Posted on in global relations, health and wellness, lifestyle, mental health, science of happiness, Technology and social media

Findings from the 2026 World Happiness Report

Istanbul at sunset

In North America and Western Europe, young people are much less happy than they were a year ago.

That’s the startling first sentence in this year’s World Happiness Report, issued on March 20, World Happiness Day.

This year’s report sheds a light on the alarming use of social media, especially among young people and its negative impact on happiness.

Canada fell to 25th place in in this year’s report, continuing a decade long decline. Finland ranked #1 again for the ninth year in a row. The US ranked 23rd and Britain 29th. For the second year in a row, no English speaking countries appear in the top ten.

Social media use was cited as a troubling factor especially for teenage girls in English speaking countries and teenagers.

Some disturbing findings from this year’s report.

  • In general, most Western industrial countries are now less happy than they were between 2005 and 2010. Fifteen of them have had significant drops, compared to four with significant increases.
  • In a ranking of happiness changes for under-25s, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (the NANZ region) rank between 122 and 133 in the list of 136 countries.
  • In a sample of US college students, the majority wish social media platforms didn’t exist. They use them because others are using them, but they would prefer it if no one did.
  • In regards to social media, “there is now overwhelming evidence of severe and widespread direct harms (such as sextortion and cyberbullying), and compelling evidence of troubling indirect harms (such as depression and anxiety).”

The report found that the nature of internet use and which age group and gender use it has a direct correlation to happiness and wellbeing. It is strongly negative for Gen Z, moderately negative for Millennials, near zero for Gen X, and slightly positive for Baby Boomers. 

One of the studies the report cited was of 15-year olds in 45 countries, where they found life satisfaction is highest at low rates of social media use and lower at higher rates of use.

Platforms designed to facilitate social connections show a clear positive association with happiness, whereas those driven by algorithmically curated content tend to demonstrate a negative association at high rates of use.

Communications, news, learning, and content creation are associated with higher life satisfaction. Social media, gaming, and browsing for fun are associated with lower life evaluations.

Last year, Australia banned social media for youth under the age of 16. Other countries say they are considering following their lead.

There was some good news in this year’s report.

  • Looking at changes in happiness from 2006–2010 compared to 2023–2025, nearly twice as many countries have had significant gains (79) than significant losses (41), the biggest winners being in Central and Eastern Europe and the biggest losers being in or near zones of conflict.
  • In eight of the ten global regions covering roughly 90% of the world’s population, those in the youngest age group have higher life evaluations now than in 2006–2010, either in absolute terms or relative to those over 25.
  • Positive emotions continue to be twice as frequent as negative emotions.
  • Outside the English-speaking world and Western Europe, the links between social media use and wellbeing are more positive, and depend greatly on the platforms used. Data from Latin America for example show that platforms with algorithmic feeds and featuring influencers are more likely to be negatively linked to life satisfaction than platforms that mainly facilitate communication.

Congratulations to Costa Rica, who jumped to fourth place (the report’s editors surmised this could be due to the quality of their social lives). Here is the list of top 10 happiest countries in the world.

  1. Finland
  2. Iceland
  3. Denmark
  4. Costa Rica
  5. Sweden
  6. Norway
  7. Netherlands
  8. Israel
  9. Luxembourg
  10. Switzerland

This week’s #HappyAct is to take a page from this year’s study and spend less time on social media. Delete an app or two. Stay happy.

Canada's ranking in 2026 World Happiness Report
Posted on in Food and drink, Historical, holidays, Technology and social media, travel

Wanderlust

Men selling tomatoes in a market in Bursa, Turkey

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote in The Fellowship of the Rings, “All who wander are not lost.”

Does anybody get lost anymore? Not often. With the advent of Google maps and GPS, we’ve become glued to a screen on our dashboard or in our hands that tells us exactly where we need to go. We’ve lost the joy of getting lost.

