I have a fridge magnet that says, “I will not obsess. I will not obsess. I will not obsess.” It’s a funny reminder that negative, repetitive internal dialogue does not relieve distress. Sure, pondering something troubling might help you find a solution, or convince you, upon reflection, that you did the right thing. However, dwelling upon a problem … Read the rest >
My friend and I were visiting Paris and wanted to take photos of a lovely cheese shop display, but the shopkeeper wouldn’t let us. Rather than take it personally, which I normally might do, I merely observed him for a moment. I noticed he had a head cold and decided that must be what was making him grumpy. In my … Read the rest >
Stressful situations can occur anywhere, including, of course, at work. For example, an angry customer might take their frustrations out on you. Or, a stressed-out co-worker might snap at you for no apparent reason. Perhaps you can’t stop thinking about a problem at home. At such times, you may feel somewhat helpless to both deal with your stress and carry … Read the rest >
When a nutritionist asked me to write for her company newsletter about managing stress, I replied that her request was stressing me out. I was only half joking. The truth is, I—like many other people—sometimes don’t handle stress well. Writing about this reminds me I should take my own wellness seriously.
Stress can be invigorating, such as when you are … Read the rest >
I have two writing contests to tell you about today. The first is being held by the Great Little Publishing Company. The other is being held by SFU’s Summer Publishing Worshops. I’ll talk about the SFU one first, since the deadline to enter is July 5th, 2010.
SFU has joined with CBC Vancouver’s North by Northwest and The … Read the rest >
Are you a book-o-holic? Do you have colourful stacks of tomes on your dresser? If you are like me, you tend to buy your books before considering that they might be available at the library. And here’s your chance to get your hands on some more for only $2 a pop.
Geist magazine is holding a giant clearout of books … Read the rest >
Is your manuscript tired and worn out? Could it use a massage, or perhaps a full-on retreat? Would it benefit from going to summer camp? If so, I suggest you air it out at one of the SFU Summer Publishing Workshops. And no, I’m not in cahoots with SFU. I just think writers might want to know these courses exist.… Read the rest >
Do you blog for profit? Are you comfortable with having other people’s paid ads on your website? If so, you may want to check out the new book by self-proclaimed dot-com mogul John Chow. Even if you don’t want to monetize your blog, the Vancouver-based blogging pro offers useful advice on how to increase traffic to your website in his 144-page … Read the rest >
I recently found myself at a book signing event at Vancouver’s Banyen Books, which I believe is the largest source of spiritual books and accoutrements in town. Stephen Batchelor was promoting his new book, Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist. I’ve only just started reading it, but I’m enjoying it so far. At the book signing, Batchelor was gracious but … Read the rest >
