by Lauren Walker I recently started reading “100 Rules for Living to 100” by Dick Van Dyke. Many older individuals find it difficult to maintain a positive attitude as they age, and yet it is so crucial. I definitely recommend this book! Being Stubbornly Optimistic What gets you out of bed in the morning? “I’ve made it to one hundred, in no small part, because I have stubbornly refused to give in to the bad stuff in life: failures and defeats, personal losses, loneliness and

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley The average age for one experiencing dementia is not a single number because its prevalence increases significantly with age, particularly after 65. Dementia is not a typical part of aging, but age is the biggest risk factor. Dementia includes difficulty with familiar tasks, problems with language, disorientation with time and place, poor judgement, withdrawal from social activities and planning or problem solving. Communication difficulties can b

By Shawn Lackie It’s easy to take cheap shots at a person or a situation. We seem to be overrun with bad news or salacious stuff we just can’t turn away from. Train wreck anyone? So I thought, what about talking about the positives in this profession. There are lots of them, but it would seem, it’s easier to turn over rocks and see the slime underneath and make a big deal about that. Trust me. There are many good people in this business. People who care, people who want to ma

by Geoffrey Carpentier Throughout history, people offered the unsuspecting public snake oil – a cure-all for everything from childbirth to hemorrhoids to cancer. These elixirs contained no snake byproducts and certainly no snake oil - whatever that is? The concept arose in the 18th and 19th centuries, when travelling salesmen mixed up ‘secret’ blends of unspecified products and claimed they were proven to cure myriad ailments. Hogwash! Many stories persist about traditional m

By Shawn Lackie I had to laugh at a recent headline, in one of the on-line, so-called expert, sites, regarding Real Estate. The BIG NEWS was, “Underbidding” was back and prevalent in many GTA neighbourhoods. Underbidding? Since when did THAT become an issue? Like, when someone is asking $1.2 Million for a property and you have the temerity to offer them $1.1 Million? Excuse me, but isn’t that what used to be considered the norm? A seller lists a home for X dollars. The buyer

By Lauren Walker Most of my clients are over 65. What do you think their biggest challenge is? The fear of falling is very real, but I’ve learned over the years the fear isn’t the fall itself. The fear is not being able to get back up. Let me share with you how I help my clients. Facing the Fear I’ve worked with this client for several years, and one of her biggest fears is not being able to get up after a fall. My client was very anxious about it, I admit, but I told her to

Hope is always tied together with the answer to a question, problem or need. In the big question, what Jesus did for us, was take upon Himself the punishment for the sin invasion which had affected humankind. Much of our difficulty and sense of not being enough in life comes in the struggle to be “better.” Certainly, in some senses we get it, like not being addicted to something, or putting on airs, which comes from comparing ourselves with others or what we think we should b

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley Life doesn't come without it's various pains, struggles or hardships, but God promised to give you strength to get through them. Fear attempts, in it's way, to keep us frozen in pain. The more we struggle the deeper we sink. These feelings can paralyze us, however, if you call on the Lord, He will save you. We need to do more than eat healthy food, take vitamins, exercise, and rest to feel your best. Who has time for everything … stop spreading yo

You may have heard someone say the fairgrounds is only used three days per year, and the land is too valuable to sit unused for the rest of the year. In reality, this 23 acre municipal park is used for assorted recreational activities daily, by joggers, walkers, dog walkers, parents looking to give their children a place to run around, and folks simply seeking some open space and solitude. In addition to the annual Labour Day Weekend fair, the Port Perry Agricultural Society

