Ancestry. Referring to a person’s ethnic origin or descent. Their roots. It could be your parents. Your grandparents or four generations back. Some take pride in where their forebearers were from or what they did. Cultures in Japan and China, for example, are widely recognized for their profound and deeply ingrained traditions of veneration for their elders and ancestors, known as filial piety. The belief that ancestors continue to influence

Our Brains Say Yes—But Are They Right? I asked Google and ChatGPT to list the significant events of 2025. AI instantly listed enough information to write several blogs. In January of last year, the Palisade and Eaton fires ravaged a Los Angeles community, destroying thousands of structures and affecting thousands more. In March, a 7.7 earthquake rocked Myanmar, killing 4500 people. Heavy monsoon rains from June to September impacted Pakistan,

I didn’t expect a mountain to teach me about kindness when we journeyed into Japan’s mountains and went on a pilgrimage. Each day meant climbing up 2500’(762m) and descending just as far. Not just once, but several times a day. I knew ahead of time that on one of those days, I would need to trek twenty miles (32km) to reach my destination. I told myself it would be tough,

I’ve always appreciated wide open spaces — the chance to be alone in nature, to listen to birds, watch an osprey hunt fish, and breathe deeply in the quiet, far from human activity. Lots of room. Crowded places where people push their way to the front of the line, talk loudly on their phones, or hurry to get somewhere can be challenging for me, let alone jam-packed occurrences like sports

Some people love horror: terrifying movies, distressing books, and shocking television shows. I asked my friend, Adrienne, who likes such things. “Why?” “Oh, I get such a rush,” she said. “It’s a thrill to confront my fear from a safe distance.” She clapped her hands. “Besides, it isn’t real.” “I think I understand, but I still can’t watch, listen, or read anything in that realm.” Just thinking about it gave

In the days of covered wagon travel, pioneers ventured west with hopes and dreams of the fertile lands of California and Oregon. It’s estimated that 1 in every 10 emigrants died on the Oregon Trail. Diseases like dysentery and smallpox claimed some. Drownings during river crossings took out others. Falls from wagons. Accidental shootings. Weather. Wild animals. Some pioneers, after an arduous journey across the Great Plains, came to a

A woman with short hair, highlighted with blond and gray streaks, touched my arm. “Sharon?” Startled, I pulled my arm away from her. Who was this stranger? I peered into her blue eyes, trying to recall when I might have met her. “Sharon, it’s me. Yvonne.” Yvonne? I don’t know any Yvonnes. Was she some crazy woman trying to trip me up? “Sorry. How do I know you?” She put

Several years ago, when my husband and I were planning our trip to Tasmania, we decided to splurge by spending a night at an expensive resort. It was to be a rest day from travel, hiking, and touring. The online photos of the place were gorgeous. The room we picked was surrounded by lush forest and blooming flowers. The website stated we’d have a private hot tub. There were trails

A few years ago, I participated in active shooter training, which taught me strategies for recognizing potential threats and reacting appropriately. Having spent years in the mental health field, I thought I’d do okay. However, I was caught off guard when the training suddenly changed. For most of the day, we were seated in a conference room, listening to lectures and keynote speakers, taking notes, asking questions, and watching videos

One person can do a beautiful thing: draw an exquisite portrait, compose a song, write a book, run a marathon, climb a mountain, invent a cure. Small groups of people can also do amazing things, such as the grassroots movement, known as the Peaceful Revolution, that contributed to the fall of the Berlin Wall, or Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, who worked out of a garage, founded Apple,

Each of us has a unique palm print, and the palm print of one hand does not resemble the other. Even identical twins have different palm print patterns. These lines, ridges, and creases are formed during fetal development, and the principal palm flexion lines and ridges remain relatively unchanged throughout life. Palmistry, the practice of reading hands to assess character and predict the future, originated in China and India around

I have a friend, Monica, who only reads books with “happy endings.” She says, “Why read sad books? Life is hard enough without reading about some tragedy.” Fair enough. Ending: the point where something ceases to exist; the conclusion; nearing a time when something is reaching completion; the opposite of beginning. I hear my friend about happy endings, but are they? Isn’t the end of something usually the opposite? A