There is a freedom and excitement to discovering what’s around the next corner when you are lost. Of course, you need to pick your times. If you are on a strict time schedule, or travelling with a group who would not appreciate your meanderings, it may not be the best time to wander at will.

But if your goal is simply to explore and discover, put your phone away and let whim and desire lead you.

On our recent trip to Turkey, Dave and I made the conscientious decision to put our phones away and get lost in Istanbul. In the touristy Sultanahmet neighbourhood, we wandered down back streets where locals shopped for daily necessities like cheap undergarments, work clothes and shoes. We passed by Turkish grandmothers “nenes” wearing scarves over their heads and peasant skirts, shopping for socks and underwear, and workers hauling merchandise up the narrow alleyways on carts.

In the Taksim district, we got lost in alleyways selling art and musical instruments and were surprised when we popped out directly in front of the Galata Tower, one of the historic landmarks on the modern side of the Bosphorus.

We spent another afternoon poking around Kadikoy, a neighbourhood on the Asian side of the Bosphorous. We found spices, tea and coffee half the price they were selling it for in the touristy Spice Market and had one of the best meals of our entire trip.

In the ancient town of Bursa, near the Mediterranean, we went exploring when we noticed a man setting up a vegetable stand. We discovered to our delight it was market day, and spent the next hour browsing stalls that snaked up and down narrow alleyways filled with fish, fresh produce, pure olive oil in unmarked bottles, tobacco, and more. It was one of the most amazing produce markets I’ve ever been to, and we just happened to stumble upon it.

This week’s #HappyAct is to put your GPS away and get lost. On foot, by car, it’s your choice. See what adventures and treasures you can find.

Farmers market in Bursa Turkey
Olives and olive oil in Bursa farmer's market in Turkey
Dave lost in the streets in Taksim near the Galata Tower
Ciya Sofrasi restaurant in the Kadikoy district of Istanbul

Photos: At top and above: every type of produce imaginable at the Bursa market. Note the selection of olives and unmarked bottles of olive oil. Workers carrying merchandise by hand in the back streets of Sultanahment. Dave in one of the alleyways near the Galata Tower. And finally, one of the chefs working in the window at Ciya Sofrasi in the Kadikoy neighbourhood of Istanbul. They own three restaurants, and can bring kebabs from their restaurant across the street over to include in your order. It was one of the best meals we had in Turkey. If you look closely, you can see my reflection in the window!

Posted on in Historical, nature, photography, travel

Up, up and away

Hot air balloons in Pamukkale Turkey

I can’t believe I’m here. I can’t believe I’m a thousand feet in the air soaring in the sky in a hot air balloon. It almost wasn’t to be.

When Dave and I decided on Turkey as a destination for a winter getaway, hot air ballooning was one of the premier attractions. The most famous place to hot air balloon in Turkey is Cappadocia over the fairy chimneys and primeval rock formations dating back thousands of years. The internet is teeming with pictures of this magical place where the skies are filled with dozens of colourful balloons in the sky at once.

We arrived in Cappadocia in the middle of a snowstorm. Our balloon ride was cancelled the next morning due to snow and the next day due to fog. We had one chance left to take to the skies the following morning in Pamukkale.

We had toured Pamukkale the day before. It was in fact, my favourite place in Turkey. Pamukkale, which means “cotton castle” in Turkish is a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its white, thermal pools of calcium deposits the size of Niagara Falls. After soaking in its magical charm at sunset and exploring the ancient ruins of Hieropolis adjacent to it, I was bursting with anticipation to sail above it the next morning in a hot air balloon.

As our transfer took us down through the valley, we could see the first flight of balloons mid-air outside our windows. The sun had just breached the mountains to the east and the air had a soft, hazy glow.

We arrived in a field and watched as the pilot landed the balloon we were about to fly in. They had to balance the weight, so as two people exited the balloon, two of our group entered. It was tricky climbing over the sturdy rattan basket, but the pilot and his crew members were there to help and our group of 12, who had become quite close in our week-long adventures congenially extended helping hands and hauled each other one by one into the basket.

