juliefj1

Papayas & Mangos

Five years ago, life as we knew it came to a halt. Little did we know that we were on the brink of permanent change. Change in our daily activities, change in our relationships, and change in the way we view our world. We had just returned from our annual winter getaway trip to Merida,Continue reading “Papayas & Mangos”

The Magical Mayans

This blog is not about colonization. It is not about how the early Europeans came to the Americas and conquered civilizations. It is not about the concept of “God, gold and glory” or the need for more wealth, gold, or trade routes. It is not about the early European’s desire to spread Christianity. What IContinue reading “The Magical Mayans”

Tacos? Sure, I can adapt

I used to be fairly quick at adapting to change. After all, I am a Gemini, and we’re known for being adaptable, curious, and social. Out of those three, I think I’m only curious these days! My ability to be adaptable was recently put to the test in Mexico of all places. My husband andContinue reading “Tacos? Sure, I can adapt”

Dealing with Aging Parents. Oh right, that’s me!

A few weeks ago, my daughter told me she had listened to an interesting interview on CBC Radio. The interview was with an author who had recently published a book. I was somewhat surprised by the title of that book: Let’s Talk About Aging Parents. What? Was she referring to me? After she told meContinue reading “Dealing with Aging Parents. Oh right, that’s me!”

A little inspiration goes a long way

Well, here we are at the start of another new year. 2025. Wow! It sounds futuristic, doesn’t it? Yet here we are. Some of us sailed through 2024 unscathed. Others not so much. Most importantly, the lessons we learned in the last 12 months are helping us to forge ahead and make the best ofContinue reading “A little inspiration goes a long way”

Christmas Compromises Vs. Tradition

Whether you’re reading this hot off the press on Christmas Day or a few days after, I hope you are spending some time this holiday season with family, friends, pets, anyone, or anything that gives you joy. That’s what it is all about, right? A couple of years ago I wrote about the importance ofContinue reading “Christmas Compromises Vs. Tradition”

Rest? Who has the time?

It’s the middle of December. Many of us are exhausted. We are stressed out by the extra tasks we think must be done at this time of the year. You know, planning gift exchanges, meal prep, holiday baking, decorating, cleaning, and parties! It’s stressful stuff! There is a sense of urgency in the air duringContinue reading “Rest? Who has the time?”

Scrolling Through Life

What is the first thing you do when you wake up? Do you stretch and thank your higher power for giving you another day? Do you meditate? Or do you grab your phone first? Do you check what happened in the world while you slept the night away? British podcaster and life coach Jay ShettyContinue reading “Scrolling Through Life”

And how did you sleep?

How did you sleep last night? Did you toss and turn? Did you get up several times? How many conversations did you have with yourself? If you are like most of us, you will nod your head in agreement to the above questions. I don’t remember the last time I slept through the night. IContinue reading “And how did you sleep?”

Touring the tombstones

Growing up, I had a friend who lived just across the road from the local cemetery. We loved sneaking in after dark, playing hide ‘n seek among the tombstones, and letting our imaginations run wild. Hallowe’en was always a special time, conjuring up ghoulish stories and supposed ghost sightings. Although I no longer explore cemeteriesContinue reading “Touring the tombstones”