I started this blog in June 2020, and writing each piece has brought me immense pleasure from the very beginning. With work and other commitments, I now write less frequently and spend more time enjoying life away from screens. Perhaps that is not a bad thing. After all, there is something wonderful about stepping away from the screen and simply being present—noticing the little moments, exploring, riding my bike, spending time with friends and loved ones, and letting summer

Today is Eric's birthday. It is also the day I planned to publish my May article. I started writing this piece on May 12, while I was jotting down notes on a piece of paper at the public library, my son sent me a message on Facebook: "Happy Canadian Immigration Anniversary!!!" "Where did you get that info?" I asked. "From you lol" He wrote back. "Info is not correct though". "Oops". Maybe he got a reminder from Google Photos or somewhere else. I didn’t ask. Still, May 12 is i

My daughter is a busy young lady. She reads and writes every day, but she is not very active on social media. She celebrated her birthday last Monday, April 20, with around 30 guests invited. I asked her the day after the party how it went, but she did not read my message I sent on Facebook until a few days later. I was glad that we had a video call over the weekend just before her birthday. She also posted a story on both Instagram and Facebook, although the Facebook story w

Indeed, this March felt like a month of quiet transitions and small resets. My job came to an end on March 30, and I am heading to my second river cruise on March 31. This blog is set to publish on April 1. I began the month with a kind of spring cleaning , both at home and at work. At home , I put away winter things. It felt symbolic — like saying thank you to the season and making room, just in case warmer days decided to show up. Unfortunately, it snowed all day on the fir

“Some people collect art. I collect words that move me.” — Unknown That is why I am writing this post using quotes to add my reflections and personality. With a little help from my digital friend, ChatGPT, here are some words worth keeping. “Though February is short, it is filled with lots of love and sweet surprises.” — Charmaine J. Forde February brought double the joy with both Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year — a delightful blend of love and tradition. For someone

For this year, I decided to write something at the beginning of each month for the last month — to capture the essence of the month. A small pause to look back, to notice the moments that mattered, to focus on the blessings, not the burdens. January brought its mix of endings and beginnings, sunshine and cold, quiet and laughter. Old comforts: Sunlight streaming into my condo, especially when it is minus 20 outside. I benefit it each and every time: doing laundry or taking a

Monday has never been my favorite day of the week — and this one, January 27 , in particular, feels especially heavy. The email arrived, and though I can’t say I was surprised, the disappointment still hit hard. I was informed that my term will officially end on March 31, 2026 , with no renewal beyond that date. With all the cuts happening across the government, I somehow sensed this was coming. But seeing it land in my inbox still made me feel sad and lost. It’s hard to face

I have used ChatGPT a lot in 2025, no wonder ChatGPT presented me with this lovely "Your year in poetry" : You savored Paris with heart open wide, through photos and laughter, your joy couldn't hide. From badminton courts to warm family cheer, your kindness and wit lit each month of the year - A life well-curated, with grace as your guide. ChatGPT summarized my year with three themes: Cherished Moments and Memories You captured the year through photos, Paris memories, and hea

Today is the last day of 2025 😮😮😮 As I sit down to write this piece, I can hardly believe how quickly another year has passed. I started this blog on June 13, 2020 , five years have passed since day one and I am still enjoying writing it from time to time, this article marks entry number 848 , a small but meaningful milestone in my writing journey — one that continues to document the little moments, big lessons, and everything in between 🎉🎉🎉 Below are a few memorable hi

I love practicing gratitude because it has a way of turning ordinary days into blessings and everyday moments into treasures. As I reflected on the many people and things that make my life more meaningful, I decided to explore them from A to Z — An Alphabet of Gratitude. Each letter represents something or someone that brightens my days, grounds my heart, and reminds me how beautiful life can be when we take the time to appreciate it. Using the simple prompt “Today, I am grat

🥐 🎂💖❤️ 🎉 ✨🥐🎂 💫 🥰🎉 🌸 🎂✨💕🥐📸 🌸 🎂✨💕🥐📸 🌸 🎂✨💕🥐📸 Thanksgiving , or Thanksgiving Day , is an annual Canadian holiday held on the second Monday in October. The date varies from year to year. This year, it falls on October 13 - coincidentally, my birthday 😊😊😊 For this double celebration, I celebrated in style—thanks to my amazing kids, who gifted me a trip to the City of Love and Light: Paris ❤️❤️❤️ They had organized the trip months in advance and flew in

Last December, a friend asked if I could be her roommate for a chalet trip this August. It would require taking two weekdays off. After...

Summer in Montreal is truly special, and I want to make the most of it by planning ahead. I’ve decided to make separate plans for...

I love weekends , and I have written many articles about my weekends. Here are just a few examples (from the most recent blog post)....

“A New Chapter” — that was the title of the blog post I published on May 13 last year when I started this journey with the Canada Water...

April 20 is your birthday, my precious daughter 👧👧👧 Here is a note I wrote on your birthday, but published it a day after ☺️☺️☺️ I...

This past weekend, starting from Friday, I put together a series of simple yet meaningful actions—many of which could be described with...

🌿 "Do you have a green thumb, or are you just starting your gardening journey?" 🌸 "Do flowers bring you joy, or do you simply admire...

It has been a week since my son and his girlfriend visited. They arrived from New York on a Wednesday, spent the weekend, and left...

This is the first blog post for 2025 and I am glad to write about my favorite sport: badminton. I did write one in the summer of 2023,...