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John Zakour JohnzakourFinger Lakes Times |
It’s that time of year again, a time for giving and sharing. In the spirit of the holiday season, I would like to give my yearly gratitude to all...
The holiday season is upon us, whether we like it or not. A week from today will be Thanksgiving. Christmas will be here before we know it (although I...
Lately, people have been asking, “How do you stay positive in times like these?” I answer that I look for positive things in people and the world...
I can’t help but notice that a lot of people are tense about the upcoming election on Nov. 5. No matter who wins, a certain percentage of the...
As I write this, I’m sitting watching the New York Mets get clobbered by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. By the...
It’s been almost a year now since my family lost my mother’s last two sisters, Barb and Shirley. I thought it would be fitting to pay tribute to...
Last week I decided to enhance my happiness coaching by taking another happiness class. While taking the class I learned of the work of Amy Cuddy. Dr....
These days, society feels more divided than ever. This division is exacerbated by algorithm-driven social media that creates echo chambers,...
As we headed into week two of the Olympics, I’m excited to share some of the positive highlights. While I acknowledge that there are always...
Every two years, the world comes together for the Olympics. For the most part, I consider this a very positive event. Sure, there are some negatives:...
Well, last week was an interesting one. My wife had a conference in Chicago and my son came home from Buffalo to watch the Wimbledon finals, which is...
The reason why I like playing and watching sports so much is there is a lot of positive stuff that comes from sports. This past weekend, something...
The reason why I like playing and watching sports so much is there is a lot of positive stuff that comes from sports. This past weekend, something...
Everybody fails. Roger Federer, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, recently gave a college graduation speech where he noted that he...
Relaxing is important. I try to be a pretty mellow fellow. After all, a good part of my job is to help people be happy and to make up fun stories. But...
Alert: Readers may have noticed my column has been missing for the last couple of weeks. That’s because I have been vacationing in Costa Rica. We...
This week marks 33 years of my wife, my partner in life, dealing with and being patient with me. We celebrated in a fitting way by going to a Syracuse...
We all look at the world with our own perspective. When we look at an object or a person or a concept, how we perceive it has a lot to do with our...
In today’s world, social media has become an important part of our lives. For better or for worse, social media influences how we communicate, share...
I try to avoid politics on social media and in my columns. After all, I am a positivity coach, and there really aren’t a lot of positive things you...
On Monday, the Finger Lakes witnessed an eclipse like they haven’t seen in, well, decades — at least in my lifetime. Today we know eclipses are...
I was away last week, visiting my niece and great nephew in Colorado, so I haven’t had a lot of time to write my column. (I’m also working on a TV...
In many ways, Geneva has come a long way in the last few years. The lakefront itself is beautiful, a great place to walk, bike, exercise, fly a kite,...
In a world where there is a lot of division and, well, arguing, finding common ground has become more important than ever before. Common ground is...
These days it’s easy to overlook the importance of building good relationships with our neighbors, yet being a good neighbor isn’t just about...
A couple of days ago I was making my iced tea for the day (I’ve learned if you keep iced tea for more than a day it doesn’t taste as fresh). For...
First off, I want to say happy actual birthday to all those people out there who were born on Feb. 29. With that out of the way, I want to get to the...
This is going to be a basic list of how people can increase their positivity and happiness. I figure we’re in February, in an election year, and we...
I thought for a bit of positive fun I’d give my thoughts on the Super Bowl, but since I’m a Bills fan, I figured I’d concentrate on the...
Once again, February has arrived. I often say that February in Geneva, N.Y., may be the shortest month of the year, but man, somehow it feels like the...
Locally, a lot of people have been talking about the future of Geneva, especially the lakefront, and the Buffalo Bills. I thought I’d chime in....
The power of being positive extends beyond the song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy!” It’s a way of thinking that can help make the world, or at least...
When you google the meaning of resilience you get, “Resilience is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life...
This is going to be another holiday fluff piece. I’ve pretty much spent the last week and a half on vacation, surrounded by relatives — three of...
Saying I’m sorry may be hard for some people, but “I’m sorry” has several positive effects, such as, but not limited to: Promoting empathy:...
This is going to be a truly fluff holiday piece. I mean, ‘tis the season of Hallmark movies and lights. If I can’t write a fluff piece now I never...
It’s that time of year when we sit back, reflect, and take in what’s happening in the world around us, now and over the course of the last year....
I’ve heard people complain, “Christmas is just too commercial,” and I don’t disagree with that view. But, that said, and being a positive kind...