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LOOKING OUT WHILE LOOKING WITHIN
I struggle with depression and anxiety. Funny that someone with these issues would be writing a column called On a Brighter Note, right? Well, its ironic at least.What do you have to be depressed about? I was asked in my youth. Your life could be so much worse.Firstly, no kidding. Secondly, that sentiment is probably a big reason why most of us struggling with bouts of depression, or... (read more) (request to publish)
NO NEED TO BE PICTURE PERFECT
Looking through old photos from when my kids were young, Im hard-pressed to find very many of myself in there.The reason for this is because I was too busy being the photographer and I would forget to hand the camera over to someone else. The other reason is that I typically didnt feel presentable and preferred being behind the lens rather than in front of it.On the rare... (read more) (request to publish)
DEEP DOWN, HERE’S THE DIFFERENCE
At a recent convention in Las Vegas I asked some American businessmen what they thought the difference was between Americans and Canadians. After teasing me about my accent which Im sure I dont have and the word eh, which I dont recall using, one of them said something they all agreed with.If an American tells you to call them when youre in town, they dont really... (read more) (request to publish)
THIS BALCONY HAS OFFICIALLY CLOSED
In my early twenties I was offered a job as a movie critic and it felt like Id hit the jackpot. I didnt know anyone who loved the movies as much as I did, and I enjoyed writing, so it seemed the perfect career opportunity.My first assignment was a Steven Seagal movie - I no longer remember the name - but I think it had the word law,... (read more) (request to publish)
HAPPY FEET, HAPPY LIFE
My friend just invented a great little product that, at first glance, seems insignificant.Handing me two tiny pieces of clear flexible plastic that looked like drinking glasses for Barbie and Ken, she demonstrated their actual purpose by slipping them onto the heels of her stilettos.Now Bob wont insist we take our shoes off in the house, she said, referring to her husbands desire to protect their hardwood flooring.... (read more) (request to publish)
A MOVIE EXPERIENCE FROM MEMORY LANE
Call me crazy, but I miss renting movies. Im not talking about ordering the on-demand shows from cable or Netflix, but physically renting them the old fashioned way - from a video store. That outing used to be a weekend ritual for our family.Rarely did we know what wed be taking home until we got there and looked. My husband and I would usually start off doing the... (read more) (request to publish)
SOMEDAY IS NOT A DAY OF THE WEEK
I am a procrastinator. I wish I could say that I wasnt, but I cant. Its very much a part of who I am.No matter how much time I have to accomplish something, I always end up putting it off until the very last minute. I was like that with school, and decades later, Im still like that with work. Even with tasks that I love.This column is... (read more) (request to publish)
IT’S TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE
On a recent day when my kids were out playing with their friends I went on a cleaning rampage. It felt good and I didnt want to stop. But eventually the alarm went off and the time I had allotted for household chores was over. It was time to get back to work.Sitting down with a cup of coffee in my neat and less cluttered home office, I... (read more) (request to publish)
HOW TO HANDLE BACKHANDED STINKERS
Last week, I was told that I looked really good for my age. A couple of days later a friend said that I was probably a real stunner when I was in my twenties. On both occasions I believe these people intended their remarks to be compliments. But to me, neither of them felt exactly like that.I thought it odd they tainted a perfectly nice thing to say... (read more) (request to publish)
NAME THAT TOT
My nine-year-old daughter came home last week and said we needed to buy a baby gift for a teacher at her school.Hisnameis Ikea, Daisy said excitedly.Whosenameis Ikea? I asked, not knowing if she was referring to the teacher or the infant.Mr. Verstraetes baby, she said. Hes a boy! Ikea? I asked. Are you sure hisnames Ikea?Yes, of course, she responded, as though I was nuts for asking.But I... (read more) (request to publish)
MOONING OVER LIVING LIFE
When a meteor exploded over Russia last week with an estimated force of 20 atomic bombs, I was reminded of how teeny-tiny we Earthlings really are. I didnt always think of myself in that way though.As a youngster I thought the world revolved around me and that the moon was following my every move. Whenever I went for an evening drive Id sit in the back seat of... (read more) (request to publish)
FROM THE BOOB TUBE TO YOUTUBE
Watching television was an extremely restricted activity in my house growing up, and for that reason, I couldnt get enough of it.My little brother and I werent allowed to watch it all the time like our lucky-duck friends were. And, as a double whammy on the meter of unfairness in our lives, our mom and dad were much younger than the parents of our pals, yet they were... (read more) (request to publish)
BORN TO BE BLONDE
When people ask me what my real hair colour is, I usually tell them its grey. The truth is, I was blonde when I was young, but as I got older, my hair darkened. By the time I was in high school, it was considered dirty blonde no matter how often I washed it.I hated my hair back then. It didnt fit into any categories. It wasnt... (read more) (request to publish)
WHAT’S THAT SMELL?
My sons room has an odd odor. It doesnt seem to matter if its clean which is rare or a pigsty, which is common. Whatever state I find it in, the unpleasant stench remains.Strangely enough, Im the only one who seems to notice. When I open his door Im immediately assaulted by the stink, but whenever I ask about it, no one else has a clue... (read more) (request to publish)
BALL PIT BABYSITTING
When I was a kid my parents dragged my little brother and me out for an afternoon of shopping at a brand new furniture store called Ikea. It was the biggest store Id ever walked into, and as we passed through the front doors for the first time, Jeremie and I were in a state of bliss. Not because of the huge array of household items that had... (read more) (request to publish)
LIFE OF THE PARTY
My husband turned fifty years old last week and I threw him a party. Im not particularly good at that kind of thing.In fact, it had been so long since I planned a shindig for grownups that I forgot why I didnt like it. To my surprise, I actually started getting excited about the event in the weeks leading up to it. I had fun ordering the cake,... (read more) (request to publish)
ABIDING BY THE FIVE SECOND RULE
My parents took me out of town to visit my dads aunts and uncles when I was a year old. They were eager to meet the newest member of the family and my folks were excited to introduce me. Wanting to make a good impression, my mom dressed me in a frilly outfit and put barrettes in my sparse wisps of hair. With my happy eyes and winning... (read more) (request to publish)
RESETTING FOR A NEW YEAR
I am a night owl still trying to be an early bird. Lately, though, I havent been trying hard at all.Over the Christmas holidays I allowed myself to stay up late and sleep in more. Because I was sleeping in more I was exercising less, and because I was exercising less I started eating crap again. A couple weeks of that and Im now geared up for a... (read more) (request to publish)
