Personal Growth

By Mike MandelRepetition is the mother of skill…When I was a rebellious teenager surrounded by a tribe of fellow pseudo-intellectuals, we measured our worth by the depth of our knowledge—especially when it came to music. That was our domain, our

By Mike MandelIt’s freezing here in the Great White North, but I don’t mind.Why? Because Canada is the undisputed world leader in dealing with cold weather.Here, we’ve mastered the art of winter survival: double or triple-glazed windows, roaring fireplaces, electric

Cross-species communication fascinates me…Many of you know I’m an animal lover, especially when it comes to bull terriers, possums, crows, ravens, and most of all, cats. It amazes me how capable animals are of communicating with humans—often in ways that

Ever felt like the universe is winking at you?Synchronicity is one of those mysterious phenomena that seem to bring a sense of wonder to our everyday lives. Often described as “meaningful coincidences,” these experiences feel as though they’re happening for

It was the worst Christmas of my life…Let me start by saying this: Christmas is a big deal in my house. That might surprise people who assume I’m related to Howie Mandel and therefore must be Jewish.I’m not, but I

Use It, or Lose It…It was our first-ever Bengali meal, and I knew it would be fiery—spicy hot, much like Indian or Pakistani cuisine, or even a good Thai red curry.Toronto, according to the UN, is the most cosmopolitan and

Your unconscious mind is talking to you…Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the power of symbols and metaphors and how they act as bridges between our conscious and unconscious minds. These tools serve as the language of our deeper selves, allowing

It’s an interesting law…After spending a quarter of the year at our cabin on Bob Lake, near Minden, Ontario, I’m finally home again.We typically avoid going there in May or June because the insects are relentless. In May, it’s the

Let’s talk about health and fitness…In past emails, I’ve shared my love for fitness walking—mostly up north on the roads and trails near our little cabin.Walking is often praised as the “ideal exercise” because it’s easy to start and only

I'm fascinated by logic, largely because language fascinates me, and there’s no logic without language. But what intrigues me even more is observing people driven primarily by feelings, unable to follow a logical argument to its conclusion.To be logical is