Hello, 2024...

It’s been almost six months since I last shared a blog post. And what six months it’s been. Just when we thought it was safe to take a collective deep breath after COVID-19, Russia invaded Ukraine. Then came Hamas’ massacre of October 7, unleashing the ongoing war and a breathtaking wave of global antisemitism.

Trump is back on the campaign trail, President Biden may be senile, and even Canada’s auditor general can’t figure out how the ArriveCan app cost Canadian taxpayers almost $60 million. People are living in tents just a few hundred metres from my front door. And social media has become a cesspool of misinformation, hate, and unsolicited advertisements.

Is it any wonder that I decided to take a big step back?

I neglected my annual Top 3 list, and was unable to pick just one word to sum up how I’m feeling about 2024. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t been writing.

So, it’s time start sharing again – beginning with this blog.

Let’s hope that the next six months brings and end to global (and local) conflicts and that we finally get our collective sh*t together long enough to deal with poverty, our dysfunctional government(s), and climate change. In the meantime, I wish you Shalom / Salaam. (And Am Israel Chai.) 

Nicole Laidler is a freelance reporter, copywriter and content creator, serving clients in London, Toronto and throughout Southwestern Ontario. She helps people grow their success, one word at a time.