6 Amazing Ways You Can Reach Your Goals--Even If You Don't Think You Can

When we are handed a task, an interesting thing happens in our minds: in a flash, we go into our memory banks and pull up moments of past attempts at the same or similar tasks, from which we determine our ability to successfully complete it. 

If you have strong memory of performing a task well, you will have no problem the next time around. However, if you have poor memories about performing the task, your ability to solve it or complete it will be hampered as well. 

What has been concluded from extensive research along these lines is our abilities to problem-solve are directly linked to how we perceive ourselves and those around us. 

A Stanford Psychologist, Carol Dweck, wrote a book entitled Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, in which she lays out two fundamental mindsets that each of us carry:

1. The Fixed-Mindset: This relates to people who believe that they are who they are, their skills are fixed, and no matter how hard they try they will continue to fail. Successful people are purely successful, and failures are failures. Typically, those with fixed mind-sets will avoid challenges or trying new things because they believe that their ship has sailed, or that they're no good anyway.

2. The Growth-Mindset: This is the mindset of those who see their lives as full of potential. They seek out new challenges simply because they believe them to be intriguing and provide opportunities for growth and learning. They tend to see life as full of potential. When they fall short in life, they don't get down on themselves, but see it as an opportunity to learn and get better. 

Carol Dweck TED Talk: The Power of Yet

Dweck's point is very direct: These are mindsets, not what some are born with and others not. Anyone can have a mindset of growth and success, but it takes realizing this and making the appropriate changes in how you think about yourself and world.  

Here are some tips:

1. Stop blaming yourself: It's easy to get down on ourselves for past short-comings, and from there the spiral of "the universe is out to get me"; but that's simply not the case. Instead of continuous self-blame, look at the short-coming and believe that you can rise above it. If you have a hard time seeing it, find people who can advise you. Once you stop blaming yourself and see your troubles as something to move on and learn from, you'll be in a better place for future growth.

2. Give yourself a 'not yet': If you have fallen short of a given objective or goal, give yourself a 'not yet' grade rather than a 'fail' grade. By doing this, you provide yourself with a trajectory of growth into the future, not a fixed state of affairs beyond which you cannot advance. Like Thomas Edison once said, "I did not fail, I simply found 10,000 ways that don't work."

3. Embrace challenge: Challenges are no big deal; you simply try and see how you do. People with growth mindsets seek out challenges, not because of the end-goal, but because of the process of working through it. They don't run from challenges, they embrace them. They don't see falling short as failing, but just another challenge to overcome. 

4. Think development: You are a human being, which means you are always developing, always learning. We have residual beliefs from our days in school that learning only takes place when we are in a course--no. We learn all the time. Humans are beings that learn, by virtue of which we are always developing. If you think of your life as in a state of development and growth, rather than being at a dead-stop, then you will find ways to become better. Is it getting back into shape? Being a better spouse or parent? Being a better manager? Think about how you can develop, not how you might fail.

5. Think hard work: Our society praises the genius; we hold them up on pedestals and kiss their bronze feet. What we often overlook is the pure effort that even genius requires. The saying "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration" has been found true. Those who accomplish great things put incredible amounts of effort toward their goals. The good thing about this is that if genius is 99% perspiration, then anyone with time and effort invested in a goal or ambition can accomplish great things. If we see growth as hard work and not as intelligence or genetics that some have and most don't, then we will see and grow in our potential. 

6. Welcome mistakes: People, according to Dweck, with growth mindsets see mistakes as mere setbacks, not as something that defines them. In fact, mistakes are all part of success. The great jazz artist, Miles Davis, required that all his band members do not practice before the show, but instead use the performance itself to work their challenges out--he actually encouraged his players to make mistakes! And this from one of the greatest musicians in history. If mistakes are ok, you won't be afraid of making them, and you'll be open to try new things.

The Flu And What To Do--Or, Middle Of The Night Home Remedies For Alleviating Cold Flu Symptoms When You Can't Sleep And All Seems Lost

Cold flus suck--especially at night when all the mucus drains down into your throat, your nose dries and plugs up, and your bladder is on over-drive eliminating all the hot and cold liquids you drank before turning in. Last night was one of those nights for me--couldn't sleep, my mind was ruminating, and with little cold medication in the house, I wanted to reach for some home-made remedies, but my phone was not by my side. It's in those nocturnal moments when all you can think about is the hellish day you'll have at work the following morning--for of all coincidences, you have that major meeting that's been on high-alert on your calendar for the past month--and desiring nothing more than a simple panacea that will open your sinuses, lift the migraine from your eyes, and shut down the ruminating mind. While this is not a post on ruminating minds, it does lay out a few home-grown flu remedies that may quicken your mind when you're in the loneliest of loneliness--and it's only 1:30am.

1. Blow your nose often: This will clear away mucus in your sinuses and assist breathing, rather than snuffling all that crud back into your throat where it can build and lead to coughing and earaches. Place a finger over one nostril--holding of course a tissue, handkerchief (for those who still carry them around) or large piece of toilet paper--and blow gently through the other, repeating with the alternate nostril until satisfied. A little Vaseline or even lotion applied around the openings of the nostril, down to where the nostrils and upper-lip meet, can prevent the inevitable dryness and itchiness blowing your nose 50 times will cause. 

