Compare and Contrast
Challenge yourself to compare and contrast pieces of information, books and movies to stimulate your mind to “think in English.” Today in class, we read about Albert Einstein’s Theory of Happiness and we found out his idea of a simple life with happiness was worth quite a lot to one investor. Read the article by clicking on the link below.
Our second article was about bundling tasks we would normally procrastinate with our favourite things like music, food and favourite places. Read more about this here:
Now try looking for differences or contrasts between the two pieces. They come from different sources; that is the first noticeable difference. What else can you find? Do a little detective work and see what you can come up with.
This week, Lola and I have been exploring the Theory of Happiness in relation to the loss of Daylight Savings Time. We’ve been getting up an hour early and enjoying less hours of sunshine but it’s still been a wonderful week. There have been sunny walks on the trails near our apartment and twilight romps through the park by lamplight. Lola has perfected the game of hide and seek, dashing to the nearest tree or streetlamp only to peek out and ask, “Do you want to play?”. These evenings strolls often lead us past the shops downtown where the Christmas fairy has been working her magic. There is a tree decked in lights and ornaments crowned by a sumptuous velvet bow. I walked past this and reminded myself that there aren’t that many days to finish my knitting projects for holiday gifts. As a Christian, I am aware that Jesus was born in the spring and I know the date was moved to December to compromise with pagan worshippers that the ancient church was trying to convert. Still, I celebrate Christ’s birth at this time and remember what a gift each day is to us. Not every day was full of sunshine; there were the tempestuous fall days where the wind howled outside and the leaves cascaded in showers of gold and vermilion from the trees in the park and onto the boulevard. Those were the days the library beckoned and we made some tea, lit a scented candle and hunkered down in our nest, just us two. Bach, Beethoven and Brahms were invited over and we enjoyed the view that our wall of windows in the living room provided.
I decided to put the principles of the first article to a test today and found that it worked. There are times when I find it difficult to find the inspiration or the energy to blog. I’m writing this on the beach with a thermos of tea, the sun at my back. The wind and the waves sing and splash along with a scattering of seagulls as they sing in unison. A heartrending chorus signaling the beginning of autumn. Finally, the leaves have turned colour and we can look forward to the first crisp flakes of snow in the coming days of November.
