This past week I travelled to Toronto to visit some family members I have not seen in Toronto since 2011.

It was a busy week and I received an unexpected gift at the end of the trip.

Please contact me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

In 2012 when I was on a four-month overland trip from Cape Town to Cairo two of the seventeen people referred to a book.

In a recent down-sizing effort I came across a notebook that referred to the book, ‘Your Money or Your Life.’

I know the book had an impact on those who read it, so in researching the book I found some elements that I thought I would share.

They made sense to me, perhaps they might do so to you.

Please contact me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

So many ‘rabbit holes’ have us getting deeper into something which becomes time wasters.

It is not easy to avoid them, but with some techniques such as setting some priorities and being aware of where you have spent your time it is possible to have a more balanced life.

Please contact me if you have any comments, questions or suggestions.

Volunteering offers wonderful benefits, such as connecting us to others, is good for your mind and body, and brings us fun and fulfillment.

As a volunteer since 2009, I have enjoyed and received many benefits from my involvement.

If you are interested in volunteering there are websites that can connect you to volunteer organizations.

Please contact me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

During my twelve-week journey through Nepal earlier this year, I started coughing and not eating well for the last few weeks.

When I arrived back in Canada I saw how much weight I had lost and started working on some routines to recover.

In the past ten weeks, I have put on weight and recovered my fitness by implementing regular daily and weekly routines.

Please get in touch with me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

The past week was outstanding as I spent a few days on my friend Ken’s boat.

We traveled to Salt Spring Island and spend a few days in the marina.

I felt so blessed to be able to spend time with a good friend, and enjoy excellent food in a beautiful spot in the world.

Please contact me if you have comments, questions, or suggestions.

The fourth question from Scott Pape, the Australian author known as the Barefoot Investor is, “What Are You Most Proud Of?”

I explain living into my 80s and feeling you are never too old to keep an open mind makes me proud.

Please reach out to me if you have comments, questions, or suggestions.

The third question from Scott Pape, the Australian author known as the Barefoot Investor is, “What does being a dad mean to you?’

This video contains my thoughts about being a dad and comments about some good information sources about approaches I would have found useful.

Please reach out to me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

In a recent newsletter from Scott Pape the Australian author known as the Barefoot Investor, he discussed his ‘Ultimate Fathers Day Present.’

This consists of asking your elderly parents five questions and recording their answers prior to them disappearing from our lives.

My daughter in Australia suggested I answer the questions, so today I respond to the first question, “How did you meet mum?”

Please reach out to me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Being back on Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada, I feel so grateful to live here.

I am appreciating the exquisite combination of the ocean, multitude of trees, and snow-covered mountains.

The air is healthy, the tap water drinkable, and the people are hospitable.

It is great to be back here after being absent for six months.

Please contact me if you have any comments, questions or suggestions.

This past week I left Nepal, visited a friend in South Korea, and then back to Canada via the USA.

It was a busy traveling week. I am now relaxing in Victoria, BC Canada after the past three months of journies around Nepal.

Please reach out to me if you have comments, questions, or suggestions.

This past week we travelled to a small town ‘Bright’ where a river flows through the town and many people come on holiday.

We returned to Melbourne in time for the annual street party.

Please reach out to me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

As I age I come across some quotes that have become more meaningful to me.

I share a few quotes from another old guy who lived over 2400 years ago which I find applicable today.

Please reach out to me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Teaching children skills that will help them be successful when they enter adulthood is a great gift.

A children’s book ‘Barefoot Kids’ recently published here in Australia is a wonderful example of helping children gain important skills.

You can find more about the author, Scott Pape on his website found https://www.barefootinvestor.com/

Please reach out to me if you have comments, questions, or suggestions.

After testing negative for Covid I have been able to use the rowing machine at the local gym.

In addition, I have been attending a variety of meetings at all times of day and night.

Please reach out to me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

After arriving in Melbourne, Australia, Covid-19 appeared on the scene and I am secure in the pool house at my daughter’s family’s place.

I am doing well with few effects likely thanks to the five vaccinations I have had over the past years,

Please reach out to me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

This past week, I made a long extended journey from the British Virgin Islands to Melbourne, Australia.

In particular, the flight from Vancouver to Manila in the Philippines was an exceptional experience.

