Abandoned Places
The inexorable effects of aging confront me more each month. I find now that I reach for my reading glasses more and more. Whereas until recently I would frequently ask…
On Gratitude
When I retired from my position as executive director of IJM Canada at the end of 2018, I found it difficult at first to establish a new rhythm for my…
When Dreams Die
When I was in California last month, I drove north from Palm Springs one day to explore a section of historic Route 66 and to visit the Mojave National Preserve.…
On Memory
Our house is full of family and personal artifacts. The bed in our guest room is covered with a quilt sewn by my mother. Framed wedding photos of my parents…
Stay Fresh and Green
I recently turned 65. I celebrated my birthday by building a long, low dry-stack stone wall as a landscaping feature in our back yard. I’ve never attempted to build a…
The Longest Mile
Judy and I are enthralled by the Appalachian Trail. Every summer for the past four years, we’ve set aside time to hike a section of the Trail, beginning at Monson,…
Going the Distance: Change Is Inevitable
You may be familiar with the words of Heraclitus, the ancient Greek philosopher (c. 535 – c. 475 BC) who said “The only constant in life is change”. Those words resonate with me…
Easter Means Openness to Surprise
Last weekend on Good Friday while riding my bike through Springbank Park here in London, I noticed that the beech trees are still holding on to their leaves. The beech…
Gratitude for Interruptions
My return to running after surgery in December was interrupted three weeks ago. I thought I was doing well; friends in my running group commended me for coming back strong. …
Christmas Is Coming
I titled my last post, “Winter Is Coming”, but since then there has been little evidence to support that assumption. I had a taste of real winter when I visited…