2. Rest: The art of resting and napping is indeed a lost one in our hyper-hectic world (though indeed it is making a bit of a comeback), where productivity is more about looking the part than doing all it takes to be at one's optimal level of performance--including daily naps. Nevertheless, when you come down with a flu, don't try to man or woman up by keeping the internal rat-race going--no. Instead, milk your flu for all it's worth--yes you read this straight! When you have the flu, your body is expending a lot of energy in a battle against the virus, which is why you feel so fatigued. And we all know there will be no pity extended to us at work when we're foolish enough to go when we're in the throes of a flu--in fact, most people will be annoyed that you're coughing all over them and spreading germs everywhere. Do yourself and humanity a favour--rest.

3. Take a steamy shower: Even though you're in the fetal position in bed, in pyjamas you've spent the past 72-hours in, getting up, managing the dizzy-spells, and getting into a steam shower can open your sinuses up and bring some relief. It might be the difference between the road to recovery and the street-bench of symptom persistence. Some suggest if you're dizzy from the flu, and in the spell of a migraine, to turn the water on and sit by the steam to interact with the moisture. 

4. Humidifier: No--not humidor! H-u-m-i-d-i-f-i-e-r. Set one of these things up in your bedroom and get the air in the room moist. This will thin out the mucus in your nose, and help you breathe better. And if you're a smoker, and read the heading of this as 'humidifier', you should try to lay off the smokes till you're better--better yet, use the flu as an excuse to cut the cord.

5. Hot liquids: Hot lemon water with plenty of honey can sooth a dry throat--just ask any New York Metropolitan Opera singer. Some also suggest dissolving a Ricola throat drop in hot water and add lemon and honey to taste. My aunt swore by hot lemon water with honey and cayenne pepper. 

6. Extra pillow: Do you ever notice that your nose gets worse when you're laying down at night? The reason is the mucus drains down to your nose and pools around. To keep the drainage going, place an extra pillow under you try to stay elevated. 

Try to remember: in the words of Cold Play, "Everything's not lost..." You'll get better--it's just a hiccup, or a sniffle. The world's not going to fall apart if you spend a day or two in bed--it's probably your body telling you to slow down anyway. Sometimes you need to go down with a whimper, not a bang. If the symptoms continue or worsen, get thee to the nearest walk-in clinic or family doctor. 

The Necessary Evil of Road Salt And How You Can Live With It and Without It

I've finally finished shovelling the driveway, feeling my shirt moist with sweat under my Canada Goose parka, and my shoulders and arms in a post-work out burn. My eyes sweep over the drive and walkway, squinting under the glare of the sun off the ice that my shovel just couldn't quite remove, in spite of my tireless effort to do so. I shuffle my boots across the ice and into the garage heaving up the 25kg bag of salt and carry it back out under my arm like a baby rescued from a burning building, and begin dowsing the ice with heaps of this magic crystalline substance: good on food, good on ice... My dinner guests arrive in an hour--just enough time for the ice to melt so their little ones don't slide and slam into the stair rails...

It's 10:30pm on a snow-swept major Calgary 6-lane road. A woman and her son are coming home from gymnastics when suddenly a pick-up truck in the oncoming lane leaps like a wild bull over the guard rail and slams through their windshield, leaving both parties dead on impact. Some blame the speed of the truck, still others saw the lack of snow clearing to be the problem. They don't use salt in Alberta... "Great for protecting paint-jobs!" is the usual retort to criticisms against Calgary road clearing. "Sure," I sardonically agree, "until two or more slam into each other..."

A necessary evil? Perhaps. In 2000, a 5-year study of the impact of road salt on the environment was completed, concluding that the ice-melting substance is toxic to the environment, especially in large quantities. Road salt can lead to damage of vegetation, soil, plants, fish, and other wildlife. And the chloride ions from the salt eventually find their way into waterways, whether through direct run-off, or under ground through the soil. Not only can this impact fish not adaptable to saline water but also can turn drinking water salty. 

At the same time, it works. When there's salt in mass quantity, there's no excuse for unnecessary road deaths such as that described in Calgary. To dwell in the middle of this dilemma is indeed a wise response. With that, here are some tips for keeping the salt down (pun intended):

1. Use salt alternatives: These can be sand, kitty litter, or other deicing products that don't contain salt.

2. Shovel often: It's easy when snow storms roll in consecutively over a week to just let your driveway go to heck; but it's better to bundle up, get out there and clear it as it comes, rather than try to lift a half-ton of snow in one go. It's easy to just lay a bunch of salt on it and hope for the best, but that isn't always the best strategy; for including the environmental impact, salt doesn't melt snow at minus 10-degrees celsius and lower. 

3. Purchase deicing product early: If you are going to buy an alternative deicing product, do so before the snowstorm arrive to avoid sold-out products and thus being forced to buy salt. 

4. Use sparingly: A lot of salt goes a long way. You don't need to drop the whole 25kg bag of salt over your walkway, in spite of that being a popular practice on roads and parking lots. The recommended application rate for rock salt is about a handful per square meter treated (after you have scraped as much ice and snow as possible). Using more salt than this won't speed up the melting process. Even less salt is needed if you are using calcium chloride (about a handful for every three square metres treated - or about the area of a single bed). If you have a choice, pick calcium chloride over sodium chloride. Calcium chloride works at much lower temperatures and is applied at a much lower rate.

While harming the environment, salt can protect people from nasty falls on driveways and sidewalks as well as prevent vehicle accidents. Using salt moderately is simply the responsible thing to do.

