On Wasting Time…

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Tick Tock.

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing” – Annie Dillard.

It seems to me that we spend much, perhaps even most, of our lives waiting… and wasting time. I wish I could say that I’ve uncovered a groundbreaking plan to resolve this. Truthfully, I believe that the majority of people who claim to have such a plan are full of themselves. I think that all we can really do is try really (really!) hard to make the most of it.

I don’t have the answers for this one.

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On Feminism…

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The feminist path was the path least trodden for a very long time and, consequently, walking it was arguably a nightmare for the brave women and men who were fighting for gender equality right from the beginning. Today, there is still a significant plight that feminists have to endure internationally, but I think the barriers and obstacles are a little bit different.

For women, one cannot speak of lifestyle design and generating luck without speaking of feminism. For the men who love them, the struggle becomes more and more apparent with time, and it becomes a shared struggle for the sake of that love.

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On Cooking What We Eat…

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When I think about the good moments I spent with my grandmothers and mom, there is always a string of memories attached to the meals we shared. It’s interesting how common it is for people to associate very good traditional food with their grandmothers and mothers. Everyone seems to be especially nostalgic nowadays, in the prime of fast food and quick bites. Even the healthiest among us are often reaching for a low fat, low carb, high protein packaged donut… that expires in 2025. For lack of a better word… yuck.

The food we eat today endures some major struggles. The meat does not go from the farmer’s hand to the butcher’s to our kitchens anymore. By the time something reaches your dinner table, hundreds of people and machines have touched it, and it has probably travelled a long distance. For the conscientious individuals who care about what they put in their mouths, the last step of the process, cooking, is the first place to start regaining control.

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On Intergenerational Blame…

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“Kids today are spoiled by participation trophies!”

“Oh! Old people! They can never think outside the box!”

“Millennials and their avocado toast! Of course they can’t afford housing!”

“The Baby Boomers ruined the earth and the economy for us!”

STOP. Wait a minute. Fill your cup, put some liquor in it.

It is so easy to blame, but the root of blame is ignorance.

The only pathway to true understanding is conversation, research, and asking all the right questions. Blaming a group of people for something you don’t like only hinders the process of understanding what really caused the problem. Then, good luck solving it!

Newsflash: a generation consists of A LOT of people. Think about yourself for a moment. Which generation were you born into? How many of the stereotyped characteristics of that generation actually apply to you? Are you another highly predictable number?

Don’t tell me, let me guess… you’re different!

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On the Fear of Missing Out…

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FOMO, the Fear of Missing Out, is not a new concept, but has become somewhat more recognizable in the contemporary age, now that we know a little bit too much about everybody and can see where they are and what they’re doing at every given moment.

You probably already recognize what FOMO looks like: everyone is on their phones instead of enjoying the moment, always talking to someone who isn’t there, running from one event to another – three weddings in one day, anybody?

But what about the losses caused by this resolute desire not to miss out on anything?Read More »

On Big Breaks…

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Have you considered that, like everything else, money is energy? It is said that more money makes a person more of what s/he already is. If you come into significant wealth, you will see your values and thoughts reflected even more powerfully in your actions.

I often hear people say things like: “His nouveau-riche status spoiled him!” Or “She got a taste of money and then went after her siblings for a bigger chunk!” But, if you dig a little deeper, you will discover that he was always a little lazy, and she was always a little selfish.

Money is energy, and it makes you more of what you already are. This is why, before seeking it, we must be intentional about who we choose to be and what we value. Building wealth is not a one-shot deal, even for those who are blessed with a one-shot “win” or gift.

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On Laughter (out of place)…

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Why do we laugh?

Because it’s funny… because we’re happy… because we are entertained… we laugh for all these great reasons.

We laugh when we are uncomfortable, hurt, confused, and angry too. We laugh when we don’t know what else to do.

I remember often laughing too hard and my mother reminding me that “smart girls don’t laugh for no reason.” Our cultural etiquette reserves laughter for the hysterically funny or hysterically unsettling experiences. It was not uncommon to hear someone tell a morbid joke and be greeted with fits of laughter: “Oh! How unfortunate to die in a car accident in this country. There are so many more creative ways to go about it!” Ha. Ha. Huh?

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On Energy…

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Note: for the purposes of this writing, the term “negative” is used to signify something “not good” and the term “positive” is used to signify something “good”.

Energy cannot be made nor destroyed, but it can be transformed into another form. From a scientific standpoint, there is no disputing that everything is energy.

Have you ever walked into a room and felt overwhelmed by a very distinguished “vibe”? When someone tapped you on the shoulder, or entered your home, have you ever felt something new being added to your space?

A family friend of mine always proclaimed aloud that I should be aware of energy. At the time, while I had a gut feeling that he was right, I couldn’t quite put my finger on what he was trying to teach me. “If a place makes you feel sick to the stomach, don’t stay there, even if you think you have to,” he said. “If someone brings positive energy and light to you, cherish the friendship. If they bring negative energy and darkness, stay away. Choose your friends wisely,” he said. “Nothing can destroy energy, but you can transform it from negative to positive if you are aware of it,” he said.

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On the Lie of Motivation…

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Recently, I discovered a fun little secret… nobody feels like doing the work. To be more precise, motivation is not, as we have come to believe, an asset some people have that others don’t. Given the choice to work and the choice to bask in the sunlight, the majority of us would prefer the latter. Seeking motivation in order to successfully achieve something is the very reason we keep on failing. If we wait to feel like doing something, chances are we will never do it.

What we really need to seek out is determination, persistence, self-discipline, self love, courage, and instinct. When your alarm goes off in the morning, it is not your motivation that gets you on your feet, but rather it is your discipline. When you skip the chocolate bar, it isn’t your motivation that encourages you to put it down, but rather your self love and determination. When you run with an opportunity, it isn’t your motivation that lights the fire under you, but rather your instinct and courage. Hard work is about persistence, not about feeling like it. Nobody feels like it!

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On Habits of Successful People…

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When you hear yourself complaining about what appears to be a slow rise to success, I recommend immediately googling “habits of successful people” and really listening to the messages being shared on blogs and vlogs that are available, quite literally, at your fingertips. Are you engaging in these behaviours, or the opposite?

Here are a few that have worked well for me:

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