Telling women (and men) what they can and can’t wear has to stop. It has to stop in our classrooms, it has to stop in our workplaces, and as it has to stop with our athletes. I remember my daughter avoiding wearing a beautiful long sundress to school, concerned that she would be criticized for violating the dress code because …
Low-key birthday celebration music to ‘introvert’s’ ears
This week I celebrated my 49th birthday. When asked how I wanted to celebrate, I said that I wanted to be with my teens and a couple close friends, eat some amazing food, pamper myself a bit, spend some time in nature, and do a little self-reflection. I’m an introvert, so a celebration involves people whom I already know and like, …
Wanted: that one useful app to make ‘life easier’
For the last few months, I’ve been focused on nothing more than getting my vaccinations, so that I could do my part in keeping the community safe and bringing back a degree of normalcy to our lives. Now that I’ve received both doses, and once my symptoms subsided, my attention turned quickly to next steps. Vaccine passports are definitely on …
Create a buzz about not mowing
Thanks to No Mow May, I did just that. Sadly, I was unable to find its equivalent for June, so on the hottest day of the year thus far, I tackled my large lawn’s unruly growth. I complained a lot as the sweat dripped down my back, and the blisters formed on my hands. Why am I telling you about …
We’re all humans who matter and deserve to feel worthy
Canada is grappling with having found a mass grave at one residential school of 215 indigenous children. On June 1, Oklahoma began to dig to identify mass graves from the 100-year anniversary of the Tulsa massacre, where an affluent black community was levelled by mobs of white residents. “Heartbeat” abortion bans have also been passed in several Republican-led states, and …
Tips to help book your very own ‘nearly painless’ process
Thursday I received my first vaccination for COVID-19, and I feel like I have joined a secret club; that of those who beat Sault Ste. Marie’s vaccination registration system. It’s frustrating when you know that other regions and provinces aren’t facing the same difficulties, and when you learn that your twin city across the border has vaccines available … if …
Try ‘treading lighter upon the earth’ and eat less meat
Four years ago, I started going meatless once a week. It was a strange shift because I usually started my meal prep with: “What meat shall I thaw?” and then I’d go from there. Then, when the lockdowns began, I went meat free other than fish or shellfish (pescatarian) for close to a year. Now, I’ve reversed my original stance …
Talking to teens about money makes good sense
My son asked me what is the biggest way that I have saved money over the years. My first thought was not the correct answer, which my daughter actually offered. The beauty of this conversation is that not only do I feel that my teens are financially aware, but that they have learned some of my tips along the way. …
Afraid to say pandemic brings on phobias
Today I experienced a new form of anxiety, dare I say, even a phobia. As a placeholder, I’m going to call it engytitaphobia. While I am an introvert, this fear (phobia in Greek) of nearness, or closeness, or proximity (engytita in Greek) is new to me. It’s been brought on by the pandemic, the health threat that others have potentially …
Limbing large tree nothing short of ‘treeson’
A large tree across from Sault Ste. Marie resident Mark Menean’s property was limbed in April. One day, it was providing shade as well as habitat for wildlife and it was converting carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the environment. The next day, it was reduced to an eyesore trunk with amputated limbs. Menean believes that the tree was on …