Eat Better, Work Better

It’s February – is spring here yet? Well, at least my work is blossoming, if nothing else! My latest new releases include a profile in Zoomer magazine of entrepreneurs over the age of 45. According to the CIBC, baby boomers are the fastest-growing demographic in the small-business sector. Thinking of joining in? Post-recession, this may be a great time to become your own boss.

Also, be sure to visit Best Health online for my new quiz on foods high in sodium. Find out how much you know about what you’re eating, and get some ideas on how to cut the salt content in your daily diet.

Living Well with MS

Disability topics have long been one of my specialties. And I usually jump at the chance to write helpful, upbeat articles that can encourage and support a quality life for Canadians with disabilities. My latest work appears on the Multiple Sclerosis channels of the websites Yahoo! and Canoe.

But of course every working day is different, and I’m juggling a whole range of topics right now that cover health, parenting, kids’ stuff, and overall good living. Keep watching this space for news of upcoming publications – things are busy!

Make the Most of Winter

Happy New Year! Okay, so winter weather doesn’t get the thumbs-up from everyone (including me, I have to admit). But you can try to make the best of it by following some of my winter activity ideas for families with young kids in the Winter 2009 issue of Blush magazine. Pick up a copy of Blush at select locations across Canada, or read it online. Snow tubing or sleigh riding, anyone?

Upcoming Television Appearance

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve enjoyed speaking on a number of radio programs across Canada, talking about my Reader’s Digest article on performing a good deed a day. Next week you’ll be able to watch me live on CityTV’s “Breakfast Television” morning show in Toronto on December 29, some time between 7 and 9 a.m.

On another note entirely, look in the December issue of Toronto Life for a small mention of a rare giant red slug colony discovered this past fall in my neighbourhood. The story behind the story: The slug is native to Europe, the colony was discovered by my daughter and me, and our find has created a bit of a coup in the malacological world. I didn’t write the story, but I contributed the photo – thereby marking the first time my name has appeared in Toronto Life magazine.

Rapping about Good Deeds

More good things happening after my article about doing 50 good deeds in 50 days was printed in this month’s Reader’s Digest: I’ll be appearing on several Canadian radio programs over the next few weeks to talk about the challenge I set for myself, how it changed my family and how every one of us can make a difference. E-mail me at lbendall@sympatico.ca to find out if I’ll be interviewed in your city.

Spice Up Your December

Can you believe it’s the end of the year already? And as the colder weather descends, it’s time for some indoor sports. The newest issue of Zoomer magazine for folks over 45 features a special package on healthy sexuality, including my story on how intimacy changes – or doesn’t – as we get older.

I’ve been receiving terrific feedback on my “Good Deed a Day” story in the current issue of Reader’s Digest. I even caught wind of a Canadian woman who has been inspired to try her own good deed a day, and is posting her results daily on her blog. That was always my hope – that the article would prompt others to find time in their own lives for daily kindnesses. Great news!

Reader’s Digest Special Issue

I’m particularly proud of the new December issue of Reader’s Digest. It features an essay about my good deeds project – in which I did a good deed a day for 50 days. In my piece I write about the importance and impact of daily kindnesses, even in the busiest of lives. This is the second time I’ve written on this theme in a major Canadian magazine, and regular readers of this blog will know it’s a story that is particularly close to my heart.

What’s extra-special about this issue is the cover girl: my beautiful 10-year-old daughter, who played a key part in my good deeds journey. You can bet she’s loving her appearance on the cover of a national magazine!

Also for December: catch my OWL magazine story about how animals manage to stay toasty in cold weather. Although we’ve been lucky with the mild weather so far this season, I am always open to ideas when the frigid temperatures hit!

How Does Our Healthcare Compare?

Have a look at the November issue of Best Health magazine for my analysis of the health of Canadian women, as compared to Americans. For this piece I explored 11 key health issues, like cancer, osteoporosis and obesity, to find out just who’s on top. My results are presented following a thought-provoking piece by American-born Rona Maynard, touting the advantages of the Canadian healthcare system. It’s definitely worth a read.

School in Afghanistan

Be sure to pick up the November issue of OWL magazine with my story on Afghanistan. This is the magazine’s special top-ten issue, and my article highlights ten ways that international aid workers are making sure more boys and girls have access to education. November has only just begun but it’s already proving to be an incredibly busy month, with lots of work on the go as well as new releases still to come. Keep watching this space for more publication news!

Fitting in at a New Job

A lot of folks are in transition right now, and my short piece in the new November issue of Reader’s Digest offers up advice for men and women who are adjusting to a brand-new workplace. Plus the October issue of OWL magazine is still in stores, with my science story for kids. This one’s about all the teeny-tiny creepy-crawlies that live on or near our bodies. I never expected to freak out my own daughter with one of my articles, but there you go. Icky!