Kiera and I hang’n out at Point Pelee, the southernmost tip of mainland Canada. (Middle Island is actually the Southernmost point in Canada.)
The point I’m trying to make (yes, there actually is one!) is exactly what I wrote last year, i.e., personal resources (time and money) directed towards experiences as against “stuff” are the keys to both short and long term happiness. This is one of the reasons we feel so good when we are engaged in acts of giving through its many different levels – not just money, but also time, friendship and, most important … love.
DEC 18, 2020
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MONTY THE PENGUIN
BY KEITH THOMSON
“There is no such thing as information overload – only filter failure.”—Clay Shirky
For over a decade the British retailer, John Lewis, has aired what has become an iconic holiday season commercial. Although this year’s “Give a Little Love” was clever, in my opinion nothing comes close to 2014’s “Monty the Penguin”. Ironically, given our opening Dr. Seuss quote, it is a rather slick piece of marketing…
NOV 1, 2020
FILTER FAILURE
BY KEITH THOMSON
“There is no such thing as information overload – only filter failure.”—Clay Shirky
One critical challenge we face is choosing what to ignore. This is especially true when it comes to investing. I was reminded of this fact during the lead up to the recent U.S. election after having numerous conversations around what the stock market might do if Trump either lost or won. A…
OCT 1, 2020
MINDSET IS EVERYTHING
BY KEITH THOMSON
“Happiness has to do with your mindset, not with outside cirumstances.” —Steve Marboli
Who knew that Canada is one of the happiest places on the planet. Granted the info-graphic below was published pre pandemic, one could still make the argument that compared to the rest of the world during Covid 19 Canada is still a pretty happy place Please click here to enlarge and read the full article….
SEP 2, 2020
CALM HAS A COEFFICIENT
BY KEITH THOMSON
“Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers, is like trying to tell time by watching only the second hand of a watch.”—Ben Hecht
As we continue to live through this pandemic, I have observed that there seem to be two very distinct groups of people. The first group appears to be in a constant state of agitation, frustration and/or…
JUN 1, 2020
REFLECTION ON THE LAST
SIX MONTHS
BY KEITH THOMSON
“Our favourite holding period is forever.” —Warren Buffet
The first six months of 2020 saw the advent of the worst global public health crisis in a century—since the 1918 influenza pandemic. In response, the world locked down, putting its economy into a kind of medically induced coma. In this country, the immediate effects were (1) a savage and nearly instantaneous economic recession, accompanied by record unemployment, and (2) the fastest, deepest…
MAY 1, 2020
THE KEY TO HAPPIER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE LIFE
BY KEITH THOMSON
“If everything is amplified, we hear nothing.” —Jon Stewart
At the risk of straying into “life coach” territory I would like to share with you how I became happier and more productive during Covid-19. It all started this past March with our family’s trip to Kenya. I had minimal access to T.V., radio, print media, and the internet given that we were on safari in the middle…
APR 2, 2020
THE BILL COMES DUE
BY KEITH THOMSON
“Don’t do anything is the best advice for most people most of the time, but it’s not intellectually stimulating enough for many people to take seriously. Most fields have a positive correlation between effort and results. Investing is one of the few where the correlation is negative, especially for amateurs. The higher your IQ is, the harder it is to accept this.” —Morgan Housel…
MAR 1, 2020
CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING
BY KEITH THOMSON
“Wisdom is intelligence in context.“ —Raheem Faroog
It seems like a lifetime ago (COVID time?) when on March 13th I last sent out this newsletter. Back then my family and I were on March Break having breakfast with the local wildlife at Giraffe Manor. Although the “shut in” world we are now experiencing has changed, one thing should not … thoughtful context. Whether it…
FEB 1, 2020
I DON’T WANT TO INVEST MY MONEY NOW BECAUSE
BY KEITH THOMSON
“The only thing new in the world is the history you do not know.” —Harry S. Truman
Every year Stonegate updates the article/graphic “I Don’t want To Invest My Money Now Because …”. Here’s the thing, there will always be a reason not to invest! I have seen too many families handicap their financial future by trying to time their entry into the market….
JAN 1, 2020
IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES
BY KEITH THOMSON
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us,…
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