11 Things Your Favourite Oscar-Nominated Films Can Teach You About Success In Life

With the Oscar Awards a little over a month away, it's a good time to look at the awards in perhaps a different light: what your favourite films can teach you about success in life.

1. Have a good story: "What's your story?" Every great film writer at some point in his or her life have been asked that question--and it's a mighty important one. Whether you're pitching a film to an agent or pitching an idea to a prospective client, your ability to weave your ideas and your life into a narrative that stimulates conversation and even intrigue is an important life skill for success. It's good to learn to become a bit of a story teller. There are all kinds of books and even TED Talks online that will help you.

2. Get an agent: Is there a person in your life you is your greatest advocate? Who truly gets you and can help open doors, whether it's to other relationships, clubs you want to join, a job at a great company, or a new career move? There are always advocates around, and they may even be people in your community who you don't know, or do know but are seemingly unapproachable. It's never a bad thing to make new relationships and connections, to widen your net and meet people who can help you open doors. What else is LinkedIn for?

3. Choose your cast wisely: A great Oscar-winning movie usually has an amazing cast--outstanding actors who can take the words on a line of script and transform them into something awe-inspiring. It is important to find those people in your life by whom you can be influenced, and who can take your life, your story, and help you live it to your full potential. We all need mentors and supporters, advocates and confidents along our way.

4. Don't underestimate the soundtrack: A soundtrack can make or break a movie--if the music's off, the whole performance can become awkward and undesirable to sit through. What you listen to, the music you play, can impact your mood and your thoughts. There is a lot of research on the power of listening to Baroque music while studying, reading, writing, or relaxing--the tempo of the music can stimulate brain activity that enhances retention. As well, listening to depressing or dark or aggressive music can shape our emotions and thought-patterns. Choose the soundtrack that accompanies your life wisely.

5. Wardrobe can be fun: The wardrobe of a movie can go a long way. You've heard the tired old maxim, "dress for success," but there could be something to it. I'm not suggesting to seek out pretension in how you dress, but if you enjoy your own sense of style, or enjoy a little fashion more than the next person, then this can be an important way of expressing who you are. To repress that could actually lead to a lower sense of self-efficacy or self-confidence. Obviously as humans we are much deeper than the surface of our clothes; but it can be fun to wear things you really like.

6. Props help: Props as part of the overall set of a movie are important in their subtlety. As humans, we are tool-users and makers (we have been for 30,000 years), and as such, we can gain enjoyment and satisfaction through the gear we carry around, and the things we have around us. For some, it might be a fine pen and bottle of ink, for others antiquarian books, for others the latest mobile device. When applied to our living and work spaces, the tools we use, the kinds of furniture and how it's all set up can increase or decrease our satisfaction, comfort, and creativity.

7. Setting can make all the difference: Richard Florida wrote a book a number of years ago entitled, "Who's Your City?" which showed the importance, demographically, of the city you live and work in. His research showed that people living in larger, more diverse and creative cities lived lives of higher satisfaction than those who lived in small towns, particularly in terms of the jobs they had, their earning potential, and overall quality of life. But maybe for you being an urban dweller has grown tiresome and stressful, and you yearn for the slow pace of a smaller city or even a rural area. Whatever it is, where you dwell can impact your quality of life and goals.

8. Great films need great supporting roles: So you don't really have what it takes, nor the desire, to be your own boss and run a big company, but you are great at being the go-to person for your boss or executive--there's nothing wrong with that. In this world of selfie, being your own boss can be totally over-rated. There's a book by a business guru showing that most people who run their own businesses are not really entrepreneurial, but simply have exchanged one boss they didn't like for another, namely themselves. A supporting role can be a good thing: you get accolades, often paid well, and you don't have to carry the stress of the one who owns the joint.

9. There's always room to make a come-back: Often Oscar winners are those who have had set-backs, whether in their personal lives, professional lives, or both. And it's that kind of story within the story that we often really like--how an actor or actress had to struggle through hardship, reinvent themselves, and make a stellar performance for which they are more than deserving of the Oscar award. If you've had set-backs, or you're in a struggle right now, there's always time for a come-back. It might not be right now, but if you keep your chin up and continue to struggle through, learning along the way, your life can turn around. Don't lose Hope.

10. The audience makes or breaks: Whatever you do, put it out there for an audience, whether on a blog or script or proposal or plan--you're only as good as the audience that sees the work of your hands. It doesn't make you more or less human, for we all know that it's the life lived away from others that matters, but it can help you accomplish your goals. If you'll notice, most actors who win awards thank the audience, without which they would never have been given the opportunity in the first place. When you have a good audience, and you are accomplishing your goals, make sure to take time and thank those around you who are making it possible. Always be thankful.

11. Authenticity is the real thing: A good movie, or any good work of art, is authentic in some way; it portrays something in a way that hasn't been done before. Even if it's a copy of something, how it copies reveals something true or real, something that stands out from everything else. This too applies to your life: you are unique, you are a person with a true identity for which you are special. There is no one like you. In your life, whatever you're doing and whoever you're doing it for, bring your true authentic self to it. Take a risk. Learn as you go. Fail, get up, fail again, and keep going, bringing who you are to whatever you're doing. That's what makes life a work of Art--that's what makes life absolutely worth living.

