"Digital minimalism is a philosophy that helps you question what digital communication tools (and behaviors surrounding these tools) add the most value to your life. It is motivated by the belief that intentionally and aggressively clearing away low-value digital noise, and optimizing your use of the tools that really matter, can significantly improve your life."

– Cal Newport

"Digital minimalism is a philosophy that helps you question what digital communication tools (and behaviors surrounding these tools) add the most value to your life. It is motivated by the belief that intentionally and aggressively clearing away low-value digital noise, and optimizing your use of the tools that really matter, can significantly improve your life."

– Cal Newport

Where a Bear took us cover

Meat coma in Mendoza, Argentina

February 11, 2025

A visit to Eva Peron’s grave. A tango show over dinner. Picturesque views of the magnificent Andes. Meh. Nothing could ever hold a candle to our memories of Argentinian beef.  We flew to Buenos Aires from Brazil and soon after, headed to Mendoza for wine-tasting. Driving near Tupungato, a wine region several hours away, we…

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The extinction of experience book cover

The end of experience

February 5, 2025

The worst culture shock I ever experienced wasn’t over chopsticks in Beijing or about the suffocating heat of Bangkok. It happened when we moved home to Vancouver after living abroad for many years. Canada was supposed to be familiar to me. Yet, I felt completely out of synch with everything around me, including my own life. …

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Where a Bear took us cover

Maple Bear on the Silk Road

January 29, 2025

At a meeting in Lanzhou, China, on the ancient Silk Road, we ate sunflower seeds and discussed spread sheets.   Rodney’s attack of sciatica began in Istanbul. It worsened on our long flight to China from Dubai. Still, at the public marketing event, he smiled widely for a picture. (Nice corsage, eh?) And in the evening,…

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Marcus Aurelius image and quote

Becoming a Stoic in the Digital Age

January 27, 2025

The only certainty is uncertainty. As The Expat Expert, I used to commiserate a lot with other expat wives over those five words. Like me, they were never sure where in the world their husband’s career might take them next. Nor did they know when they might be moving, at least not until their partner told them.  That lack of control…

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Cover photo of Where a Bear Took Us

A Big Fish in Mauritius

January 7, 2025

The flight from Mumbai arrived at dawn. Our first stop was Port Louis, the capital. Mauritius serves as offshore headquarters for Maple Bear East Africa.  In a nondescript office building, in a conference room inexplicably painted pink, we held a board meeting. Where the hell had we landed? Mauritius discombobulates. A population of French-speaking South…

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Movie Poster from Perfect Days

Días Perfectos

January 3, 2025

Wouldn’t it be perfect if human bodies had a factory reset switch? Turn it and marvel as unwanted pounds, products of our perennial season of over-indulgence, disappear. Hit it again and digital addiction never existed. I discovered a reasonable facsimile of that switch exists in all of us. Here’s what happened.             While fighting cabina fever during Costa…

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