Today is Canada Day, a national holiday in Canada, honoring the birth of Canada as a country when the British North American Act came into effect in 1867 (originally called Dominion Day). Interestingly, Canada didn’t gain complete independence from the British Parliament until 1982, and the O Canada song didn’t become its national anthem until 1980. Growing up, I attended a Canadian French Catholic school, and history lessons were about

I noticed litter strewn across many interstate highways on a recent road trip. Since the Pandemic, it seems trash alongside roadways has increased. Are there more drivers who just throw their garbage out the window? On one particular thoroughfare, I recorded the items I could see through my car window: plastic bottles, fast food wrappers, plastic bags, cardboard boxes, aluminum cans, pieces of Styrofoam, plastic cups, plastic fragments, a desk,

Before a witness testifies in a jury trial, they must take an oath, the promise “to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth…” According to the Bible, Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” The Buddha is quoted as saying, “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”  Islam places great emphasis on the

The movie Her (2013) explores the concept of one having an intimate, meaningful relationship not with a human being but with AI. Ex Machina (2014) also explores this, with spine-chilling consequences. When I watched those films, the idea seemed far-fetched. However, a bit more than a decade later, it doesn’t at all. AI is rapidly evolving, with virtual assistants and chatbots capable of providing stimulating and refreshing interactions with humans.

The month of May is notable for many things, including Mother’s Day, May Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Memorial Day. It also represents when flowers start to bloom where I live: tulips, lilacs, iris, geraniums, columbine, pansies, roses, peonies, bleeding heart, lily of the valley, and the beautiful magnolia blossoms. It’s like a parade of color and heady smells announcing the upcoming season. Is it my imagination, or do people

Is writing a hobby or a career? One probably doesn’t have to worry about monetary value if it’s a hobby. If it’s a career, you need to. Right? Can it be both? Most writers don’t make enough money from their writings to support themselves. For example, they keep a well-paying job, be it a college professor, book editor, or analyst, and write their fabulous novel in their free time. It’s

When I was eleven, I went on a trip with a group of girls around the first weekend in April to an island known for its substantial maple trees. There was still a lot of snow on the ground, and when we got to the rustic lodge, I could smell wood smoke from the big fire pits surrounding the area and from the central fireplace inside the housing. Large plumes

I wrote this poem, Waiting for You, in gratitude. For the beauty of nature that inspires me every day. For the joy of writing. For the remarkable simplicity of loving someone special for a long time. As I wrote in the introduction of my poetry book, Silver Tip, I aspire to choose my words carefully and thoughtfully. Whittle and shape the poem down to its bones. Convey as many meanings

Generally, we feel better when there is more sunlight, which triggers the release of serotonin in the brain, a neurotransmitter associated with a good mood and well-being. Most of us in the Northern Hemisphere are likely embracing this time of year with the coming of spring and the increase of daylight. The return of warmth and blooming flowers, marking the transition from the cold, dark winter to spring. The word

Last September, as we were hiking down a mountain trail in the Pacific Northwest, my husband suddenly stopped and put a finger to his lips, indicating we shouldn’t talk. The underbrush was lush, still verdant green with hints of the autumn color to come –tinges of gold and crimson red. I couldn’t see anything, so I gingerly glided to where he stood. Was it a grouse? No, it wasn’t a

“The grass is greener on the other side” is a common cliché. Others are: “Looking for greener pastures,” “Can’t see the forest through the trees,” and “The grass is greener where it is watered.” Or as in the famous Rolling Stones song, which stresses that we might not get what we want but will probably get what we need.  Psychological studies state that humans often do not feel satisfied or

Most, if not all, of us have made mistakes. Although we know that slipups are necessary building blocks to knowledge, it doesn’t make it any easier. What’s that saying? The harder the lesson, the deeper the learning. Hmmm. I think that’s true. I’ve had many hard lessons. Some are funny, some embarrassing, and some I’d rather forget. One that I’m thinking about today involves the ache in my knees. It’s

According to research, the average person has approximately 12,000 – 60,000 thoughts daily. 80% of thinking is attributed to negative thoughts driven by the fight-or-flight pattern of the brain, and 95% of those thoughts are repetitive. Doesn’t that make the saying about repeating oneself “like a broken record,” “beating the dead horse,” “washing the same dirty laundry,” or “like a parrot” so true? Neuroscientists suggest that because we are caught