After reading the article on exercises for a healthy brain in Renaissance magazine, I started training specifically with the balance-training exercises. The specialist who treats me for my balance problem approved this training. At 88 years old, I’ve come to realize the importance of good health.
Thank you. I really enjoy reading the magazine.
—Émile Guy, District 4 Sudbury, Manitoulin
I was delighted to read “The Power of Creativity” in the fall issue of Renaissance magazine. I’m a retired teacher who taught for 50 years. I found myself talked into coming out of retirement to teach art this year in a new private school in Ottawa.
Many companies are enticing parents to buy “educational” materials marked “STEM.” This, of course, stands for “science, technology, engineering and math.” I contend it should be STEAM, which would include art as an essential tool as well! If we just take a moment to look around at our furniture, our cars, our houses and décor, as well as the International Space Station with its robotic arm – all at some point had their start as an artistic drawing. It certainly has been my experience to see students in a state of “flow.”
I was also delighted to read that the World Economic Forum has reported that 73 per cent of organizations call creative thinking the most important skill, ahead of things like technological literacy, agility and motivation.
Let’s not stand for art and music to be the first things cut from school budgets. Not all students are left-brain learners.
—Beth Mackay, District 27 Ottawa-Carleton
The digital copy of Renaissance is wonderful! Exactly the right topics, well researched, articulate and concise. My compliments!
—DD, RTOERO member since 2019
I am so pleased to be a part of RTOERO. I look forward to receiving Renaissance magazine – it’s so positive and informative.
I found living through COVID very hard as I missed my friends and contacts. So, I started making HUGS (above). I give HUGS to every person I meet. It gives people a glimmer of joy and I’m amazed at their reactions. I tell people to put the HUGS in their pockets and take them out when they need to stop and acknowledge themselves. When you’ve used up the glimmer for yourself, you can pass your HUGS on to another person needing support. I often don’t know the person, so it’s pure delight for me.
As you wrote in Renaissance, a simple act of kindness.
—Sandra Allen, District 11 Waterloo Region
The last two issues of Renaissance were awe-inspiring for me, a 92-year-old long-time retiree. The subtitles alone spoke volumes.
“Simple Pleasures.” “Power of Creativity.” I have lived my life by these words. I continue to believe in the simple pleasure and endless benefits of gardening on a sunny summer’s day. My urge to be creative is fed by my endless lines of passionate poetry, passionate only in my desire to have my audience hear my message.
So thank you, Renaissance, for bringing two of my favourite topics to our attention. I am certain many retired teachers can identify with one or both articles.
—Shirley Lazareth, District 14 Niagara