4 Basic Winter Driving Risks And What You Can Do About It

Winter weather driving can be brutal and replete with risk and anxiety. For morning commuters, there can be several different weather fronts depending on which parts of Ontario you're driving through that can cause everything from dangerous road conditions to highway stop-and-go traffic.

As noted throughout this blog, preparation is critical. Luck favours those who are prepared, and the difference between being prepared and not being prepared is as simple as effort. It doesn't take much to remember to put a pair of boots and your parka in the trunk of your vehicle if you're going to work in your wing-tips and cashmere coat. Here are some basic risks for winter weather and what you can do to mitigate them:

1. Blizzards: No this is not the ice cream treat--I wish it were as sweet and creamy! No--a winter blizzard is serious stuff with all that blowing snow and lack of visibility. And it can sweep up under and over and around your vehicle so fast, especially along Ontario's highways, that you can easily be caught unprepared. Some ways to mitigate this are checking the weather ahead of time, leaving yourself lots of time to get to your destination, making sure you've got, at the least, your brush and scraper if not a shovel. Take it slow and easy, and if the visibility is too great, you can always pull your vehicle over, put on your 4-way hazards, and chill...

2. Freezing Rain: This is rain that falls through a cold-air patch and freezes upon impact on the ground, causing some very treacherous driving conditions. If it's freezing rain along the roads and highways, consider driving under the speed limit, and using extra-caution around other vehicles. It doesn't hurt to let someone into your lane if they need to get in. As well, keep some salt and/or sand/kitty litter in your trunk in case you get stuck on an ice patch and can't get free. Putting a bit of salt and sand under and around your tires can help melt the ice and create more traction.

3. Rain: Heavy rainfall in conditions where there is already snow can lead to tremendous water run-offs and even flooding. When such weather occurs, Environment Canada will usually issue a rain-fall warning. If you're in areas that tend to flood, proceed with caution.

4. Blowing Snow: The big problem with blowing snow is drifts: on one patch of road it's level with considerable traction; suddenly you hit a snow drift and can't gauge the depth quickly enough and in the ditch you go. In conditions of blowing snow, you need to really slow down, and try to avoid driving through snow that looks suspiciously drifty and deep. It's important you have a shovel and warm clothes in your vehicle in the event you get stuck and have to dig yourself out.

Again, the most important thing is preparation that you can do right now. Simply ensure you have the right tools and resources packed in your vehicle that can assist you in the event you are besieged by winter weather brutality. Make sure you've got enough windshield wiper fluid, a good multi-tool (like McGyver wouldn't leave home without), a shovel, some salt/kitty litter, a good pair of boots, gloves, extra layers, blankets, candles, matches, health bars, etc--especially if you commute to and from work everyday.

7 Things You've Got To Avoid When Travelling and Eating Abroad

You've got your tickets, you're ready to board the plane for some remote part of the world, or somewhere abroad, and, if you're anything like me, you want to do anything you can to avoid getting sick while on the trip. For there's nothing worse than spending even a day on vacation holed up under quarantine in the bathroom of your hotel. 

So, to help you out, here are things you need to avoid to stay healthy on your vacation:

1. Raw shellfish: I know, you're on vacation and all, but shellfish like oysters or mussels are bottom feeders, and as such pick up terrible bacteria, which, if the shellfish is uncooked, can be transferred to you. 

2. Raw produce: Every country recommends not to eat raw produce. You can take your chances, but you could end up sick. It's best to eat all fruits and vegetables cooked. And watch for desserts that have raw fruit in them also.

3. Shady restaurants: It's best to qualify the restaurants reputation before you eat there. As with any country, there are good and bad places to eat. When you're vacationing, and spending solid money, you want to eat at the best place possible. This will also cut down the chances, albeit not entirely, of getting sick.

4. Avoid street vendors: While customary in many places, street vendors typically do not have permits, and thus not subject to health inspection, which can mean poor quality and health-risky food.

5. Eggs: A high rate of salmonella poisoning comes from eating eggs that are not properly cooked. The issue is apparently in the chicken who laid the egg, and not the shell itself. In parts of the world where a freshly laid egg is precious, it's best to eat only when you know it's been cooked. That also means avoiding caesar salads abroad.

6. Tap water: It's become more common to drink bottled water, even in Canada where our water is still somewhat clean. In other countries, it's best to avoid tap water altogether, which also means no ice in your beverages and brushing your teeth with bottled water.

7. Big meals: If you're in Italy, for instance, you'll most likely regale yourself on heavy meals, especially past 10 o'clock at night. However, in other parts of the world more foreign, it's best to eat smaller portions of food in the event that there is contamination; this way your body has a better chance of fighting off the bacteria or offering faster recovery.

Another thing that's important is always wash your hands before eating to cut down on any bacteria left on your fingers. Bring alcohol-based hand sanitizer wipes in your bag in the event you're not close to a washroom, or in places where washrooms are unsanitary.

Why Now Is The Time To Get Back Into Shape

It's 9:17 on a Wednesday evening, and you feel exhausted, you have body pains, and you've just returned from Dairy Queen with two Peanut Buster Parfaits, and they're both for you. You're sleeping in later and later each morning, because you can't sleep properly at night. Shovelling the film of snow off your driveway spikes your heart rate like a hospital stress-test, walking up your stairs causes wheezing, and carrying your groceries from car to fridge results in muscle and joint pain. This is when you know you need to get back into shape.


