Today was typical like many other Saturdays when all I wanted to do was stay home, eat, rest, and write. Going to the nearby plaza was not on my agenda until I realized our cat was nearly out of food. To make matters worse, our television cable box was breaking down.

After I tried to convince myself all the reasons I should stay in; your husband’s recuperating from surgery, you shouldn’t drive because you’re sleep-deprived, and you should stay in due to COVID-19, I dragged my lame excuse-making butt out the door.

I had accomplished all tasks, done a little…

There are many occasions when creators have the time and desire to write but are not in their best mood. If the majority of readers gravitate toward articles that help them to feel inspired, does this mean we need to fake it hoping the reader doesn’t catch our negative tone and inflections or do we wait for a time when we’re feeling higher positivity — a time that may not come anytime soon?

Beautiful writing isn’t about the words we use. It’s about the emotions we evoke. — Katie Ganshert

Not all readers will emotionally experience an author’s work the…

Ed and I hug daily. It is our go-to expression of love that isn’t forced or demanded. Our calm, warm embraces are gentle and calming — they lower our blood pressure and help keep us connected. Hugging was so natural until Ed contracted Covid-19. The illness was frightening; the separation next to unbearable. Isolated in the bedroom, Ed and I were no longer able to hug at all.

No matter how painful distance can be, not having you in my life would be worse. — Anonymous

While most Ontarians are faced with a fourteen-day quarantine period, the professionals told us…

I’m not usually one for rants, however, in this case, I give myself a pardon. My tirade is toward drug companies and health-related organizations who choose to advertise their cause or product using actor portrayal. In a society craving inclusivity, why are they not hiring authentic people to promote their cause?

This thorn in my side first came to light over twenty-five years ago, when my daughter was seven years old and modelling. It wasn’t her lifelong vision, or mine, for her to become an actress, but rather it was a side-hobby offering us the opportunity to spend quality time…

I met Tyler online, and we hit it off during our first date. We talked and talked — about our occupations, our interests, and we even broached the subject of exes.

I spoke of my ex, Matt, without giving too much detail. The night ended with both of us interested in another date. Tyler said he’d call me, and we connected again within weeks.

On our next date, Tyler brought up my ex Matt again and asked me for his last name. When he had heard Matt’s full name and the fact that he was a pharmacist, he told me…

When Skye came into our lives, we were a two-person working family. We left early in the morning and didn’t get home until dinner time. Her ritual every morning was getting her kibble bowl refilled and receiving a fresh bowl of water. Ed dutifully took care of this. It was a routine she decided was worth getting up for. Having a schedule kept everybody on track until Ed’s liver transplant disrupted it all.

In late November 2019, Ed received the call that the hospital had found a viable organ for him. We knew at that moment life with all its…

When I was invited to write an article on optimism, it highlighted how challenging this task was for a negative mindset like mine. I’m hardwired to look at the dark side of life. It, therefore, took me great effort to imagine the positives.

To assume I have no control over my thoughts was self-defeating and uninspiring. It was negativity at its best. For many, looking at the glass half full is easy. For me, noticing what’s missing in my life felt natural. Would I always look at things through a dark lens? The choice was mine. With help from a…

There is a common belief that selfishness and selflessness are two opposite sides of the same coin. If you’re selfless, you can’t be selfish, and the same goes for the other way around. I propose that having both traits makes us human, and they can fluctuate instantaneously. While it’s true in any given moment, you are either one or the other, let us acknowledge as thoughts are fleeting and we can’t be certain what we will think before we think it, it is best not to classify ourselves. …