After a quick safety lesson, our pilot fires up the propane tanks. A burst of flames shoots upwards, sending waves of heat into my face as air fills the colourful balloon above us.

Lift off. The balloon begins to rise majestically, floating ever so gently, gaining altitude as the light from the daybreak casts a soft glow over the hills and valleys.

Hot air balloon in Pamukkale Turkey

Our pilot watches the altitude, wind speed and conditions on his control panel. He releases more propane and we rise higher, higher.

I look down and see a patchwork quilt of vineyards and fields filled with olive trees and grapes and little dots that are houses. There is a large waterpark below us, as we begin to drift towards majestic Pamukkale.

There is a hushed silence, as our group watches in wonder the beauty of the landscape, breathing in the cool air and feeling the warmth of the morning sun on our faces. We are in awe.

A thousand feet. Our pilot keeps turning the balloon from east to west so we can all enjoy the magnificent views of the cotton castle below us and the snow-capped mountains to the west.

We continue suspended in air and in time, floating blissfully, quietly, at peace with the world and immersed in the atmosphere around us.

It is time to land. We had been briefed on how to sit for a crash landing, low in the basket, gripping the handles. As we drift slowly, slowly towards the ground, some of us assume the position. The pilot laughs. He assures us the stance is not necessary, it will be a smooth landing today.

We touch down, barely a bump in a mud-caked farmer’s field. The crew is waiting to greet us with champagne. Another successful flight.

Our hot air balloon ride in Turkey was a magical once-in-a-lifetime adventure. I hope you get to experience something as equally special and meaningful to you some day. See my quick Instagram video here.

Hot air balloon over Pamukkale Turkey
Hot air balloon
Author and her husband in hot air balloon
Cotton castle, Pamukkale Turkey
Fields in Turkey from a hot air balloon
Deflated hot air balloon at Pamukkale Turkey
Shadow of hot air balloon over the fields of Turkey
Woman on calcium field at Pamukkale Turkey

Me at Pamukkale the night before at sunset

Posted on in ageing, arts, community, health and wellness, mental health, science of happiness

A new prescription for better health in Canada

Heart with puzzle pieces

In November 2025, The Toronto Star ran an opinion piece called, “How the arts can help cure the loneliness epidemic. It’s called a social prescription and it’s catching on.”

Social prescribing is a relatively new philosophy and practice in health care. It involves health practitioners writing prescriptions for their patients to participate in social or physical activities, just like a prescription for traditional medicine.

Instead of asking, “what’s the matter with you?”, health care professionals ask, “what matters to you?” to prescribe activities that help patients build strong community connections improving their overall health.

The United Kingdom has been at the leading edge of social prescribing. In 2023, doctors in the UK wrote more than one million social prescriptions for patients to participate in social, cultural and nature activities. These patients saw their doctors 40% less than the regular population saving the health care system $2,400 per person.

Social prescribing is starting to take off in Canada too. A University of Toronto researcher started the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing (CISP) in 2022 in response to the after effects of COVID-19. A national organization anchored by the Canadian Red Cross, it connects people and practices, shares knowledge and gathers data to influence policies to strengthen health and community care. There’s even a Social Prescribing Day in Canada (March 19) and week, filled with lectures and events.

I have to confess when I first read about social prescribing, I was a bit put out. Have we really come to a point where we need to rely on health care professionals to tell us to get out of the house and get active or be social? There is enough strain on the health care system already. I’m pretty sure my doctor has better things to do than discuss whether signing up for a watercolours class, drum circle or swimming lessons would improve my mental or physical health.

Some of these programs however can be expensive, even cost prohibitive for individuals. One solution is for insurance companies to offer a certain amount of coverage each year ($200-$400) as part of their benefits program for employees to participate in these types of programs, similar to the amounts allocated for physio, massage and chiropractic services.

Another solution is for employers as part of their health and wellness offerings to subsidize these programs. It’s not as crazy as you think. Good employers now offer a wide array of perks or provide financial support for programs and services that contribute to their employees’ wellbeing, such as gym memberships, fitness equipment, and educational courses.