There's really no better time than now. Working out doesn't have to be a time-consuming thing like the times you were a teen ager working your angst out on the weight bench in your garage for several hours a day. It can be very simple, stress-free, convenient, and efficient.

The most important thing to know right now is that you can do it. You haven't been to a gym since you were in university--25 years ago? No problem--just do it. You can join a gym or get some second-hand equipment for your home. I have a friend who has a few free-weights and an old exercise bike circa 1970s, and that's all he needs. 

Another way to go are cave man exercises: push-ups, sit ups, and a chin-up bar you can buy at Walmart for about $20 that stretches between both sides of a door frame. Go on YouTube and find some simple Pilates videos and work on stretching. Take the dog out more times per day and for longer distances. Find some stairs at a local park and climb them, up and down, as many times as you can.

The key is to take it slow: If you're in your 40s and haven't been active for the past several years, you're not going to be able to perform like you did at 21. Work at doing it as consistently as you can and without burning yourself out. 

Gyms are another good place to get on the road to recovery, with some offering initiation programs in which you spend some time with a trainer going over your physical history and the kinds of outcomes you'd like to achieve. And if you haven't been to a gym before and you feel it's all 20-somethings with bodies of olympic athletes, it's not. You'll see all kinds of people at a gym: young and old, ripped and rolled. The most important thing is that you do it. 

Finding a local swimming pool is another good way to go. Getting out before or after work for a good swim will get you in fine shape--and who doesn't like a warm indoor swimming pool in the dead-cold of winter?

With getting back into cardiovascular and muscular shape comes greater concern about what you put in your body. When you aren't sweating like crazy on the treadmill or trying to get your muscles toned as close as possible to the body you had in university, you're more likely to eat things that are unhealthy. However, when you are taking the time to care for your body, you begin to desire putting healthy things into it. There is often a connection between working out and eating well.

So if you feel tired, sluggish, depressed, and have spent every evening this week watching Friends re-runs with bags of Frito-Lays, and you desire to change your life, now's the time to do it--and you can! Make a commitment to begin: Uncover the bike or treadmill in your basement and hop on it; do some mild stretches; get out for a walk; Google-search the nearest YMCA or gym from your house and plan in the next 24 hours to go and sign up. You'll love yourself for it, and you'll be back on track to health. 

There's no better time than now!

9 Ways To Find Beauty, Feel Alive, And Be Human In Life

Life is hard and stressful sometimes. Whether watching frightening current events or having a difficult time at work or feeling the post-holiday financial crunch, we can come face to face with stress and anxiety. Sometimes the world seems grey, sometimes bleak, sometimes just too complex and too fast for our bodies and minds to handle. With ubiquitous mobile technology, we are rarely out of reach of the blistering speed of news stories, endless information, photos on Pintrest or Facebook, someone racking up contacts on Linkedin, and on and on it goes--world without end...

It's hard to think of ourselves existing outside of this world of current events, social media, and endless communication. It's hard to believe that we exist independently of all that seems to the world so important, when in reality, for a time, it may not be. It's hard to be present for ourselves, and those we care about when we feel weighed down by all that seems to be so bad in the world.

The truth is, there are ways to exist outside of those things that bring us anxiety and concern. There are ways to be in the moment, to be present for ourselves and others that can make us feel human and alive, and like there's more to life than what seems collectively so critical and important.

As I've pondered the world today, I've come up with a short list of things we can do when the weather seems too cold, the world too bleak, the future without much hope. Take a moment, a time out of time, to read them. My hope is as you read them, other ideas come to mind.

1. Go for a walk: Getting outside, away from phones and computers, and walking is a great way to be present for yourself, not to mention a very healthy way to get exercise and relieve stress. If there is a park nearby your home or work, stroll through it and observe the snow-clinging trees and the faint whistle of a bird. If you're in the city, wander past windows and stop into shops that seem inviting and off the beaten path--might be a culinary store that stirs your passion for cooking, or a used bookshop you've wanted to nose through but haven't given yourself the time. Walk. Feel the air through your lungs, the ground at your feet, your breath. You are alive.

2. Call someone: Phone someone you haven't talked to in a while: a distant brother or father, a friend you haven't had time to say hello to. Enjoy a catch-up conversation and let it go to whatever topics come to mind. Communication is a good thing; it makes you feel connected to another human being, and gets you away from the ruminations. If you trust this person, and you're having a rough day, share it with them--maybe they're having similar problems too, and the two of you can find solidarity.

3. Plan a date: Make plans to do something fun with the person you love: a dinner at a tucked away place, or just time spent at home cozied up on the couch watching a movie. Spend time with your loved one: talk to them, rub their feet, be present and fully available to them without the worries and spontaneous emails from work. Turn your phone off, and be in the moment.

4. Media fast: Just don't watch any news for a day, and if you like how it feels, extend it to another and another... If you're in news media professionally, maybe you don't have this luxury of a day, but it could be for an hour. The key is to get away from the current affairs with all its strife and politics and prattle, and find your life outside of it. It's funny: the world will continue without you being glued to all its twitter posts and video footage and news columns, and you'll be able to enjoy being a single individual, a human being. Try it--just for a day...

