the happy life

the pursuit of happiness, one day at a time

5 things school taught me about happiness

In 1997, I was forced to leave university and begin full time work. Over the years, I have continued my education by taking evening courses whenever possible. Well, over a decade later, on July...

Aug 10, 2011 Like

the happy life

paper boats

Here is a story that is just perfect for The Happy Life. I am currently enrolled in a Presentation course at York University. A classmate of mine, Sam, recently told us about a special experiment...

Jul 28, 2011 Like

the happy life

happiness is…sweet traditions

Ever since my brother brought a box of fresh pastries from his local bakery to a family brunch, we have been hooked. Simple, unpretentious and delicious, they are the perfect complement to quality...

Jul 11, 2011 Like

the happy life

my happy places: St Jacobs

There is so much to see and do in Ontario during the summer that one can almost play tourist by staycationing here. I plan to take advantage of the nice weather this summer by spending some of my...

Jun 22, 2011 Like 1 person likes this

the happy life

il dolce far niente

Throughout the ages, all across the world, humans have found the right language to describe their life experiences. The existence (or absence) of a word or expression in a certain language...

Jun 8, 2011 Like

the happy life

happiness is enjoying a rainy day with your best friend

It’s a rainy day in Toronto and I am reminded of a rainy day many years ago when my best friend and I took refuge in the Starbucks at Yonge and Davisville. I remember us staying there for...

Jun 4, 2011 Like

the happy life

Christopher Plummer’s Passion

I recently listened to Jian Ghomeshi’s interview with 81 year old Canadian actor Christopher Plummer and found Plummer’s perspective on ‘work’ fascinating. Ghomeshi started out by reading the list...

Jun 2, 2011 Like

the happy life

Each of my friends inspires me in their own way. Some inspire me to be more thoughtful. Some inspire me to be more positive. And others inspire me to be more adventurous and outgoing. My friend Kim...

Jun 1, 2011 Like

the happy life

the dash

Writing for The Happy Life has taught me that positive inspiration can come from unexpected places. A gentleman I met recently in a gathering shared a heartfelt personal story. He spoke lovingly of...

May 6, 2011 Like

the happy life

second chances

In the May issue of Flare magazine, there’s a great article by Hannah Sung – former MuchMusic VJ – entitled Second Chances. She writes about our fascination with stories of people who get a second...

May 3, 2011 Like

the happy life

passion and adventure

I believe that no one can be happy living a life of conformity and routine. Life is far too important to be lived without passion and adventure. Danika and I dedicated a category on this blog to...

Apr 29, 2011 Like

the happy life

Park Talk

Earlier this year, a group of residents in the town of Elora, Ontario decided to have a say in what would become of a vacant lot in their downtown neighbourhood. The space in question is a former...

Apr 28, 2011 Like

the happy life

baker in training

Learning new things is a fun way to spend time with friends and bring a little excitement to everyday life. Since November, I have taken classes for cake decorating, photography, Thai cooking, and...

Apr 26, 2011 Like

the happy life

free money

Don’t you love finding money in the coat you haven’t worn since last season? Or the purse you haven’t used in a while? A certain company is delivering 1,000 of those happy moments to Torontonians...

Apr 22, 2011 Like

the happy life

Theatre Review: Billy Elliot, The Musical

We are fortunate to live in a city that offers so much variety in terms of arts and entertainment. Last Tuesday, I joined a group of friends at the Canon Theatre to watch Billy Elliot, The Musical....

Apr 20, 2011 Like

the happy life

tap into your imagination

Most of my childhood years were spent playing make believe. I would use blankets over furniture to create tents in which I lived imaginary adventures. Visiting the dentist’s office would inspire me...

Apr 18, 2011 Like

the happy life

benefits of sleep

Sleep and I have a love/hate relationship. I often think of the time spent sleeping as time wasted – time that could be spent being productive. For the most part, I have never really focused on...

