Three years ago, I read a book titled The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life, written by Piero Ferrucci, an Italian psychotherapist and philosopher. …

COVID-19 is shining a spotlight on the way we live and we are blinded by it. — At 16 weeks into quarantine, it can be difficult to remember what life was like pre-COVID-19. For some of us, the days go by a lot slower in what many call “the new normal.” For others, the pandemic means more time with family and less late nights at the office…

What Twitter’s latest trend says about our willingness to connect — If you’ve been on Twitter recently, chances are you’ve seen the latest trend to take the platform by storm: texting your “number neighbour.” It’s a simple yet ingenious concept. All you have to do is text your “number neighbour” — the person who has the phone number one digit away…

What does online grocery shopping mean for our social capital? — Walking through Toronto’s Union Station a couple of weeks ago, it was hard to not notice the floor-to-ceiling advertisements plastered on windows and walls for Loblaws’ ‘Click & Collect’ grocery service. …

For a naturally introspective person, I’ve come to realize that birthdays are particularly full of rewinding and playing back memories — almost as if someone has documented my life and just handed me the highlights reel. …

Making the time you spend with others really matter Becoming a young adult is, in my experience, a time of intense self-questioning, reflection, and doubt. In most parts of the world, a human being’s time until the age of 18 is largely determined by the government through mandated education. After…

As technology makes itself comfortable, timeless methods of communication take a back seat. — “If our apartment was on fire, and you could save only one thing, what would it be?” This was the question my brother asked me a few days ago from a survey he had seen. Almost instantly, I replied: “my memory box.” My memory box is a large blue storage…

An anecdotal reflection on living mindfully and with gratitude Last week, I was working intensely in my room when my mom came in and suggested that I eat something. I had got home from work a couple of hours ago, and my brain probably needed the energy. Focused on my…

It’s not you, it’s me (looking for a better answer). — If you were to ask the person closest to you, “What do you want in life?,” I’d be willing to bet $2 (please, I’m in university, what more did you expect?) that their answer will be “to be happy.” After all, if it’s Beyoncé’s answer, that basically means it’s right…