Tag: Joy

Let’s face it: Life is tough. At times, it can be difficult, even bordering on unbearable. You have to take a win whenever you’re able to. Big wins, medium-sized ones, and even small little things can help make your day enjoyable. I’ve learned the value of appreciating the small...

Earlier last month, on a whim to break from my usual Saturday routines, I drove out west to visit a friend. We met in the small Ontario city where we both used to go to university. The week had been sweltering. In a few days, the heat would ignite fires that would blanket Manhattan, 800 kilometer...

In the days before April 23, 2023, I knew something was wrong. Spring allergies had hit early, and my breathing was intermittently difficult. Out came the COVID test and albuterol. Since Sunday was my only official day off from my work in school leadership, I confirmed I did not have COVID and se...

“How do you measure joy?” When we talk about our work to significantly increase joy in community, people often ask this. En español Our goal has always been to significantly, measurably increase joy in community. When I shared the community joy work with Congres...

First, the record-setting Bruins go down in first-round flames. And then a night later in the same building, not to be outdone, the heavily-favored Sybil Celtics blow Game 1 to the Joel Embiid-less Sixers. TD Garden has now become a House of Horrors for the home teams; a place where raucous anticipa...

I could turn back time and change three things, I know exactly what they’d be. First, I would have come out sooner — probably during the summer between my freshman and sophomore years at the University of Florida. (Though “why then” is a story for another piece entirely.) Sec...

I could tell you the story of my life through my cycling. I could tell you that I got back on my bike because changes to the train timetable prompted me to find another way to get to work. This small, seemingly innocuous decision drastically altered the trajectory of my life. I could tell you ...

If I’d come to Mexico City for a holiday, I would have fallen in love with the place. If I hadn’t spent four years living in and loving South Africa, I would have spent our first year in Mexico in awe. If I hadn’t moved here in the middle of an earth shattering pandemic, I probably...

Early November: A post popped up on one of my WhatsApp groups. “I can’t use my tickets to see the jazz singer Samara Joy in Paris. Whoever would like them, contact me.” I have become a jazz aficionado in Paris, attending lots of the clubs here that once hosted Josephine Baker...

Emotions matter. They help change mindsets, are at the heart of relationships and are expertly targeted to fuel consumption — yet the rational mind can dismiss emotions as inferior to facts and figures. The pathways to nature connectedness and our interventions include emotions to help form a ...

As an academic in the field of sustainability, I grapple daily with a profound dilemma, one that — I think — might resonate deeply with many of you. It’s the challenge of knowing that some of my actions, often the ones that bring immediate gratification, can inadvertently harm both...

As an academic in the field of sustainability, I grapple daily with a profound dilemma, one that — I think — might resonate deeply with many of you. It’s the challenge of knowing that some of my actions, often the ones that bring immediate gratification, can inadvertently harm both...

Occasionally, we miss an alarm or a signal of importance. As the physicians in charge of this chaotic workplace, people are always asking us questions. Consultants and family doctors are constantly calling. When we want to finish a task or enter a note into the electronic record, we need to concentr...

In the enchanting land of Italy, a gift is not just a simple gesture; it’s an expression of affection, appreciation, and warm wishes. Italians treasure the act of giving and receiving presents, and they hold dear the art of presenting them in a manner that reflects thoughtfulness and joy. Amon...