Please reach out to me if you have comments, questions, or suggestions.

This video contains a few pictures from the time I have been on Virgin Gorda Island in The British Virgin Islands.

I was invited here by Kevin and his wife Amy who are currently living here.

I met Kevin in 2012 on an African overland truck journey from Cape Town to Cairo.

Pictures of the unique Baths Beach with its giant boulders and the Virgin Islands Search and Rescue boat at Virgin Gorda are included.

Please reach out to me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Today I arrived at the Toronto airport from Vancouver and tomorrow will travel to the British Virgin Islands to visit a friend Kevin and his wife Amy.

Travelling offers a great education. We can experience new things, open our minds to the outside world, and meet different people from different places.

Travel improves our social skills, increases our confidence, and gives us a sense of success.

Please reach out to me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

‘Too many meetings’ is cited as the biggest waste of time in many organizations.

Meetings done badly can be time-consuming, boring, and unproductive.

Meetings done well can help build your culture, your team, and your organization.

I share some approaches from a book I found useful, “Meetings Suck” by Cameron Herold.

Please reach out to me if you have comments, questions, or suggestions.

In the coming decades, leadership skills will become more critical than ever.

The old leader-follower approach does not work well.

The leader-leader model where power and responsibility are placed as low on the organizational hierarchy as possible is more effective.

We need to turn more followers into leaders.

Please contact me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

At school, we are programmed not to fail.

However, we do not get the most out of our time on earth by being cautious and not trying new things.

This reminds me of why a growth mindset is much more effective than a fixed mindset.

Please contact me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Loneliness threatens our health and happiness.

Loneliness is widespread around the world and affects people of all ages.

Some approaches are to connect with like-minded people with common interests,

Another tip is to consider spending at least 15 minutes a day in contact with others.

Please contact me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Our Scoutmaster who passed away earlier this year had a treasure trove of scouting mementos from the 1940s to the 1990s.

Included in these items was a card I wrote to him in 1962 from France.

Please contact me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

After two weeks back in Victoria on Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada, I appreciate being able to call this home.

It has a wonderful mix of the ocean, forests, mountains, and helpful people.

I challenge you to spend five minutes and day and think about what you are grateful for as showing appreciation can have a positive impact on you,

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

I am back in Canada and currently with my friend in his boat at Ganges harbour at Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.

A recent quote from the Greek philosopher, Socrates resonated with me.

As a nomad, I have found having fewer things has been liberating.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

I believe that communication with each other is a key skill that we can learn to improve.

If we communicate well with each other we can prevent many of the problems we face in our world.

In a TedTalk, Celeste Headlee mentions ‘Ten ways to have a better conversation.’

I suggest we look at her suggestions and choose one at a time and attempt to put it into practice.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

The original bear on which the stories about Winnie the Pooh are based was from a small town, White River in Northern Ontario, Canada.

Since I discovered this fact and often mention this, my family knows that I am a fan.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

Sometimes we have the opportunity to try something new and if we do not take it, we can regret not having done so.

Some opportunities deliver new experiences for growth and new perspectives that we cannot obtain elsewhere.

It is your life,  only you know if it’s right for you, trust your gut.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please contact me.

After living in South Africa for 22 years during the Apartheid era, I share some of my experiences and thoughts.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

As you may know, I consider communication to be one of the biggest challenges we face in the world.

A TEDtalk by Loretta J. Ross has some approaches that we can try when we face challenges in understanding others.

Loretta states, ‘fighting hate should be fun,’ and a link to her TEDtalk can be found in the description below our video.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

Last week we lost a friend and mentor of over 60 years.

Ron who was 92 years old started having a positive influence on our lives as our Scoutmaster.

It has also been shown that a positive approach adds years to our lives.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

We are habitual creatures and about 50% of our time we are following regular habits.

Habits affect what we eat, if we exercise, what we learn, and how we sleep,

By slowing improving our habits we can upgrade our lives.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please reach out to me.

‘Having enough’ can be very liberating.

Time is our most valuable asset.

Spending time chasing job promotions, money, and more possessions can become an endless treadmill.

When we have enough, we can spend our time doing things we like and enjoy.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

This past week I traveled to California and watched my two granddaughters and my daughter participate in the Great American Youth Circus.