5. Play with your kids: We take our jobs and lives so seriously at times. We work late, and don't change out of our work clothes till we're ready to get into bed. We go from the long commute home to a quick meal, to crashing in front of the tv--more news, more stress--and into bed, probably with the tablet or our phones. The kids are perceived as more work and nuisance than as a remedy for our stress. Nothing like getting your old jeans on, and getting on the floor with them building train sets or reading books or getting outside, enjoying their laughter and innocence. Deep down, we're all kids; we want to play and have fun, regardless of how seriously we often take ourselves. Try it. If you haven't been with your kids for a few days, take time for them. Read them stories, or just hang out with them watching some goofy show--you'll feel connected to them and they to you.

6. Cozy up with a beverage of choice and a good book: The art of reading is one of life's great pleasures. I often read serious stuff, but recently opened a book by the spy novelist John le Carre and have found something special. It feels good when the weather's howling and cold to get cozy in bed with a hot tea or glass of wine and enjoy a good book--nothing too serious, but engaging enough to heighten your joy. If sleep is what you want, then the best kind of sleep-inducing books are those that are dry but interesting, long winded but engaging enough to keep you reading until the book hits you in the nose signalling it's time to put the darn thing down and drift to sleep.

7. Write: I've suggested this in previous posts, and it is one of the things that is so basic to the human experience, but a lost art in our modern times, I'm afraid. Often we walk around with things all bottled up inside: stresses, worries, anxieties, hopes, dreams, things people said to us that triggered emotions, etc. The best way to work through them, besides talking to a therapist, is simply write them down. It's simple: take a sheet of paper and a pen, and write whatever comes to mind for 15 minutes. If you want to get fancy, light a candle and play baroque music--it'll put you in a state of flow and will ignite your thoughts and feelings. Keep your writings in a folder somewhere private, and return to this practice anytime you need to--preferably every day.

8. Work out: Get on the treadmill, lift some weights, get to a gym, run the block, ride your bike in the snow, get to the yoga studio, whatever it is for you, just do it. The endorphins alone will make you feel amazing. It's a drag, and it's easier to avoid than take the first step to doing it, but forcing yourself will pay off.

9. Make or buy a healthy smoothy: Sometimes when I'm feeling like crap, the best thing is a fresh carrot apple juice with extra extra ginger, other times its a shot of wheatgrass. A good healthy smoothy will make you feel amazing and give you vitamins you might be lacking. Maybe for you, instead, it's a caramel macchiato. Like the Woody Allen movie, whatever works.

The importance in all of these suggestions (and indeed there are many many more) is to step away from the perpetual stresses of life for a moment of humanity; to feel human, to be alive. When we feel alive and human we can return to our busy lives and loved ones with greater clarity and care. When we feel alive, we are better able to deal with stress and doubts and worries. We can realize there is more to life than the suffering and pain and anxiety of our world.

We are human. We are alive. We are here.

16 Safety Tips You've Gotta Read Before You Ski or Snowboard

With all the snow in Ontario, it's a good time to get the skis waxed up and hit the slopes. But did you know that 5,600 Canadians are seriously injured from winter sports every year? And this statistic, recorded by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, only includes those who spend at least a one night stay in hospital, but not those that involve only the emergency department, doctor’s office, or deaths at the scene, which, if included, would make this number much higher (Indeed, in terms of total ED visits for these seasonal activities, Ontario alone saw a total of 45,270 in 2010-2011, averaging 285 emergency department visits for every day of winter.).

Additionally, while hockey has been receiving a great deal of attention for winter sport injury, skiing and snowboarding injuries are more than twice as common. And close to one-third of all those hospitalizations for ski and snowboarding injuries were for people age 10-19, with boys forming 81% of those hurt. And children younger than 10 years old were hospitalized most often for injuries related to skiing and snowboarding.

In light of this, it will be important to slightly curb your enthusiasm for shreddin’, with the following safety tips, especially if you are, or a guardian of, a male between the ages of 10 and 19 or :

1. Always stay in control. You must be able to stop, or avoid other people or objects.

2. People ahead of you have the right-of-way. It’s your responsibility to avoid them.

3. Do not stop where you obstruct a trail or are not visible from above.

4. Before starting downhill or merging onto a trail, look uphill and yield to others.

5. If you are involved in or witness a collision or accident, you must remain at the scene and identify yourself to the Ski Patrol.

6. Always use proper devices to help prevent runaway equipment.

7. Observe and obey all posted signs and warnings.

8. Keep off closed trails and closed areas.

9. You must not use lifts or terrain if your ability is impaired through the use of drugs and alcohol.

10. You must have sufficient physical dexterity, ability and knowledge to safely load, right, and unload lifts. If in doubt, ask the attendant.

11. Use and respect the above Alpine Responsibility Code

12. Use properly adjusted equipment: ski bindings should be adjusted regularly by a professional

13. Always remain in control of your speed and direction

14. Choose a terrain that matches your ability, and not that of a friend.

15. Always wear a helmet that is specifically for skiing and snowboarding, and fits you properly.

16. With these tips in mind, your risks of suffering serious injury—and being a statistic rather than part of the ruddy cohort of hot-chocolate swiggers at the slope’s chalet—will be greatly reduced.

The 10 Most Important Things You Need To Know Before You Go And Shovel Your Driveway

Snow shoveling is important, particularly along your sidewalks and other walkways, because it can reduce the risk of fall or accident by pedestrians and you and your family. However, while a routine activity for Canadians, it is not as harmless as one might think. If not done carefully, or approached with caution if you have health issues, you can suffer harm to your body.

Before you head out to shovel your driveway, check out these tips for healthy and safe snow shoveling.

