Helena Kaufman |

Early Start to Torment with Hallmark’s Christmas Catalogue

October 22, 2023 By Helena Kaufman

happy holidays red door mat to help step into the holiday season with warmth and confidence - and it starts earlier and earlier every year

Early step into the season. Communicate with warmth and confidence

It is 64 days to Christmas as I write this late on a Sunday night in the Pacific Northwest. Vancouver, BC to be precise. I begin my anticipatory ruminations of the holiday season ahead, early, in one of the locations where Hallmark shoots the more than 40 Christmas movies it releases each and every year. It’s not Hallmark Media’s fault that I voluntarily dial up one of their movies and torment myself early by reminding myself (I know I am not alone in this) of what lies ahead in holiday land. Nor can I blame the older catalog of films produced under the former Crown Media for showing me the scenes of Christmases past that immerse me in the highs and lows of the holiday season. [Continue reading]

On This Labour Day Weekend I Am My Own Task Rabbit

October 4, 2023 By Helena Kaufman

This was written in time for the Labour Day weekend. But, maybe you can relate... I didn't hit send. I didn't pull the trigger. I didn't close the loop and publish. I procrastinated. I am a professional writer, a copywriter, a content editor, and a … [Continue reading]

A Summer’s Tale of Foil and Four Fans

July 6, 2023 By Helena Kaufman

Preparing for the summer heat in my home office. Tin foil-tape-scissors-filtered water-herbal tea steeped super early in the day.

That's what it takes to keep me working in my tiny apartment with southern exposure. All day sun and the heat that comes with it. I worried for months in advance due to the memory of previous summers' heat, acrid air, and pollution. It billowed in … [Continue reading]

Filters In Home & Then Mouth and Mind

June 24, 2023 By Helena Kaufman

Of the 70,000 daily thoughts we have and our brains filter, surely a big percentage that we have on permanent repeat are the ideas of new and improved habits. One has found its way through the filter trap to this page. I'm taking a practical route by … [Continue reading]

Day 21 Where do you get stalled & what do you do about it?

April 16, 2023 By Helena Kaufman

This is a repost from a 45-day daily personal writing exercise I undertook when I was both invigorated and also challenged by a major home and office move some years ago. Then and now, I still get stalled.. so.. here is the reminder..... My … [Continue reading]

Can Routine Bolster Our Productivity and Boost Our Mood?

January 29, 2023 By Helena Kaufman

Effect small but successful changes through routines to add productivity and to boost your mood daily

"Seek community and routine." This is the calm counsel I got during some challenging times after I moved, alone, to my current stomping grounds - Vancouver, Canada. That advice came from a military member. He was expected to move as seamlessly as … [Continue reading]

Father’s Day Happy and Fraught

June 19, 2022 By Helena Kaufman

It's an odd time for me to start my year of 'reactive blogging'. On Father's Day of all moments. Daily, I am triggered to memory lane. It happens with the news, my own mind, social media posts, and random sights and sounds. Finally, I begin to write … [Continue reading]

Go for the whole magilla on Purim & listen to the “Megilla” aka Book of Esther

March 14, 2022 By Helena Kaufman

Mmmm cookies for Purim called Hamentaschen

Iran, Jews and deadly decrees are commemorated in an upbeat way this week. Coming early at us in this Jewish Year of 5782, Purim arrives the night of March 16 and lasts with laughter and celebration well into March 17. Even as tensions continue in … [Continue reading]

Contact lens use in the time of COVID-Part 3 of 3 on eye care

March 22, 2021 By Helena Kaufman

On behalf of contact lens wearers, I had one final question for my Vancouver-based optometrist, Dr. Janey Yee. I do not wear contacts myself. I've given birth, considered the challenge of walking on coals, and did successfully certify as a scuba … [Continue reading]

When you can’t escape the blue light -Part 2 of 3 on eye care – the Boost Zone edition

March 19, 2021 By Helena Kaufman

Finally, we can see light at the end of the tunnel out of our COVID-created caves. Restrictions are being lifted in British Columbia. Vaccines are en route. We can look forward - that is if we can see past the blue light emanating from our ubiquitous … [Continue reading]