Awesome short stories at 3 minutes or less — Longform, Shortform, what about Midform?! Sometimes cramming your story into 150 words falls just short of perfect. But expanding it into a detailed longform piece dilutes your real message. Let’s meet halfway and showcase our interesting stories in 3 minutes (700 words or less). Fuss less about the number of…

When weather makes to-do lists go quiet — The school district made the announcement Sunday night, after the kids turned off their movie and we said our good nights. I tiptoed back upstairs to their rooms and whispered, “I have a surprise… no school tomorrow!” They went to sleep dreaming of sugarplums and a day open with possibility. …

Laughter is the best form of therapy. — We all know and have heard it: Laughing increases blood flow, it’s good for the heart (so is one glass of wine a day), strengthens your immune system, reduces stress (our favourite) and it simply is the best medicine. …

Do you eat to live or live to eat? — I live to eat! This week I had two people call me a “foodie.” I got into a deeper conversation about what it means to be a foodie and how it is different from being a food lover. A foodie is a term used in reference to a person who…

Stop eating all those Holiday Treats and Feed Your Mind Instead! — There’s lots of food for thought on my Reading Recommendations list this week so let’s dig in! Ageism is rampant in our society and much of it is completely off the mark. Cathy Goodwin suggests that we can dial back this tendency during the holidays by being more mindful of…

What I’ve learned from starting & growing 2 Medium publications — I estimate that I’ve put in hundreds of hours into creating two Medium publications: Modern Women & MIDFORM. Has it all been worth it? Yes… and no. I’d love to break it down for you so you can weigh in too. …

Practically speaking, all of us can learn something from this realization — Pursuing knowledge in some cultures is synonymous with bringing honor to the family. Those who teach knowledge are highly respected. It is undoubtedly correct that knowledge empowers people. There are countless examples of people who, on gaining an education, have influenced their generation in some way or have changed the…

Tenacity and self-responsibility are requirements for success — I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses (Kobe Byrant). I found this quote in my mother’s gym, which made me pause. I had to reread the quote because it resonated deeply…

Plus a bonus website that makes writing way more fun! — In the not-so-distant past, the typewriter was the most advanced tool in the writer’s arsenal. But thanks to the internet, writers now have access to a wide variety of resources. A lot of those resources come with a hefty price tag, though. For many people, it’s not possible (or practical)…