Author Archives: smcgrath

Expectations are ubiquitous. So much so that we even expect ourselves and others not to have them. And therein lies the rub. We have a love-hate relationship with expectations. Never mind what the expectation is about – that’s a whole … Continue reading →

31,000,000. That’s the number of hits you get by googling ‘holiday stress’. What is it about the holiday season that turns dreams of a white Christmas into sweat-soaked nightmares? In a word – EXPECTATIONS. Anytime in our lives when we … Continue reading →

Tonight is the 4th anniversary of an organization I’m involved in: The Annex Shul. It’s a grassroots community geared towards young, urban professionals. The challenge in growing a volunteer organization like this is that the people it most attracts tend … Continue reading →

  The Fifth Business is the first book in Robertson Davies’ Deptford Trilogy. It’s also a literary device upon which the book is based. The fifth business is a human catalyst – someone who makes things happen in other people’s … Continue reading →

- Clichéd or not, it’s worth repeating. 2 ears, 2 eyes, 1 mouth… use proportionally. Seems easy right? We should spend twice as much time listening and watching as we do talking. But is it that easy? We talk a … Continue reading →

Relationship: Pronunciation /rɪˈleɪʃ(ə)nʃɪp/ noun the way in which two or more people or things are connected, or the state of being connected; the state of being connected by blood or marriage; the way in which two or more people or … Continue reading →

The cost of a kind word, compliment or good gesture is often no more than the time it takes to perform the act. The benefit immeasurable – to both the person bestowing such kindness and the recipient. I think we … Continue reading →

The trouble with humility is that once you encounter a truly humbling situation you realize how brazenly vain you’ve been in other spheres. It’s just one of those things. Not good. Not bad. Just a fact. But one that you … Continue reading →

  Yesterday, the alarm went off at 5am. Then at 5:02, 5:05, 5:07 and 5:10 am. I’m desperately trying to get back into my old exercise routine from my marathon running days when I’d get up each weekday at 5am … Continue reading →

Although this title could easily refer to the current state of municipal affairs in Toronto, I am actually talking about the 1980’s board game. The concept is simple: each player has a chart with twelve category rows and numerous blank … Continue reading →