Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada, February 2021 It’s funny how memories come back to you when you're the one in the driver’s seat. Last night I thought about the first time I saw snow. It was in Chile when my brother and I visited our aunt in Santiago. It was summer for us in Jamaica, but … Continue reading The Unexpected Gifts of Driving Through Snow
Five Ways to Ease Worrying
Worry causes lack of sleep, elevates stress levels, and affects your health. Here are five tips to ease worrying.
Allyship Matters: Seven Words to ponder during Black History Month
A couple years ago, Aris and I were in the back of an Uber crawling along Upper Richmond Road in Southwest London. Gazing out the window, I spotted someone whom I thought was dressed strangely and I made a comment. My son didn’t waste a moment in responding sharply, “Not everyone dresses like you Mom. … Continue reading Allyship Matters: Seven Words to ponder during Black History Month
Engage, Tolerate or Disconnect Respectfully?
‘Delete toxic people’. ‘Remove the haters from your life’. ‘Stay away from those who don’t appreciate your value’. Is it my imagination or has the message to cut people off proliferated? If you use social media, you will likely see it pop up in some form or other on various channels. There seems to be … Continue reading Engage, Tolerate or Disconnect Respectfully?
Stay Present…or You Might Miss the Magic
Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa painting is presented at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France on 6 July 2019. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images) For his milestone birthday a couple years ago, I gifted my brother a trip to Paris. Well, first he had to find his way to London, and I’d take … Continue reading Stay Present…or You Might Miss the Magic
How to Cultivate Empathy: Stand in their Shoes
Photo credit: Arlene Amitirigala This is part of the series Lessons from the Backseat...I remember the precise moment five years ago when I realized that my daughter, Lauren, understood the meaning of empathy. Tears were streaming down her face when I picked her up from elementary school. Sitting in the backseat with her brother, she … Continue reading How to Cultivate Empathy: Stand in their Shoes
Intact…A Poem
I recently read an article about a man who had physically abused his wife for twenty of the twenty-seven years that they have been married. He found religion and redemption in year twenty and they are now living in wedded bliss. It was hard for me to not sit in judgement of their journey and … Continue reading Intact…A Poem
Ask Me: How was my day?
This is part of the series Lessons from the Backseat…Do you make the time to truly see others and find out what’s on their mind? When my daughter Lauren was in kindergarten, we had a nightly routine. We would snuggle up in her bed and I would ask her to tell me all about her … Continue reading Ask Me: How was my day?
Moving Countries? Self-care is a must
Relocation is stressful. Even if you are simply moving to a townhouse in the same complex, it’s still stressful. We’ve done that by the way. We thought we could just load up the car and drive back and forth 300 meters between places. Worst plan ever. Planning the moving logistics kicks off anxiety. Packing boxes … Continue reading Moving Countries? Self-care is a must
Becoming American
Touring D.C. When my husband and I got engaged, I realized it was a possibility that we would end up living in the United States. But I didn’t believe we would really pack up and leave home. I didn’t imagine one day I would vote in a U.S. election and I certainly never thought one … Continue reading Becoming American
TrulyArlene 