The workers find a new one — In a hive, the queen bee is the star, the one who is responsible for the whole business of laying eggs. Without her egg-laying ability, the hive colony will fail. It’s a little like being in jail, only sweeter. The worker bees are the ones who make sure the queen…

What’s Your Story? — We are the keepers of our tales. We live them and easily tell them embellishing, minimizing, it doesn’t matter. Friend, neighbour, stranger or family everyone needs someone to listen, someone to hear them. Even in our silence, we are living a story. We rejoice or complain about the world our…

More than a tourist spot — There is a Kanienke:ha (Mohawk) name for Niagara Falls. It is Ohnia:kara, meaning “the great serpent”. Perhaps this refers to how the river “snakes” its way through the gorge. …

And with respect for a Great Lake — A couple of weeks ago I took my first sea kayaking lesson. I have an eye on a location for an art project that requires a bit of paddling. …

A Poem — We met, neither of us whole In natal clouds of dust and gas Collapsing into one another. We spun, collecting ourselves, Gasping as Helios entered And Helium grasped for tenure.

Awake or Asleep — Many people tell me they do not dream when asleep or, at least, don’t remember dreaming. In contrast for waking dreams, most people like to talk about them, ask for opinions and sometimes approval, as indicated by thousands of social media posts. Learning to understand our dreams is invaluable. Years ago, I drove for hours from Tennessee…

I learned more than I thought I would — I wasn’t sure I would attend the Medium Day conference when the invitations first came out. At the last minute, I registered and began to listen. The topics of discussion were informative, the speakers very skilled, and held far more inspiration than I expected. I found it difficult to stay in one space too long, afraid that I would miss something. I’ve always been the one at the…

And I only get better with age — I’m betting I was that baby whose frown lines established quickly in great detail. I imagine myself as a terrible two with my heels dug in and my arms crossed in a two-fisted refusal to do anything. I’m also betting that any of my older siblings could describe me in…

How gratitude can change our lives — Most of us assign giving thanks to a single day of the year or other occasions that bring the feeling of gratitude to mind. It has become easier, less socially awkward to let one’s thoughts and feelings be known to others. …