Cognitive psychology has shown that the mind best understands facts when they are woven into a conceptual fabric, such as a narrative, mental map, or intuitive theory. Disconnected facts in the mind are like unlinked pages on the Web: They might as well not exist. - Steven Pinker I have spent the last five days … Continue reading We Don’t Know What We Know Until We Realize
Tag: polio
Entitlement is Not Freedom
I like to open each session with, what I think, is an appropriate quote from the wisdom of other. Today I am reflecting on an insightful comment by actor and outspoken speaker on rights, Liev Schreiber. That is, and I quote, "I react very badly when mediocrity throughs a tantrum of entitlement". I share that … Continue reading Entitlement is Not Freedom
Okay Let’s Talk
"The worse kind of sad is that which you can't explain to others because you are a survivor" 17 years old and leaving on my first jet to Montreal Today is the national day to discuss mental health, known best as #BellLetsTalk day. A massive corporate fundraising day and a chance to get people to … Continue reading Okay Let’s Talk
Stop Giving Us Grief
"Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart." - José N. Harris Rethinking life Grief is a strong, sometimes overwhelming emotion for people, regardless of whether their sadness stems from the loss of a loved one or from a terminal diagnosis they or someone … Continue reading Stop Giving Us Grief
Pandemic Fugue
"The problem with the idea that history repeats itself is that when it isn't making us wiser it's making us complacent" Lisa Halliday, Asymmetry Rethinking life Fugue is defined as "a state or period of loss of awareness of one's identity", often coupled with flight from one's usual environment. After almost two years of this pandemic … Continue reading Pandemic Fugue
History Repeating
"Liberty has been won. The battle for Equality is still pending" - Charles Sumner, June 1, 1865 Lost in thought Somethings should never wake up while other have to erupt in order to handle change. I would never have thought I would be writing about this but then I never realized just how many "buried" … Continue reading History Repeating
Decade by Decade – True Change is Slow
Approaching my first New Eve's middle of the century Yes that little lump of flesh was me on my first New Years. That year was also the decade that marked the halfway point of the 20th century. I now measure societal advances by the decade rather than the year. A year doesn't really provide a … Continue reading Decade by Decade – True Change is Slow
Just Because It's Buried Doesn't Mean It's Dead
“Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before. You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you’ve lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something that’s good.” - Elizabeth Edwards Attending my dad's employers Christmas party (1958) when … Continue reading Just Because It's Buried Doesn't Mean It's Dead
Change is Constant, Accept That
Deep thoughts on activism Good Monday morning. There comes a time when we have to focus on the betterment of those around us and back off from saving the world. When you have been involved in activism as long as I have, it can be hard to hand over the reins of "change". It is … Continue reading Change is Constant, Accept That
Christmases Past and Present (2021)
Before the commercialized Christmas Tree, candles were the lights and only burnt Christmas Eve Merry Christmas and allow me to start by quoting the epiphany Scrooge experienced in that classic "A Christmas Carol". A tale that has been a mainstay of the Christmas spirit since its first publication in 1843. What many people fail to … Continue reading Christmases Past and Present (2021)