By Shawn Lackie I was recently reading a monthly report on a local internet news site about house prices in the Durham Region. It got me thinking. I read those as do thousands of others, but what are we really to believe? The reason I ask is that I mentioned this before in a piece I called "Tell Your Numbers To Shut Up" in October. And it made me wonder. What DO people believe? Many real estate boards would have you believe what they say is the gospel truth. I think some coul

by Lauren Walker It seems Christmas is coming quickly! I am so happy to share my latest happenings, as its been a busy few months. Christmas Ornaments It is that time of year, and my 2025 Christmas Ornament, “The Place to Meet for a Christmas Treat,” featuring Hanks Pastries, has already sold out. I currently have two designs available, so please check my Facebook page for more information. Santa’s Float Fundraiser I’ve partnered with the North Durham Chamber and my design, “

By Shawn Lackie The Real Estate landscape has certainly changed in the last two years (yah think?). What used to be a crazy ride for buyers and sellers has almost died out completely. High interest rates and seller greed finally caught up with the market. Buyers who were once throwing money at sellers with no thought about it are now sitting back and patiently waiting for the next shoe to drop. Or at least interest rates. We had one drop in September, and more are on the way.

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley I know from experience, exercise is very effective and beneficial for most seniors. I anticipate a right knee replacement in the new year. I am looking to further improve my strength, balance, and flexibility, as well as my mental and emotional well-being. As we age, we see physical changes that can negatively affect muscles and bone strength, as well as other bodily systems. Moderate physical activity does benefit your overall health. It’s import

by Lauren Walker Have aches and pains beyond normal? Do you find it hard to sleep? Maybe you have stomach pain and have trouble going to the bathroom. No, you’re not facing some life-altering health issue, but there is something going on. What is it? STRESS. People tend to search for physical reasons for why these physical symptoms are occurring. At the top of my list of causes, stress is number one. It has such a distinct effect on both your physical and mental well-being, y

by Jonathan van Bilsen I never planned to spend a night in jail, but then again, few seventeen-year-olds do. Most people never see the inside of a cell, unless it is on television, and that is probably a good thing. It is certainly not the Marriott. Still, I can honestly say, I have done time in ‘the Big House’. It all started with a heartbreak. My first, in fact. She was the prettiest girl in my class, and for two glorious weeks, I thought we were destined for greatness. The

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley Sometimes, we beg God, or say, “Why, why me!? Why are things falling apart,” or “Why is this happening? It’s just not fair!” I have no answer to these questions, except, we are here to learn and live a full rich life. For peace at heart, we need to affirm our confidence in Gods power and His ability to overcome any obstacle.   In His paramount wisdom, I understand, the Holy Spirit shows up where there is surrender, obedience, and a cry for genuin

by Shawn Lackie Nobody said it would be easy. But it’s all a matter of perspective. By it I mean finding a good and reliable mortgage broker. In many instances the decision can be an extremely simple one. You have a relative or a very close friend who you trust implicitly to give you the best quality service and really look out for your best interests. Even these scenarios come with a certain level of risk. As long as you ask the right questions and stay engaged in the proces

by Shawn Lackie I was sitting with some close friends, the other night, and we got to talking about needs in a home purchase. Now, I have always believed there is a vast difference between a need and a want. Most times buyers confuse those two, so called, priorities. A need is something you absolutely MUST have, based on necessity: number of bedrooms; good sized living area; large or small lot, depending on your needs; access to schools and transportation; and hospitals, if y

by Shawn Lackie I know the title sounds like a bit of a joke, to many, but there ARE realtors out there who care, and they carry themselves and their business with honesty and integrity; really. However, too often we hear about the “bad apples,” and there are more than a few of those. Recently, a brokerage was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Their trust account was audited and there was a $10 million dollar shortfall. The case is still under investigation but may

by Shawn Lackie The title of this week’s piece comes from a classic baseball book, written in 1970, by then Seattle Pilots pitcher Jim Bouton. It is a CLASSIC. If you have never read it, do yourself a favour and set aside some time to do so. What he was saying was loosely based on a line from a Peanuts comic strip which said, “Tell your statistics to shut up.” At any rate, it was credited to his manager, at the time, Joe Schultz. Now, there was a character. What this is all l