Please excuse my appropriation of song lyrics and titles — I used to ride horses on rural roads. Being a responsible person, I completed a national proficiency certification to ensure I used the roads in a safe manner. While in school, I also did my cycle proficiency test… now called the National Standard for Cycle Training. It appears that few…

I get the feeling we’re not wanted — You’re seeing it, aren’t you? There is something happening in the Western world. Something that threatens our health, livelihoods, our kids and all our futures. I can’t put it down to anything specific. There is a plethora of conspiracy theories out there. …

It’s no surprise to we writers that the Internet is a breeding ground for ‘everyday sadism’ — It’s true, your average troll is a sub-clinical, or ‘soft,’ sadist. Trolling has plagued the Internet for decades. Sometimes, trolling might appear to be harmless fun. Often, it can feel downright malicious. Dealing with this type of behavior is challenging. With so many people spending much of their time online…

It’s a rare occasion — I adore being alone. Luckily my partner and daughter are also ‘solitaries’ like me. Each self-sufficient and happy with our own company. And when we get back together at mealtimes or for an evening movie, we appreciate each other all the more. My ex, on the other hand, couldn’t bear…

Housework is sometimes a divisive issue between couples — Face it, when it comes to helping with household chores, your partner is lazy. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be reading this. As much as you love them, your partner is probably not going to leap at the opportunity to help with housework. It’s a balancing act between nagging them and also…

It’s not about the big picture, it’s a square-inch intense focus — Here’s a tip I gleaned from ‘Several Short Sentences About Writing’ by Verlyn Klinkenberg: Write your sentences on a single line. So here I am doing exactly that. Before you can express your thoughts, you have to notice them. Before you write about your life, you need to pay attention. …

It's taken me several decades to realise this simple truth, so I wrote this more for myself than any attempt to offer 'self-help' — Contentment: noun: The state of being contented; satisfaction. A source of satisfaction. That degree of happiness which consists in being satisfied with present conditions; a quiet, uncomplaining, satisfied mind; content. I was never content. For most of my life, there was always something I wanted, changes I yearned for, circumstances…

It’s an absolute certainty — It’s unlikely in our lifetime science will provide a viable alternative to death, such as transplanting our brains into robot bodies or freezing us until a convenient new planet becomes available. So we will die. Have you ever thought about your death? Really thought about it? Perhaps it is time…

And the fact you are reading this is nothing short of a goddamn miracle — I happened across an article. It was on a betting site so I can’t link to it here. If you want to read it, just search for “The Odds of Being Born”. …