As someone who writes, I was interested to find out that one of the organizations CISP has partnered with is the Writers Collective of Canada, which runs between 20-30 free workshops a week in major cities across Canada.

I can attest to the great value, friendship and social connection I’ve discovered through the writer’s and badminton groups I belong to through the Kingston Seniors Association.

And it’s not just seniors who can benefit from social prescribing. According to CISP, social prescribing can result in 3,900 fewer cases of adolescent depression and 3,500 years of additional schooling completed by Canadian youth aged 15-17 experiencing signs of depression.

This week’s #HappyAct is to sign up for a new activity and write your own prescription for happiness–give your doctor the day off.

Posted on in health and wellness, mental health, money, relationships, science of happiness

Feeling anxious? Try this simple technique to clear your mind

Two circles showing the things you have control over, and the things you don't

It’s an anxious world we live in. According to Anxiety Canada, 1 in 4 Canadians suffer from anxiety.

It’s normal to feel anxious sometimes. Anxiety can plague even the most positive of people. But for some, especially people who struggle with positive mental health or depression, it can become a death spiral.

What triggers anxiety can differ from person to person. Maybe it’s a job change, or the feeling of being stuck in your job. It could be worrying about money, or feeling unhappy in a relationship. I think most people are experiencing some degree of anxiety seeing what’s happening in the world today.

Recently, someone shared with me this simple five-step technique to clear your mind and be in the moment when you are feeling anxious. Focus on

  • 5 things you can see
  • 4 things you can hear
  • 3 colours
  • 2 things you can smell
  • 1 positive feeling

Finish by taking three deep breaths.

I’ve always found this graphic of two circles helpful as well. There are many variations of this graphic–this one is geared towards teenagers, but I’ve seen the same concept in corporate circles when trying to help employees through change. The first circle is everything happening in the world that you have no control over. The second circle is things you have direct control over. When your brain is feeling overwhelmed, remember the two circles and focus on the things in your life you can control.

This week’s #HappyAct is to try this simple technique the next time you’re feeling anxious.

Ed. note: This five-step technique is often referred to as a grounding technique focusing on the five senses. I prefer this variation. Studies show that anxiety plagues women more than men. If your anxiety is getting in the way of living, talk to your doctor.

Posted on in community, environment, travel

Find community connection in your own backyard

High speed train and proposed route

Special guest blog by Alison Taylor

I had some time to reflect over the holidays and decided that in 2026 I would become more involved and aware of the things going on in my community.

Recently retired, I wanted to find more purpose in my days. Don’t get me wrong, living in the country I have plenty of time for long walks, reading and writing, connecting with friends, shovelling snow and embracing wind chills.

However, I wanted more, so I started reviewing local news, and websites and was surprised at how much is going on in my little corner of the woods.  

What also surprised me was how much joy it brings to connect with my fellow “Stone Millers” (what I call those of us who live in Stone Mills Township northwest of Kingston)  

So far this year, I have attended a weaving demonstration at a local museum, an agricultural land use meeting to understand how land is designated in the province, and will be attending an open house for the proposed southern route for the Alto high-speed train rail proposal in eastern Ontario.  

So much going on in my neighbourhood.

The transition from working full-time to retirement can be tricky, but I am finding new ways to discover happiness in my own backyard.

I predict some great local connections in the months to come and look forward to being an active and well-informed “Stone Miller”.

Ed. note: Alto is a crown corporation that was established to plan and deliver the high-speed rail project in the Toronto to Quebec City corridor. The speed of the trains will reach 300 km/hour and the cost of the project is projected to be $80 billion. Alto is evaluating two rail routes between Peterborough and Ottawa, a southern route through more heavily populated but ecologically sensitive South Frontenac, and a northern route near Highway 7. A route along the already established corridor north of Lake Ontario through Kingston is not currently under consideration. If you want to find out more about this project and make your opinions known, Alto is holding a series of Open Houses this month. You can also complete an online form to share your feedback. The times for the Open Houses appear to be the same for all locations.