This circus started in Redlands, California in 1929 and states it is the oldest community circus in the world.

The circus members “enjoy a non-competitive environment that encourages them to connect and collaborate with their peers.” [Quote from show program.]

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

When I started these videos in early 2020, I did not expect it would be over two years before I would travel again.

Travelling has its benefits and challenges. It does not appeal to everyone.

I enjoy meeting people around the world but do not enjoy the touristy aspects.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

We all grow old and this cannot be changed.

What we can do is change our objectives from when we were younger to those that suit the strengths we have gained as we grow older.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

The Sandwich Method is a mindful, sensitive communication strategy that can transform relationships.

This approach can be applied when making requests or giving feedback to a partner, friends, family, and coworkers.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

This is a shortened presentation about the world of Elon Musk which I gave a month ago.

We can learn about passionate projects, problem-solving, and persistence from Elon Musk.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

Instead of becoming furious, we take out and become curious, we can often prevent and solve problems.

It started with a speech a youth gave about getting revenge when someone stole her pencil case.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

During a recent conversation, dancing was discussed.

I realized probably the last time I danced was in Ethiopia in 2012.

I also included some dancing at a wedding we attended in the Omo Valley in southern Ethiopia.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

It’s time for a little levity instead of serious topics.

This video shows some fun I participated in when a friend and I sang a duet at his wife’s birthday in 2017.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

This video reviews the rewards of helping others.

Belonging to a group of volunteers in Emergency Support Services since 2009 has made me understand how rewarding it is to help others.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

According to the book, ‘The Sweet Spot,’ instead of avoiding discomfort, we need to find the right discomfort.

There are challenges we can attempt that help us appreciate what we have, learn more about our capabilities, and make a positive impact.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

The African tradition of Ubuntu struck me in 2012 after extensively traveling through Africa.

Ubuntu represents elements such as respect, community, sharing, caring, trust, unselfishness, and helpfulness.

With what is currently happening in Ukraine I believe we can learn much from this African tradition. If you are interested in learning more about Ubuntu there are many excellent videos available.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

“Not Yet!,” is a phrase introduced in the 2014 TedTalk of Professor Carol Dweck entitled, “The power of believing that you can improve.”

The Growth Mindset is one that we all can practice and benefit from and we can encourage our friends and families to do so as well.

If you have any comments, questions,  or suggestions, please reach out to me.

For many years I have carried a card listing “The 5 Regrets of the Dying” which were noted by an Australian palliative care nurse, Bronnie Ware back in 2009.

It is interesting to notice what people regret about their lives and this makes us think about how we are living our lives.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

As a nomad, I have items that never see the light of day.

They are in a storage box in a friend’s garage.

This video uncovers some of these items like awards that would likely be of interest to future descendants.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

This video outlines many common problems we face.

It asks the question if you know of any approaches on how we learn to cope with such challenges?

If you have any stories or approaches that can help solve such problems, please reach out to me.

This video revisits Thunder Bay where I spent my first thirteen and a half years. Most of my living relatives are there.

A landmark there is the Hoito restaurant which started in 1918.

I share the current status of this iconic restaurant and some other thoughts and memories about Thunder Bay.

Please reach out to me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.

This video is the second half of the 1971 road trip and covers Thunder Bay to Niagara Falls, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal.

This trip is another 2,250 kilometers. The video ends with scenes spotlighting the children.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

After being absent from Canada since 1962, nine years later I returned to Canada with my wife, Gail, my two young children, Dominic and Samantha.

I also brought a Super8 movie camera and produced some movies about our trip. This part is about the 3600 km trip from Vancouver, British Columbia to Thunder Bay, Ontario.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

The world is being impacted by extraordinary weather causing incidents like fires and floods.

Here in British Columbia, we had wildfires and now four months later we have had flooding and landslides closing down our province.

What are the steps we can take to help us cope with all the challenges we are facing around the world?

In this video, I introduce you to my faithful and trustworthy chariot, Charlie.

He is my 1994 Toyota Corolla station wagon that has been with me for over ten years and I use to move my belongings from place to place.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

It is now over 40 years since I started having blender meals after meeting an American in South Africa.

For those who often ask, I share the current contents of my concoction that I have on a regular basis.

Also, I discuss some other challenges of eating properly.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to me.