Life Lessons from Little Things

  Have you ever had one of those serious “ah ha” moments?  While I’ve had a few, I would say that on a dramatic scale, September 28 th was far and above the winner in this. It started out like any other day – it completely changed me.   You see, I fell three steps from a ladder.   Doesn’t sound like much, does it?   Three steps, that’s barely a stumble.   But the people who say “it’s not the fall, it’s the landing – well, they’re right”.   It was definitely the landing that did me in.   One minute I was on the third step of a stepladder in a client’s house, peering into the attic.   The next thing I remember is being on the floor, and looking down at my right foot.   It wasn’t at the end of my leg where it was supposed to be.   It was beside my ankle.   Trust me, that’s not a good place for a foot to be, and as I looked at it, I started to realize that it hurt.   A lot.   I laid back down, bent my left knee, a...

Do you ever notice that some things seem to bring out all the crazies?  No, I’m not talking about the political situation in the United States, my neighbour to the south.  I’m talking about the new year. Whether your perception of this is in September, with school, or in January, with the calendar, many people use this as a catalyst for change.   Or at least, an excuse to talk about it, as online assessments of new years resolutions measure their success between 8% and 20%.   Neither of these is a number I’d go looking for in any positive context! Catalysts for change are good, right?   After all, there are times where we all benefit from the metaphorical “kick in the pants”.   For me, that catalyst is often a move, but as most people don’t particularly enjoy settling into a new home the way I do, it may not be effective for everyone. So why change?   Well, the obvious answer is twofold.   First, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. To find ou...

Gardeners know the importance of leaving space – without it, plants overcrowd, and even the strongest struggle to survive.  It’s such a focus that many go in and remove weaker plants for greater separation – to allow the most productive to be fruitful. Now, I’m not suggesting that “The Purge” is a good idea.   Supporting one another is an important aspect of what makes a productive and caring society.   But there’s credence to the concept of creating space.     Best of all, it’s something many of us already do on a regular basis? How? One plus we’ve seen in 2020 has been an increase in self-care – individuals taking time for their own well-being, whether that’s by way of a personal spa day at home, some extra reading time in your favourite chair, or whatever fills your soul.   Sometimes, it’s just taking time and not rushing. Many people create space for themselves by nesting.   While this is common (and certainly something in which I indulged)...