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Continue readingMonthly Archives: January 2020
What Is the Happiness and Wealth Connection?
In Mary Holm’s “Rich Enough? A Laid-back Guide for Every Kiwi (affiliate link),” Holm starts off by questioning why people want to get rich. More specifically, she directs the question to the reader: Why would you like more money? The answer may seem like it’s a no-brainer. People want more money, so they can live better and be happier. If that’s true of you, then Holm’s points out that “having more [money] doesn’t necessarily make us happier.” There’s a point, past which more money may even lead to less happiness.
While more money may not lead to more happiness, the opposite seems to be true. More happiness leads to more money. In fact, Nick Powdthavee, author of “The Happiness Equation (affiliate link),” found that happy people were more productive, more creative, healthier, and more likely to become financially successful.
Holm quotes Albert Schweitzer to bolster her point: “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you’re doing, you will be more successful.” Holm doesn’t deny that grumpy people may do well financially, but the money won’t change their disposition. At the end of the day, they will still be grumpy.
Mary Holm is described as “New Zealand’s most trusted money expert.” She has worked as a financial journalist in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.
So, why do you want more money? Is it to acquire more things, more prestige, more power, or is it for another reason? Leave a comment to let us know.
New Zealand: Otago Museum in Dunedin
There were a lot of exhibits in the Otago Museum in Dunedin. We also had lunch here before it was time to take our train.
Continue readingNew Zealand: Otago Chocolate Company Takes Chocolate to Art
The Otago Chocolate Company makes some of the smoothest chocolate bars available in New Zealand. The chocolate is silky, satisfying, and full of flavor. When combined with other flavors of New Zealand, you have a winning chocolate experience that few other companies can match.
The metallic stickers on the cardboard outer wrappings have an upscale look to them and clearly state what’s in the bar and where the chocolate beans come from. Some of the wrappers feature images from Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum. The horopito and kawakawa berries chocolate bar makes use of the natural spice in New Zealand’s flora. The beans are single sourced from Papa New Guinea. The farmers receive a fair price for their work.
Those familiar with manuka honey will enjoy the Beekeeper. The beans are from Papa New Guinea, but this 70% dark chocolate comes with honey, bee pollen, and puffed amaranth. That’ll kick up the health factor of this treat a notch. It’s good for “growers, makes and eaters alike.”
The Otago Chocolate Company (OCHO) makes their chocolate in Dunedin, and you can find it in local stores and at the Royal Albatross Centre. You can even get it at the airport, so be sure to look in the gift shops while waiting for your flight out. This is one treat you’ll want to enjoy no matter where you’re from.
Preorder ‘Tales at an Alaskan Cabin’
“Tales at an Alaskan Cabin: 16 short stories to pass the time” is set up and ready for pre-order in eBook format. Simply, head over to Amazon.com and place your order today.
Tribute to the Decameron
I wrote this in the style of the “Decameron“, one of the oldest pieces of European literature. Completed in the 1353 by Boccaccio, the “Decameron” predates Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” (1400) by about 50 years. The “Decameron” focuses on ten wealthy, young people who flee the plague, and the scandalous and dangerous behavior of those in a town that has no law or moral decorum due to all the death, by going to their estates outside of town. At those places of rest, each person is charged with telling a story on a theme, with the exception of one young man who claims the right to tell the last story of the day to help improve upon any of the earlier stories or the mood as he sees fit.
At the Cabin
In this story, four men rent a cabin in the Alaskan wilderness during the winter. They decide that they will pass the time by telling each other stories. There are science fiction stories, myths, stories from other cultures and history, and personal tales from their lives. Some of the tales are related to Alaska; most are straight fiction. If you like reading short stories, this one should keep you entertained for a few hours.
How to Pre-order
The only way to pre-order is to go to Amazon.com and get the eBook. If you want a hard copy, it will be released on or about Feb. 11, but you won’t be able to read it right away as it will need to be shipped. The eBook for “Tales at an Alaskan Cabin” will be available immediately when Feb. 11 arrives. Read it first and find out what stories men tell in the cabin. (You can find a preview of the first part of the book here.)
New Zealand: Photos from Toitu Otago Settlers Museum in Dunedin
The Toitu Otago Settlers Museum is located next to the Dunedin train station. It has exhibits that focus on creativity, vehicles, and what was important to the people that lived in the region.
Continue readingNew Zealand: The Penguin Place Photos
The Penguin Place was paired with Monarch Cruises. Here penguins are rehabilitated, and a sanctuary has been set aside for the rarest of penguins – the yellow-eyed penguins to roost. If you head over to our Etsy shop and adopt a flat friend, we will donate $1 to the Penguin Place.
Continue readingNew Zealand: Photos from Monarch Cruises in Dunedin
We coupled our Monarch Cruise with a trip to the Penguin Place. Here are some photos from the cruise. Videos will follow at some point in the future.
Continue readingNew Zealand: Photos from the Royal Albatross Centre
I didn’t get many good photos of the little blue penguins at the Royal Albatross Centre because I focused on videos and my camera is just a cheap point and shoot. But I got some other great photos.
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Penguinate! Positive Creativity 