I should likely start this post by stating that while the title indicates that my advice pertaining to this topic is absolute, it certainly isn’t. I’m no therapist or counsellor, but perhaps my approach to the topic can help someone who is struggling. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s begin, shall … More Coping with bad news: a how-to guide
You’ve arguably heard the phrase “mind your business.” It’s a concept that’s instilled in us from a young age due to its logic, and for the most part, I like to think most of us abide by its teachings. In addition to minding our own business, it’s worth recognizing the effectiveness of minding our own … More Mind your problems
What comes to mind when you contemplate the concept of communication? Arguably, we all interpret the meaning of the term differently, depending on how we ourselves exercise communication on a daily basis. For some of us, communication comes easily, while for others, it’s something we struggle with. Having an understanding of how we personally navigate … More Communication and relationships: a pivotal pair
The thought of working alongside family members is, for some people, terrifying. I’ve spoken with numerous individuals who positively refute the concept of working with family, their reluctance to do so typically being a result of their fear of clashing with their loved ones. If I’m being realistic, working with your family can get a … More The reality of working with family
I strongly feel as though the depiction of long-term relationships in contemporary society is a wee bit inaccurate. Okay, not a wee bit. A lot. It’s a lot a bit inaccurate. And, in addition to being inaccurate, add misleading to the list. It’s important to note that not all current-day portrayals of long-term relationships are … More The reality of long-term relations
I made mention of Morgan Harper Nichols, a wonderfully talented woman, not too long ago in a post. Because she is a poetic genius, I thought I would compose another post with some more of her work. Depending on the reception I get from these posts, this could become a regular occurrence, so let me … More Words of wisdom from Morgan Harper Nichols
Confidence is something a lot of us struggle with. We’re aware that being, looking, and feeling confident are all advantageous characteristics to demonstrate, but for some of us, it doesn’t come easily. And that’s perfectly okay, within reason. Some of us tend to be more shy, whereas some of us like to be the centre … More How to look confident (even when you don’t feel it)
I like to think I’m a relatively optimistic person. I’m usually in a good mood, unless something occurs to alter my mood, and I try my best to generate positivity. A few days ago, I came home from work in a pretty miserable mood. Nothing happened at work to prompt the emotion, but I just … More It’s okay to have bad days
Happiness, for many of us, is a vague term. What constitutes happiness? Is it something that can be defined objectively, or does it exceed categorizations and operates as its own entity based on each person? Personally, I believe happiness to be entirely subjective, meaning it differs for everyone. What makes me happy may not necessarily … More Are you as happy as you could be?
On September 1, my wonderful mother celebrated her 60th birthday. If you’re reading this, mom, I apologize for letting the cat out of the bag. In the days leading up to her birthday, my mom had a bit of a hard time trying to grapple the fact that she would be turning 60. She looks … More It’s time to celebrate ageing
A few nights ago, my boyfriend and I decided to watch The Stanford Prison Experiment via Netflix. I had heard about this film and was vaguely familiar with its context, but I wasn’t entirely sure what exactly it’s about. The Stanford Prison Experiment, released in 2015, is an “American docudrama thriller film directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez, written by Tim … More This is why you need to watch The Stanford Prison Experiment
I believe the act of comparing ourselves to others is an integral component of being human. It’s in our nature to asses our own needs in a way that compares them to the needs of others, and sometimes, we believe our own needs to take precedence over someone else’s. I saw a Facebook post from … More This is why we need to stop comparing our needs to others
Living at home as a young adult is an interesting situation. I’m 24, I have two post-secondary certifications, and yet I’m still living with my parents. Why, you may ask? I can’t speak for everyone, but considering the current state of real estate here in Canada, I think it’s safe to say I won’t be … More The reality of living with your parents as a young adult
I think it’s fair to assume that most of us have heard the phrase, “it’s the little things in life,” at least once or twice. We’re told to appreciate small joys and things that bring us happiness that aren’t particularly extravagant, and I think acknowledging these small joys is so important in terms of seeking … More Identifying your ‘little things’
We’re all familiar with second chances. When someone in our lives hurts us, we may hear from others to give them a second chance as opposed to writing them off for something they have done. And, for the most part, I agree. Second chances can be a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate to someone a change … More Second chances: when to draw the line
