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Holiday plans

This summer, we are hoping to finally take the holiday we planned for 2020. But what is better, planning a holiday in advance, or improvising it on the spot? And, in the post-corona world of border checks, overstretched airports and rental car shortages, is a holiday simply more trouble than it’s worth?

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Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is the day on which children pamper their mothers. So why is it often a day of stress for me?

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People-watching

As corona once more sets severe limits on human contact, the fleeting occasions when more was possible become moments to treasure.

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Christmas cards

Christmas cards. Every year, it’s a big job to write and send them. In an age in which we can speak to anyone anywhere via internet, is there any point in sending a paper card?

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Preparing for the next crisis

Right now, the corona crisis is taking up most of our time and energy. But if we divert some attention to becoming more healthy and resilient as a community in the long-term, might that make us better prepared for the next crisis, whatever it is?

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Corona and the ultimate question

Leaving aside all the long-term unknowns, the current corona prospects in the Netherlands are good. Schools and restaurants are open again, people are being allowed to return to work after more than a year in improvised home offices, and practical plans to enable holidays abroad are well underway. Some people are chafing at the leash […]

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Follow the rules or follow your own judgement?

Unlike the Ten Commandments, rules are not set in stone. They are often open to interpretation, fail to cover the current situation, or even come into conflict with common sense or our conscience. Yet when we decide for ourselves, we are led by our own bias and the temptation to put our needs and desires above what we know to be right. When should we follow rules, and when should we use our own judgement?