my age will get back pain, clogged arteries, brittle bones, hearing loss, cataracts, arthritis, heart disease, dementia and schizophrenia. What they won’t get, apparently, is unhappy about it. Citing a recent national survey, Canadian Press reports that older people in this country are generally more buoyant than younger ones. In…
Will more money mean we sleep better at night, spend more time with friends and family, or contribute more to society?
There’s a story told that about a financial planner who was on holidays in Mexico. He was walking along the beach when he came to a fisherman sitting on a wharf, his feet hanging off the edge as he played guitar. “Is that your boat?” the planner asked the fisherman. “It is,” he replied. They…
Developing interests and setting goals is the first step to leading a more fulfilling and rewarding life
If I were to ask you what motivates you to get up in the morning, would you have some specific answers for me? Would you list your job, your family, some particularly enjoyable activity or a goal you are working toward? Frequently, my patients tell me they have no reason to get up in the…
To make shopping local the norm, we need to think less about transaction efficiency and more about enjoyment
Chances are you’ve seen or heard some sort of promotion about the value of shopping local – especially with so many of us in gift-buying mode now. Business improvement areas, chambers of commerce and other organizations tell us when we buy from shops near home, we’re voting for our community. The logic is generally sound…
Canadian researcher Gillian Mandich offers tips on how to achieve a flow of happiness in your life
The economy is struggling, small business owners are stressed and many people are either unemployed or underemployed. What can you do to find that sliver of happiness in trouble economic times? Canadian researcher Gillian Mandich's has some tips on how to achieve a flow of happiness in your life. Among them: “Implement little rituals: Whether…
Wendy Coombs, co-owner of Momentum Health in Calgary, strives to cut down the time people are off work or unable to take part in sports and activities
Wendy Coombs is a co-owner of Momentum Health in Calgary. Calgary’s Business: Can you explain the history of Momentum? And how many locations exist today? Coombs: Our goal was to offer all rehabilitation services along the full spectrum of rehabilitation from acute injuries to complex chronic injuries and to be accessible to all communities throughout…
Broader and better social interactions are key, according to researchers. So reach out to others
Psychologist Susan Pinker tells us that the key to living a long life may not be eating well and getting exercise. Her research, and that of Julianne Holt-Lunstad, demonstrates that an emphasis on close personal relationships and face-to-face interactions is actually the top predictor of longevity. In other words, if we have friends and family…