Hard-wired for problem-solving…

The June 24, 2013 issue of Woman’s World magazine offered tantalizing feel good/look good snippets. A paragraph on page 4 indicated that “men’s brains are not wired to pick up on the subtle facial clues that reveal how others are feeling”…This segued my brain to an oldie-goldie song that made #1 on the “Billboard charts” in 1954. Penned and published in 1953 by Edith Lindeman and Carl Stutz, it was made famous by songstress Kitty Kallen.

A part-time career many years ago found me playing easy-listening drums and singing pretty melodies, in harmony with my musician husband who was a professional pianist and composer in his own right. I still have a notebook of hand printed lyrics and several sheaves of Murray Graham’s arrangements and harmonies for duets! Among those is a wistful favourite which I think every woman would find inspiration in from time to time.

“Little Things Mean a Lot” is plaintiff and heart-wrenching…”Throw me a kiss from across the room, say I look nice when I’m not, Touch my hair as you pass my chair, Little Things Mean a Lot”.  The melody is easy to hum and the lyrics are as meaningful now as then.

In this day and age of hurry-hurry, 24/7, on-the-go incessantly and hardly a second to catch one’s breath, the Woman’s Day item concludes that all we have to do is “tell him how/what we’re feeling and what would make us feel better.” Sounds simple, but not consoling!

Who’dathunkit…..scientific studies indicate that men’s brains are wired to be problem solvers. 

It All Adds Up...

It all adds up…

There are more than 40 organized real estate boards in Ontario whose members provide ongoing support to the Realtors Care Foundation. The Foundation’s website Intro states that ”Bricks make a building solid, just as a house is built one brick at a time, our Foundation helps those in need.”

The REALTORS Care Foundation supports shelter-related charities in Ontario. Shelter is defined as a refuge, haven or protection that provides or improves quality of life from hunger, the elements, physical/psychological abuse, disabilities and illness.

Donations to the REALTORS Care Foundation make a real difference, supporting people and communities, changing the lives of those who rely on organizations that offer warmth, comfort and safety.

See for yourself the good works.. www.realtorscareontario.ca/

Also close to my heart is the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, which set a new fundraising records in support of women’s shelters across Canada. This is the largest public foundation dedicated exclusively to supporting women’s shelters and violence prevention and education.

Through salespeople’s commission donations and the fundraising activities of the Royal LePage network, over $14 Million had been raised.

Check out their website for details…

http://www-c.royallepage.ca/about-us/shelter-foundation/

If you missed our Canada-wide Annual garage sale held in May, 2013, ask your local REALTOR® what events are scheduled in the coming months.

I am a proud supporter of both efforts all year, every year!

It all adds up!

Zip lining…

I was musing recently about the devil-may-care attitudes that some people profess - seeming to care naught a fig for the consequences of self-indulgent whims.

Para-sailing, scuba diving, spelunking or even hot-air balloon rides may be considered “dangerous” to one’s well being because of the possible risks; versus probabilities.  Young people and some not-so-young can readily being observed as either daring and fun or downright foolish! It all depends on one’s point of view.

Moving through the different stages of adulthood, sometimes our personal perspective alters. We may think from time to time – “who cares” if I do this or that. Responsibilities can lie heavy on one’s shoulders, and we observe an activity from afar but don’t participate in case something goes awry.

Designated beneficiaries of life insurance policies for example would be disappointed if their inheritance should fall through because the policyholder was stupid and negated the coverage by not adhering to the disciplines set out in small print. Choosing to take a chance could be costly, or not.

Travel photos of acquaintances who are “old enough to know better” are tangible memories of memorable holidays. Rainforest hikes, whitewater adventures, careening down a bobsled run or diving from high cliffs all prompt oohs and ahhs – it looks like such fun!

I have an uncle who, at the age of ninety-nine, was photographed gleefully propelling down a water slide. What of it – it was a blast – and impressive as well!

Selected and accomplished feats are indeed memorable – though a conservative interpretation could be that life is a ride anyway!

On my bucket list though, is to go zip lining!