life & style // 10 es cs \ » On nature and envy jj Margaret Matthews Columnist a considerable amount of time revelling in the beauty of nature. Whether I am on a hiking trail, or relaxing by a lake or seashore, there is so much to see and enjoy. Green is a very relaxing when one is stressed out with the challenges of life. Feasting one’s eyes on the various shades of green has a soothing effect on the mind. As I hike, I observe that the tender young shoots of the plants are a full-grown foliage have turned : trees that line the hiking path : have turned to a mint green. : Oftentimes these shades are : reflected ona lake, pond, or love the outdoors and spend : : body of water, and although : the water itself is not clear, the : green shades add lustre and : colour to the muddy waters, : transforming it to an artist’s : paradise. On the other side of : the coin is the “green-eyed and soothing colour, especially : monster”’—the negative : association when envy invades : the minds of some. Envy and : jealousy have existed since : the beginning of time when : Cain slew his brother Abel : ina fit of jealous rage. Many : of the Italian operas feature delicate apple-green, while the : jealousy between lovers as the : main conflict of the storyline, a forest green, and the gigantic : especially when they are : caught ina love triangle. In my opinion envy and : jealousy stem from one’s : insecurities, low self-esteem, : and self-centredness—trying : to compete with someone else, : and wanting all the attention : and success to be directed at : oneself, rather than at another : person. This is an immature : personality trait, but it can : continue on into adulthood, : sometimes ending friendships : that had previously existed for : years. There is also another : aspect called professional : jealousy which can be found : among adults in the corporate : world. One employee has been : : bypassed fora promotion by — : : the management, and another : has climbed up the corporate : introspection, it would be : benevolent for the loser to go : ladder with a higher title : and a big raise in salary. How : does the loser react tosucha_ : : situation? I would suggest that : : they do some introspection to : : see where they fell short, and: : how they can improve. Perhaps : : they have an irate personality, : : or lack courtesy and good : public relations which were : evident to the management : and co-workers and need to : be worked on. It’s not only : the knowledge acquired to : do the job that is paramount, : but how a person relates to : their clients, co-workers, and : management with whom they : interact, that is the criteria for : advancement and a promotion. : Having done this theotherpress.ca On the other side of the coin is the “green- eyed monster’— the negative association when envy invades the minds of some. : to the winner with a genuine : big smile, congratulate them : on their promotion, and : wish them all the best for : the future. When the loser puts this into action, positive emotions will undoubtedly : follow, and the green-eyed : monster will soon abscond. The changing face of dating » Notes from the newly single Jen Markham Contributor ’wim fresh out of a near five- year relationship, and let me just say the dating world has changed a lot since I was here last. Does anyone even try to meet people in their daily lives, or do you just set up your online profile and hope for the best? It seems optimistic in my opinion, given the number of true gems out there (not). I’ve come across a few faux-pas already: posting pictures with guns, snakes, or upwards of five gorgeous women, showing your abs in the bathroom mirror, or some awful combination of all of the above. I’m tempted to “smile” at those guys and have a heart-to-heart, : just for their benefit. I’m told : paying for sites eliminates most : of the riff-raff, but maybe I’m : cheap—or maybe I’m the riff- : raff, I can’t speak to that yet. [ve also had the experience : recently of redefining the term : “third wheel.” At my friend’s : 30th birthday I was honest to : goodness the igth wheel. It was : me and nine couples; and when : it was time to find our seats, : take pictures, order, and get the : bills, it felt that way. Maybe it’s because I’m now : almost 30, instead of being in : my early 20s, but since when : did my singledom become : a problem that every man, : woman, and child feels the : need to fix? And even worse, : attempts to remedy by fixing : me up with their grandson, : stepbrother, or cousin twice : removed. Now when I’m : checking out a cute guy, I also : check out his left hand fora : ring, and wonder if he’s got : three kids. This also wasn’t so : much of a problem five years : ago, when matrimony wasn’t : this exclusive club all your : married friends are trying to : convince you to join. : I did something every single : : girl does: I went underwear : : shopping. Yup, because you just : : never know who might end up : seeing them, and a sexy pair is : like insurance—there just in : case. As opposed to the thread- : bare, stretched-out elastic pair : of granny panties, which are : more like a good excuse to make : : sure no one sees them. Even with the sexy red : lace pair on, are all single girls : self-conscious of their sexual : experience, or lack thereof? : Because some single girls go on : arampage, and all the power : toya sister, but I just don’t : have that much game. So I : turn to who’s already on my : list, because if you visit an old : notch you’re not making a new : one right? I did not make my : not plan for this. Slim pickings. : who I’m on amicable terms : with, since hopefully I haven't : yet followed suit with every : other ex-girlfriend on the planet : : and “gone crazy.” How is it that : such a high percentage of guys : “Yeah, we had a good run, until : we broke up and she went choices with this in mind, I did Topping the list is my ex share the same classic story? : nuts!” He didn’t approve of my : choice of rebound, but that’s : to be expected. I’d have been : more creeped out if I had seen : them high five-ing behind my : back. I offered to write the ex’s : online dating profile for him, : since writing is my thing, but he : didn’t jump at the idea. I think every girl secretly : hopes that, should they ever : become single again, they’ll : have prospects. Not a “fight : them off witha stick” situation, : but reasonable guys they know : who might celebrate their : new addition to the single world. This did not happen to : me. Not only did I get none : of the attention I did want, : the attention I didn’t want : got amped up. All the old and : creepy guys celebrated.