  • February 18: South Frontenac (11 am – 3 pm and 5-9 pm at Storrington Lions Club, 2992 Princess Rd., Inverary)
  • February 26: Peterborough
  • March 4: Perth
  • March 5: Madoc

Posted on in community, family, Food and drink, Historical

The pick of the crop of breakfast places

Me standing in front of The Orchard Family Restaurant in Mississauga

A few weeks ago, we met my brother at the Orchard Family Restaurant in Mississauga for breakfast.

Whenever I go to the Orchard, it’s like a trip down memory lane. You see “The Orchard” was a regular Sunday morning ritual for my family when I was a child, and especially once my mother passed away.

The Orchard is almost as old as I am. It opened in 1966 a block south of Hurontario and Dundas and was owned by two friends, Angelo Mazaris and Louis Velianou from Florina, Greece. Louis’ son Tom runs it today. An interesting fun fact: my Mom was born in a house on Argyle Street, just a few streets from the Orchard where my grandparents owned a greenhouse for years in the 1930’s. The Orchard was literally in my Mom’s backyard. I’m guessing they called it the Orchard because in those days, that entire area of Mississauga was full of apple orchards.

Back in the 80’s, there was always a long line up at the door to be seated. I loved watching my Dad when he walked into The Orchard. It was like an episode of The King of Kensington or Cheers where everybody knew his name. As soon as my Dad or brother Don were seated, one of the waitresses would come up and give them a hug or kiss. The owners Angelo or Louis would wave in greeting from behind the open counter as they were flipping eggs on the grill.

They say our sense of smell triggers the most powerful memories and that was true with The Orchard. The unmistakeable smell of fried bacon, the intoxicating aroma of the best coffee in town, and that greasy smell of oil from French fries or hash browns that always made your stomach grumble.

At the end of breakfast when we offered to pay for the bill, my Dad would always say, “you can leave the tip”. You paid at the counter on the way out and no one used a debit or credit card in those days–it was always cash.

The Orchard was more than just a breakfast place for our family. As we got older and moved out of my Dad’s house, breakfast at The Orchard was often the only meal we ate as a family together each week. The place where we shared what was happening in each other’s lives. The staff there became an extension of our family, familiar faces on a Sunday morning. And when my father passed away, it was the place we went to honour him and to continue the tradition.

Today, there’s an entire slew of chains serving up breakfast, but few offer the same family feel of a restaurant like The Orchard.

This week’s #HappyAct is to find your favourite breakfast spot that makes you feel like family and help yourself to a big greasy breakfast.

Posted on in health and wellness, humour

My favourite handheld electronic device

Illustration of a woman grinning and looking devious

A few years ago, I invested in a new electronic device. It vibrates, fits easily in my hand and gives me more joy than I could ever imagine.

Every morning, I close the door and turn it on. The pleasant insistent hum makes me lick my lips in exultant anticipation.

I succumb to its rhythmic pulse, groaning with pleasure. I am whisked away from life’s pressing problems, lost in the moment and the incredible sensation tingling through my body.

I really should give it a name. Perhaps Pepe my little friend or Buzz Lightyear for taking me to infinite and beyond.

My impulse is to go fast, thrusting it quickly in and out, but the proper technique is to go slow, clenching, letting the vibrations work their magic.

For years I resisted getting one. The early models came with cords which seemed clunky and unrefined. Then battery-operated versions miraculously appeared which allowed you to tuck it away out of sight when not in use.

Sturdy, dependable, it’s become my daily hedonistic ritual. Self-gratification on steroids. A state of complete bliss.

You can use it alone, or if you’re adventurous, with friends. For maximum benefit and pleasure, you should use it every day. Twice a day is recommended.

And it’s made at least one man in my life very, very happy—my dentist.

This week’s #HappyAct is to get an electronic toothbrush if you haven’t already made the switch. Make your teeth and your dentist happy.