1. Check with your doctor if you are physically fit enough to shovel, and think twice if you have had a heart attack, have high blood pressure and cholesterol, are a smoker, and/or lead a sedentary lifestyle. If you fall into these categories, hire a young person to shovel for you, or ask a neighbor who has a snow blower to clear your snow.

2. Warm up your muscles by doing stretches and other flexing exercises to loosen up the muscles. Stretch your hamstrings, back, arms, and shoulders. Jog lightly on the spot to get your blood pumping.

3. Dress in layers that can be taken off when the job gets too hot and strenuous.

4. Pace yourself—it’s better to conserve your energy than try to ram through the snow and get it done in record time.

5. Rest every 5-10 minutes to catch your breath. If it’s a sunny day, enjoy the sunrays. Clearing snow by hand means that you are lifting and carrying hundreds of pounds of snow—the sheer weight of which you would not be lifting under normal circumstances.

6. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

7. Push the snow first down the centre of your driveway, creating a path. Then, starting at the uppermost centre part of the driveway, work from the centre to the parameter along one side, and then from centre to parameter along the other.

8. Maintain proper posture. Push the snow when possible. When you can’t push the snow, lift with your legs, not with your back. Use your shoulder muscles as much as possible. Don’t twist your body as you throw the snow, or throw the snow over your shoulder or to the side.

9. Be thorough, but not perfectionistic. Let the sun do its job if you’re shoveling in the daytime, or use salt or other ice-melting products to clear the rest away.

10. Whenever possible, start early. Newly fallen snow is usually less heavy than snow that’s had a chance to pack or partially melt. If you’re going to get a lot of snow, get out periodically and do several passes, rather than trying to haul it all off your driveway at one time.

If you've grown up in a place with snowy winters, then you're a veteran snow shoveler. Nevertheless, here are some tips to remember:

1. Shoveling snow is a very strenuous activity that puts pressure on your heart

When you are exhausted from shoveling, you have a grater chance of getting frostbite, injury, and even hypothermia

2. Stop shoveling and call 911 if you have: Heaviness and discomfort in the chest or arms, dizziness or are feeling faint, excessive sweating, nausea, or vomiting, unusual or prolonged shortness of breath

3. Stretch when you’re done, and, if you can, take an ibuprofen for your inflamed muscles—a salt bath can also be an amazing remedy.

4. Be a snow angel: If you have neighbours who are elderly, away, or just haven't been out yet to shovel, do their part of the sidewalk for them--they'll love you for it.

Look after yourself. The winter is long in Canada, and snow is often deep and heavy. Take it easy, and take time to stop and talk to a neighbour while you’re out there. If it’s sunny, enjoy it. If it’s a quiet night, gaze up at the stars from time to time. Be in the moment, and take care.

Why You Should Wait Five Years Before Buying Your Next Vehicle

By 2020, the option of having a self-driving vehicle will be a reality--that's only five years away. According to Kurzweilai.net, most auto manufacturers are "incrementalists," adding automated features such as adaptive cruise control, self-parking, and traffic-jam assist. 

In a recent article in the MIT Technology Review, autonomous vehicles will not be able to navigate urban roads for another few decades, simply given the fact that urban roads change a lot

But what we know about technology is that it is spiky, not linear. This means that the latest technology builds on the advancements and strength of the previous technology. It thus can spread very fast.  

Mercedes Benz S500 Intelligent Drive Autonomous Car

There are three options when looking at automated vehicles: 

• Partially automated: Here a car can take over some aspects of driving, such as speed and steering, but cannot control much beyond that;

• Highly automated: The car can drive itself, but is also equipped with a human over-ride system.

• Fully automated: Drives itself without human over-ride.

Don Norman, a professor of design from University of California, San Diego and author of The Design of Everyday Things, gave a lecture endorsing Google's project for fully automated vehicles in which he claimed that a highly automated car would be less safe than a fully-automated one. Airplanes, Norman pointed out, have been highly automated for years; however, the over-ride system provides several minutes for the pilot to take over control. The problem with cars, at least thus far, is that would have only a split second or two to take over, should the vehicle be unable to handle driving conditions. 

But don't hold off on purchasing that new vehicle just yet; for while it's very likely that highly-automated cars will be on the roads by 2020 and fully-automated by 2030, it remains very difficult to predict the accuracy of these seemingly arbitrary timelines. 

Many insurance companies, for example, remain unprepared to welcome even incremental hands-free driving, according to the Wall Street Journal: "Why buy an autonomous vehicle if you have to maintain control? says Adrian Lund, the President of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety." Lund predicts that autonomous vehicles won't be around anytime soon as a result of barriers presented by the legal and insurance sectors. For while it may be permissible for some experts to test autonomous vehicles, it remains a long-way off for the average person to be permitted to take his or her hands off the wheel for significant periods of time.

There remain a panoply of issues related to autonomous vehicles, but technology marches on. The insurance and legal sectors are some of the slowest moving when it comes to policy adjustments in the wake of new innovations. If I were to place a bet, I'd put it on Google and the technologists; for while there are complex issues surround these technologies, there's nothing like a product oozing with cool-factor shot through with high levels of practicality that can shake up a market and get even the most truculent policy-makers to move their feet and march. Time will only tell...

The 10 Greatest Blog Posts Of 2014: Awesome Ways To Mitigate Risk In Your Vehicle, Home, And Life

The week of New Years is all about retrospectives: looking back on the previous year for insights and just plain entertainment.

