The rambling ponderings of Eric "Gub" Snyder. I'm incurably curious. I ponder things like AI, the environment, sustainability, stranded assets, environmental stewardship, waste, waste reduction, thriving simply, living simply, genealogy, history, calendars, personal productivity...
In the world of leadership and human resources, we often talk about "soft skills"—those intangible qualities like empathy, communication, and emotional intelligence. But as we navigate our later years, it becomes clear that these aren't just professional assets; they are the bedrock of a meaningful life.
One of the most powerful, yet frequently overlooked, of these skills is the art of genuine gratitude.
In our hyper-connected world, we’ve developed a bit of a "gratitude shortcut." We see it all the time on Facebook: a parent posts a photo of a birthday cake with a caption like, “Sara thanks everyone for the well-wishes!” It’s efficient, sure. But is it effective? As someone who spent a career in Human Resources, I can tell you that "proxy gratitude" doesn't build the muscles a child needs to navigate the real world.
If we want our kids to be successful, independent adults, we need to coach them on the Personal Thank-You. Here is a simple guide to helping the kids (and grandkids) in your life take ownership of their own relationships.
Below are the regular gasoline prices in Ottawa for the past month (February 24 to March 24, 2026). The data shows a significant upward trend, with prices starting near 129.4¢/L in late February and rising to an average of 178.9¢/L by late March.
The world of Artificial Intelligence is moving at a breakneck pace this March. From OpenAI’s potential trillion-dollar valuation to the rise of "agentic" systems that can actually do your work rather than just talk about it, here is your essential briefing for Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