Ed. note: I generated the above image with AI. Would you give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down?

Posted on in dogs, lake living, nature

Find joy in the snow

Saying, "If you choose not to find joy in the snow you will have less joy in your life but still the same amount of snow"

The snow keeps falling in an endless sea of white. Tiny feathery flakes fall in slow motion, causing the minutes and hours to tick by slowly. Winter in all its glory grips the landscape in its icy grasp.

There is something rhythmic and pleasing to falling snow. The world is gentle. Silent. Peaceful. The creatures of the forest seek shelter and rest, waiting for the storm to pass so they can emerge from their dens.

The snowflakes increase in size, the size of peas. I catch them on my tongue. Bentley is covered in white.  

I usually love winter, but a few weeks ago, I said to Dave I’m done with winter. It has worn me down.

I become nostalgic, missing the days when a fresh snowfall was an excuse to go out and play with my children and celebrate winter’s bounty: skating on a frozen lake, racing down our driveway on toboggans, and building snowmen in the yard.

I spy an icicle on the side of my barn. My inner child seizes it and takes a hard, crunchy bite. It’s so brittle, it almost chips my weathered, withered teeth. The cold chunk melts in my mouth slowly as I savour the coolness on my throat and mouth. It’s so cold outside, when I take a second bite, the icy chunk sticks to my lips for a nanosecond.

The snow continues to fall and I realize I am fighting a lost cause. Better to embrace it.

As the saying goes, if you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life, but still the same amount of snow.

Dog covered in snow

Bentley our weatherforecaster, me catching snowflakes and the view from our back deck. Winter is one of the most peaceful and beautiful times on our lake.

Woman catching snowflakes
Snow-laden trees beside a lake
Posted on in arts, Historical, money, shopping

Own a piece of Canadian history

Hudson Bay Company map up for auction

In March 2025, The Hudson’s Bay Company filed for creditor protection, marking the demise of this country’s oldest retailer and the end of the department store era in Canada.

As schoolchildren, we learned about the early history and legacy of The Hudson’s Bay Company. Founded in 1670, the company was granted a royal charter by the King of England to conduct sole trade and commerce in the area known as Hudson’s Bay, giving them a monopoly on the lucrative fur trade throughout much of English Canada.

For centuries, The Bay has been a part of our cultural fabric. Now, you too can own a piece of this storied company’s past.

Heffel Auction House is holding an online auction of Hudson’s Bay memorabilia and assets with bidding open until January 27, 2026. You can see all the items up for auction here.

I assumed most of the items would be rare and expensive works of art in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, but was pleasantly surprised to find most of the items were affordable.

Interested in an HBC decorative canoe paddle with the SS Beaver emblazoned on it? It can be yours for $700 (all bids stated are at the time of writing). Or how about a model of the tallship Nonesuch for $1,500? These are just some of the treasures you can find in the HBC Ephermera section. Or maybe you would prefer a decorative pocket watch for $400, commemorative sword for $1,600, a beaver pelt cheque for $500, or the map pictured above for $1,600.

The lots include coins, soapstone carvings and an entire collection of iconic Hudson Bay blankets, ranging from $50 to $3,750.

There are also two art sections, one of Inuit art and one of fine art, featuring works by well-known Canadian artists like Kenojuak Ashevak, Robert Bateman, and Alex Colville. I’m tempted to bid on this piece below called “He Guards the Peace” by David M. General, current bid of $50.

One thing you won’t find on the online auction is the original Royal Charter. It was auctioned off in late 2025, bought by the Thomson and Weston families for a cool $18 million. The families plan to donate it to a Canadian museum so all Canadians can see it.

This week’s #HappyAct is to take buying Canadian to heart and own a piece of Canadian history. Happy bidding!

Ed. note: if you are a fan of Indigenous art, be sure to make a trip to the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg before March 29, 2026 to catch the exhibit, Early Days: Indigenous Art at the McMichael.

Artwork He Guards the Peace by David M. General up for auction