Life is a crazy thing, as we’re arguably all aware. Things may not necessarily pan out how we intended for them to, relationships come and go, and stress is ever prevalent. And, while these things may be inevitable, they’re certainly not things that should take precedence over others, such as family and friendships. Something I … More Appreciating the present
Dealing with conflict in the workplace can be a fickle thing. Depending on the situation, you may or may not be comfortable addressing conflict where you work because of where you stands in terms of employment, and further, where you stand with your employer. Addressing conflict in a professional manner doesn’t have to be daunting, … More How to handle conflict professionally
For many of us young adults, our parents are becoming older. Perhaps they’re nearing their fifties or sixties, or maybe they’re older still. Regardless of their exact age, for many of my friends close to my own age, our parents are ageing, and this natural occurrence can cause us a bit of distress once we … More Here’s how to spend more time with your parents
I think for many of us, the concept of self-care is intimidating. The intimidation isn’t so much a reflection of self-care itself, but rather, a mimicry of our own insecurities involved with taking the time to address our own mental and physical needs. Self-care is not a practice that requires us to be selfish, however. … More Self-care isn’t selfish
I’ve been reflecting on some of my friendships as of late, and doing so has really encouraged me to seriously contemplate the value of these relationships I’ve formed with others. I believe that sometimes we’re unable to see the harsh reality of a deteriorating friendship because we’re trying so desperately to save it. But, sometimes, … More Three signs a friendship isn’t worth your effort anymore
Dating, as fun as it can be, can be somewhat problematic in terms of activity ideas. It’s far easier to simply stay in for the night with some snacks and Netflix as opposed to planning out a fun-filled day, so often times we get somewhat lazy and settle for the simpler option. As great as … More Summer date ideas
Everyone has bad days every now and again. It’s relatively inevitable. Things don’t go as planned, stress rises, and soon, it seems as though the universe is working against us. Although bad days are somewhat unavoidable, there are ways to turn someone’s day around who really needs a break. I thought I would compile a … More Here’s how to turn someone’s day around
I firmly believe that maintaining a positive and healthy relationship with a partner is more difficult in today’s society than it has ever been in the past. Between a dependency on social media, the rising cost of living, and communication difficulties, it’s easy to understand how and why relationships fail nowadays. Perhaps the separation between … More PSA: It’s okay to struggle sometimes in relationships
My sister has a decorative sign that reads “Be yourself. The world will adjust,” and because this statement resonates with me so deeply, I wanted to delve into it a bit further. We’ve all seen and heard cliche statements similar to the one on my sister’s sign, but I question whether or not we’re truly … More It really is okay to be yourself
On the weekend, my dad hosted a little get together in one of our barns with many of the friends he’s met through his involvement with local car clubs. Perhaps I should use the term gathering instead of get together, as quite a few folks came out. Either way, it was a great opportunity to … More Unity in the automotive world
I imagine you’ve likely heard about the outrage sparked by an Amber Alert, issued in Canada, on Valentine’s Day. The Alert was sent to a majority of Canadians who own a cellphone within Ontario to alert them of an 11-year-old girl from Brampton who was reported missing. Unfortunately, the girl, Riya Rajkumar, was found dead at … More How privileged are we as a society to complain about an Amber Alert?
I came across an article via Elite Daily recently titled “12 characteristics of true love and how you can be sure you’ve found it,” and upon reading it, I came to a realization I think is worth discussing here with all of you. When I initially read the article, I was quite impressed with its … More How do you know if it’s true love?
My entire life, I have always stressed that only dog people are able to comprehend how difficult is to have a furry friend leave you. My family lost one of our pups, Sammy, a blue heeler, roughly a year-and-a-half ago. It was quite honestly one of the most difficult experiences I have had to endure, … More Can losing a dog be harder than losing a person?
We often ask ourselves this question, specifically when we observe a relationship that is not only unhappy, but further unhealthy. It is difficult to understand why people remain in unsatisfactory relationships, however, according to a University of Utah release, the answer could come as a surprise. The University of Utah study examined whether people who … More Why do people stay in unhappy relationships?
I have addressed the topic of toxic friendships here on my blog more than once, but I feel like it is a topic I can revisit since it is, unfortunately, relevant to so many of us. What comes to mind when you think about a healthy, positive friendship? Arguably support, understanding, fun, entertainment, trust, communication … More It’s time to cut off that negative friendship
