Culture

two men practicing mindfulness meditation

How to Practice Mindfulness: A Guide for Beginners in 2026

Mindfulness practice has been around for over 3000 years. Sometimes people use “mindfulness” and “meditation” interchangeably. We can think of “meditation” as a more formal practice, as in practice that requires a form – such as sitting in a cross-legged position – and mindfulness as a more relaxed way of practice, something we can do […]

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sculpture depicting death

At Peace with Death: Reflections on Befriending the Inevitable

We live in a society ruled by technocratic elites. Their latest preoccupation: immortality. For Silicon Valley tycoons, the prospect of life ever-lasting is no more than a question of advanced engineering, scientific knowledge, and technological mastery. In their innovation-driven subculture, immortality is merely another point in a long line of technical challenges bested by human

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woman sleeping

The Chief Nourisher in Life’s Feast: The Importance of Sleep in Mental Health

Shakespeare knew well the fundaments of human vitality.  In Macbeth, Shakespeare depicts the inevitable devastation when one is deprived of sleep, a most basic physical necessity. After murdering King Duncan, Macbeth realizes that his guilty conscience will give him no rest until he is reduced to dust.  He bemoans sleep’s departure: Methought I heard a voice cry ‘Sleep no

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apps on smartphone

The Verdict Is In: Social Media Is Detrimental to Your Mental Health

Facebook was founded in 2004, Twitter (now “X”) in 2006.  The Apple iPhone was launched in 2007.  Since those seminal years, wireless devices and social media have dramatically changed the world.  Glowing screens dazzle our eyes. Our devices have become extensions of our bodies, reshaped every facet of our lives, from classrooms to newsrooms, from dating to cooking.  More

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man among rubble

What is Mental Health in a Time of War?

The past year has been tumultuous for the world. In a span of weeks, things seemed to have further fallen into disaster. Carnage, destruction, chaos spread like vicious ripples across the globe. Conflict in the Middle East has seen widespread bloodshed, environmental devastation, disruption to commerce, political upheaval, and a stupendous shock to oil prices.

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tableware and candles

Meal Ordeal: How to Survive the Holiday Dinner

“Baby, please come home,” pleads Darlene Love in her Christmas classic. We can imagine Bing Crosby’s rejoinder: “I’ll be home for Christmas, you can count me.”  Every year, millions of travellers brave sleet and snow, bustling airports and wintry roads to return home to celebrate the holidays.  Hours of labour in the kitchen culminates in a feast

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