Apr 15, 2011 Like

the happy life

art imitating life?

In a great class I took at York University recently, I struggled with an assignment that required me to write about the art in my neighbourhood. I couldn’t find anything in my suburban...

Apr 8, 2011 Like 1 person likes this

the happy life

source of happiness

“There can be no sense of security in your existence when it depends upon outside factors, for the unpredictable changes of reality can never be controlled. The solution is to find a source of...

Apr 6, 2011 Like

the happy life

dress for success

Opportunities to contribute to a good cause are not hard to find but very rarely do they fall into your lap with perfect timing. Funny enough, shortly after posting about my wardrobe-purging goals...

Apr 4, 2011 Like

the happy life

Film Review: The Bucket List

The Bucket List is a 2007 film, which I happened to watch this week. I’m not exactly the right demographic for this film and you may be wondering why I’m writing about it, 4 years later. There are...

Mar 31, 2011 Like

the happy life

pancake perseverance

Tuesday, March 8th was Pancake Tuesday and for the first time in my entire life I was going to make pancakes from scratch. Up until that point I had always relied on Aunt Jemima but Pancake Tuesday...

Mar 29, 2011 Like

the happy life

CBC Radio One & Matt Galloway

I spend a lot of time in my car during the week. What makes my drive happy is CBC Radio One. I am impressed, on a daily basis, by the range and quality of programming they deliver. And I applaud...

Mar 28, 2011 Like

the happy life

you feel it, don’t you?

There is a candle in your heart, ready to be kindled. There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled. You feel it, don’t you? Rumi

Mar 24, 2011 Like 1 person likes this

the happy life

Bobbette & Belle Patisserie

The cool weather is slowly making an exit and the prematurely opened patios are proof that this is an exciting time of year for Canadians. The beautiful weather on Sunday was nothing less than a...

Mar 22, 2011 Like 1 person likes this

the happy life

Aaaaah Spring!

The snow has melted. Trees are starting to bloom. My neighbourhood birds are chirping proudly. And mischievous squirrels are back in action. Everywhere you look; there are signs of rebirth and...

Mar 20, 2011 Like 1 person likes this

the happy life

getting back to yoga

Dutch is also an aspiring yogi (but is much more flexible than I). I am probably one of the least athletic people you will ever meet – I pretty much despise most physical activity. I can admit this...

Mar 17, 2011 Like 1 person likes this

the happy life

Brotherly Love

In the April issue of Canadian Family magazine, there’s a wonderful story about a Vancouver volunteer named Tom Everitt who has been a Big Brother, through Big Brothers and Big Sisters, since 2002....

Mar 16, 2011 Like

the happy life

Lent Got Me Thinking

Here at The Happy Life, we like to celebrate cultural and religious diversity. We draw on wisdom from a wide range of sources, for tips on living a happier and more fulfilled life. Currently, we...

Mar 14, 2011 Like 1 person likes this

the happy life

chapters: The Happiness Project (January)

In the January chapter of The Happiness Project Gretchen focuses on boosting her energy. She looks beyond instant fixes and instead focuses on the root of how she can increase her energy in a...

Mar 11, 2011 Like

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the happy life

5 things school taught me about happiness

paper boats

happiness is…sweet traditions

my happy places: St Jacobs

il dolce far niente

happiness is enjoying a rainy day with your best friend

Christopher Plummer’s Passion

those who inspire us: Kim D

the dash

second chances

passion and adventure

Park Talk

baker in training

free money

Theatre Review: Billy Elliot, The Musical

tap into your imagination

benefits of sleep

art imitating life?

source of happiness

dress for success

Film Review: The Bucket List

pancake perseverance

CBC Radio One & Matt Galloway

you feel it, don’t you?

Bobbette & Belle Patisserie

Aaaaah Spring!

getting back to yoga

Brotherly Love

Lent Got Me Thinking

chapters: The Happiness Project (January)

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