Moments — yesterday

Prequel to yesterday

I didn’t ask but my room was upgraded and it made the stay at the trendy Toronto Hotel even better; the universe must have had plans.

Yesterday

The day started with a massage with some focus on my problematic shoulders. It’s what happens when you break your shoulder playing touch football — at the time, I was told I had made a great defensive play; I wonder to this day if the sacrifice was worth it.

Had a four hour breakfast with my daughter where we enjoyed each other’s company. We talked about many things and landed on a plan to go to Vancouver Island to hike, surf and enjoy Tofino.

I wandered the city after that. I bought some clothes and enjoyed perspectives of the people I met. Advice to stay young and vibrant rang true for me — be healthy in your choices, choose a community that is vibrant and doesn’t act its age, and don’t consume alcohol (I added sugar for good measure).

By chance, I found a restaurant and a seat at the bar; I enjoyed good food, witty banter and multitasked — I arranged a dinner with friends at the same restaurant in a few weeks and firmed up details on the upcoming trip to the west coast. It was an excellent place.

On the way back to my hotel, I came across a speakeasy disguised as an apothecary — they had room for one. I do not have a hard line with alcohol so I had a dry gin martini with three olives.

I turned 66.

Sequel to yesterday

The morning was sunny, cold and crisp — a perfect January day. I will continue my journey until I no longer can. I still have things to accomplish.

iamgpe

11 more

Stoically optimistic

I was asked recently how I was thinking about 2026.

After a little reflection on the past year I said, “Stoically optimistic”.

Upon a little more reflection, I tried to deconstruct what I meant — the optimistic part is self-explanatory because I tend to look to the positive when it comes to future prospects. But what did I mean by “stoically”? Was it about taking on whatever comes my way and that I will manage through it, even if it turns into a shit show?

Is it simply an attitude or is it an understanding of myself that has me believing in my capabilities? I have competencies and skills, can be a critical thinker, have a strong network, have goals to keep me on the path I have chosen, know that life is for living and that there is a right way to do it*. So, after a little more reflection, I want 2026 to be a great year but if it isn’t, I will work to make the best of it using all the tools at my disposal.

Tomorrow we get into 2026 full throttle — kids back to school and adults back to work with expectations and demands, social media and influencers will offer perspectives regarding everything you are doing incorrectly, and AI will be chipping away at your agency more than ever. Considering all of that and more, I don’t think having a little stoic optimism is a bad thing.

To everyone I know, and those I haven’t met yet, please have a safe and fulfilling 2026!!

iamgpe

*it’s worth reading Meditations by Marcus Aurelius because he has thoughts on this and many other things.

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Reflections — a "poor philosopher"

As I creep closer to one hundred years on this planet, I find myself wondering if I could hit such a lofty goal healthier than ever, but mostly I find myself freeing up white space to think and reflect on things.

At my core, I’ve determined that I’m equal parts, “a poor scientist” and “a poor artist” — a curious combination, although if I look at this as a Venn Diagram, the section that overlaps has offered a wonderful commercial career in the biotechnology and healthcare field. To this day, I meet smart and interesting people, who have challenged me in wonderful ways, I’ve laughed often, cried occasionally, and done some things that still endure today.

I’ve recently determined a third part, a third circle in my Venn Diagram that has started to find its way onto the page — I am affectionately calling this “a poor philosopher”.

Where did this come from? I believe it started when I read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and began a journey to understand the ego, explore the ideas of other philosophers such as Alfred Adler, and ask, “What if everything I know and how I think is wrong?” I’ve always been a proponent of different perspectives and voices to find a better solution but now want to challenge the way I look at things and my critical thinking in different ways. There is a realization that my poor philosopher is crucial to protect my agency in the age of AI and to combat the doublethink and multitude of influencers that have found their way into every social feed.

My first-year philosophy course suggested I am on the right path when I say, “I’m a poor philosopher” — this is fine because I am now looking at the intersection in a three-circle Venn Diagram. It is here that the sum will be greater than its parts.

What will this look like? It’s part of the journey and still coming into focus, but I do know it will be one part science, one part art, and one part philosophy.

iamgpe