On a program that I recently viewed, a highly likeable character explained that she wore a watch designed for those who are blind because she appreciates the constant reminder of the value in thinking about what life is like in another person's shoes.
Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person, and in my book, is one of the most important virtues we can adopt into our beings.
To empathize requires that we put down the lens with which we view and process the world, and attempt to truly feel what another person is going through. Read more
With the transition to a new administration in the US under way, there has been more talk about the potential for all existing student debt in the US to be forgiven.
On one hand, it's easy to see how helpful such a measure would be for those who are struggling under a mountain of student debt with little to no hope of paying off their loans in the near future. Those who support canceling student debt suggest that forgiving these loans will free debtors up to be able to pursue new business ventures, buy a home, and make additional contributions to local economies. Read more
Assume that you are allowed to make 10 investments over the course of your life. How much care will you put into making each of your allotted 10 choices, and once you've decided on which assets you wish to invest in, how much time will you spend caring for them?
Put another way, do you see yourself as being a trader, someone who hops in out of whatever is in or out of favour today, or are you an investor, a person who prefers to hold the best quality assets you can find for the rest of your life? Read more
One ritual that I have long found rewarding is taking time to reflect on big picture questions. For those who can benefit from some prompts that encourage self reflection, here are three worth considering:
1. What are 3 things you've always wanted to do but haven't yet?
2. What 3 moments or experiences are at the top of your list of the best times of your life?
3. If you had to give away 1 percent of your net worth every year, what 3 causes are at the top of your list?
In the spirit of sharing, one of my answers to each of the questions above are: Read more
A recent study funded by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council indicates that replacing cooking water part way through the process of cooking rice decreases naturally occurring trace arsenic in brown rice by over 50 percent and in white rice by 74 percent.
Here's how for 1 cup of uncooked brown rice: Read more
This is a look at the Rexogun. In this video, I've highlighted some of the unique features of this gun that make it a bit different from others that I've reviewed in recent months.
The handle of the Rexogun is longer than most massage guns and is angled slightly away from the top of the gun which allows for easier reach and handling for certain body parts. Read more
I know that this post will get some members of the food police upset with me, but I continue to find that in some cases, when taken in moderation, cooked white rice can be a health-enhancing food choice. Read more
In a suburb of Ottawa, there's a river that mostly freezes over in the winter and becomes a trail for snowmobiling enthusiasts. This river narrows as it runs past the backyard of a friend of mine. Narrowing translates to faster water flow, which makes it less likely that the river will freeze over in that location.
My friend tells me that just about every year, one or two unsuspecting snowmobilers come ripping down the river trail and end up going through thin ice and drowning. Just a few years ago, a man and his young daughter tragically died in this way.
Even if you aren't into snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, or other popular outdoor winter activities, it doesn't hurt to know how to maximize your chances of surviving if you fall through ice.
In the following videos, Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht - a thermo-physiologist and professor at the University of Manitoba - shares tips on how to survive after falling into icy cold water. Below the video, you'll find a summary of a few key points to share with loved ones. Read more