In this spirit, I have scourged the archives of the Easy Way blog to find the Top 10 articles of 2014: those that drove the most number of reader hits. I will not repeat the entire article, but rather provide a brief overview replete with a link that you can simply click to go to the article itself.

10. Why Tron Is Not Too Far In The Future Of Driving (or, The Current Convergence Of Electric and Self-Driving Cars)

When the movie Who Killed the Electric Car was released, it is plausible that the powers that be were not aware of Tesla--or perhaps they were. This article presents the Tesla Model-S as a glimpse into the future of autonomous cars, as well as some options that are soon available from companies like Google and Kia. These are glimpses into a future that many people are not considering right now. The phenomenon of autonomous cars will change everything, from traffic laws and vehicle insurance to personal privacy and freedom. 

9. 9 Things That Could Save Your Life In A Car Crash--And No, Matt Dillon Has Nothing To Do With It

A car crash is one of the most terrifying things you can experience in your lifetime, and yet it likely every time you get in a vehicle and travel somewhere. But are there ways to prepare against a car crash? Are there certain things you can do to increase your likelihood of survival or even mitigate major injury? This post lays out 9 ways to prepare against a car crash that could indeed save your life. With winter coming, and being in the time of year in which traffic accidents have a higher rate of occurrence, you'll need to read this to prepare yourself and family.

8. You Think The Cable Guy Is Weird, Wait Till You Get To Know Your TV--Or: Why You Need To Think Twice Before Buying Or Keeping A Smart TV

If I were to tell you that in the next 5 years your technology will be smarter than you, you would probably scoff and slough it off as some conspiratorial scare-tactic; a ploy to manipulate you into reading further through this blog. The problem is that our technology already is smarter than we are, and we don't even know it. Recording conversations in your living room and facial recognition the information of which is sent to third parties are just two ways Smart TVs are invading your home and privacy. This article argues that you need to think twice before buying a Smart TV.

7. If You Are Not Aware Of Ebola In North America, Now's The Time To Be Informed and Prepare A Plan

Ebola is a strange phenomenon: while it continues to spread throughout Africa, the news reporting of it has waned dramatically since fall of 2014 when the public awareness was very high. There were reports of Obama prohibiting media from reporting on Ebola that may explain this recession of media coverage. Nevertheless, the pandemic continues to bubble up into the news, and there are sites continuing to track its spread. This remains a critical issue for 2015.

6. Why Joni Mitchell Was Totally Right About Parking Lots: Or, 7 Ways To Survive And Be A Decent Human Being In A Parking Lot

Parking lots suck. And with all the holiday madness, many people have had to endure their poor designs, paying for them with dents in car doors and numbers, and incidents of battles for that last remaining spot. But it's not our fault. Parking lots are a system, the troubling outcomes of which are results of poor design and bottom-line driven developers. Nevertheless, here are a number of important tips for navigating this aberrant terrain.

5. Find Out What Country Has The Highest Obesity Rate. Hint: Would Make Richard Simmons Cry (OK, That Doesn't Really Say Much...)

Well, what would a post-New Years blog be without an article dealing with obesity? With many of us feeling stretched from the holidays beyond merely our bank and credit accounts, it's good to pause and look at our bodies and plan on getting into better shape--especially over these cold winter months. This post looks at some demographic information regarding obesity world-wide, before turning to some very basic ways you can trim up beginning today. Resolve to put a big ol' smile on Richard Simmon's face, for Lord knows we all hate to see him cry...

4. Shocking Ways Your Wifi Environment Is Making You Sick--And What You Can Do About It

Wifi is everywhere--and it's making us sick. This is a harsh realization that we all must be aware of. We are currently part of an ongoing experiment on the health ramifications of wifi the results of which we will not fully understand for another decade. And yet, we have wifi everywhere: homes, schools, businesses. This blog is a must read: simple as that. If you have small children, you need to find ways to keep wifi off as much as possible in your home, and limit their exposure to it in public. 

3. How Meeting Jeff Probst Is Not The Only Way You Can Become A Survivor

Insurance is all about mitigating risk. We are living in a precarious world for which we need to be prepared. This post is all about the basics of preparing for the number of natural and otherwise disasters that are plausible at every moment. No, it's not to fear monger, or raise any unnecessary flags, but simply to be prepared. Besides, putting such plans and gear together as mentioned in this post can be fun for you and your family, not to mention you'll sleep a bit better at night knowing that you are more prepared than you were yesterday. Not a bad thing to add to your resolution list.

2. 4 Things You Need To Know About R.I.D.E. That'll Save You Thousands Of Dollars

R.I.D.E., while being known as a holiday phenomenon, will continue to rear its head over the course of the year. You need to be prepared. Impaired driving remains a major source of vehicle collisions and vehicle deaths. If you are approaching a R.I.D.E. program, these 4 tips will save you thousands of dollars. 

1. Think This Guy Left Home Unprepared? Get Your McGyver On and Gear Up Your Vehicle Safety Kit 

This post blew all the others totally out of the water, reaching almost 100 hits. The subject-matter is awesome and vital to our times: Survival Gear for Vehicle Safety. This will cover everything you need to put together a vehicle safety kit, as well as the multi-tools and the like. If you haven't put such a kit together, this post will give you the basics so that you can get your McGyver on!