The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
We've always suspected it, but now there's proof - we Canadians are way too nice. According to the results of a national consumer poll commissioned by AQUAFINA(R) bottled water, 44% of us admit that we have a difficult time saying "no" to people who want something from us. More women (47%) than men (42%) seem to be missing the word "no" in their daily vocabulary. And it's a bigger phenomenon in Atlantic Canada and Quebec than it is in other parts of the country. "This shouldn't surprise us. We're a nation of nice, polite people and there's nothing wrong with that," says Lisa Holba, a registered health and nutrition specialist, certified personal trainer and life coach, "But an inability to say no can cause a lot of stress, especially for women who are pulled in many different directions. Learning to say no can ease pressure and open the door to a happier existence." The AQUAFINA(R) Pure Living Poll also revealed that it's been quite some time since many Canadians have done anything out of the ordinary to shake up their lives. In fact, 9% of Canadians have never done anything to shake up their lives, and 18% haven't done anything in years to shake things up. "I encourage people to do something that simultaneously scares and excites them. This can be something as simple as taking a public speaking course or doing a presentation in front of their colleagues. We all need to grow our courage muscles throughout our lives. A great way to do that is to challenge ourselves to get out of our comfort zone. When we do, it can be a really exhilarating experience, which is good for the soul," advises Holba. On this same theme of getting out of our comfort zone, the poll also shows that many Canadians really want to have more excitement and adventure in their lives, with 44% of Canadians saying they want more excitement. That number climbs to 53% in B.C. People living in Atlantic Canada don't seem to have the same degree of need for excitement - only 36% indicate they want to spice things up. See 'Taking' P.# Con't from P.# Something that Canadians seem to be doing very well is taking time out for themselves to reflect on what's important to them, with 70% of Canadians saying they take quiet time every day. Quebecers are best at carving out some 'me time', with 77% of them saying they do it every day. "It doesn't matter how, when or where you do it, as long as you take a few minutes to do it," say Holba. "In your car, when you first wake up, while you're walking to work - whatever works. If you can sort out what's important to you on a daily basis, you'll have a much better sense of who you are, and that makes people feel good. If we just sleepwalk through our days, it's not a very satisfying experience." Holba also encourages Canadians to drink more water as part of what she calls her "pure living" strategy. "When people come to me for help in all aspects of their lives, one of the first things I tell them is to drink more water. I can't stress enough the impact water has on the way I look and feel. I find that it's great for my skin, and it helps contribute to your sense of well-being," says Holba. Holba's Top Five Tips To Help Canadians Achieve "Pure Living": - Say no, Canada! - Shake up your life with excitement and adventure! - Have a pure moment every day to reflect, recharge and re-evaluate - Take care of your body from the inside out - drink more water! - Actively participate in life this summer.
