Early in the 12th century someone uttered the word “courage” for the first time. A new word was needed. The speaker took the word for heart and shaped it into a new form to express speaking from one’s heart. The word “courage” was born. Words like “courage,” “compassion,” “gratitude,” and “resilience” […]
Do you know the present everyone wants this gift-giving season? There is something that each of us wants. You will not have to push through crowds of shoppers to find it. It is never out of stock. It is affordable. Wrapping it is not an issue. Fortune magazine reports that about 30% of
We become what we seek. Our thoughts and actions shape us, like a potter’s hands that form a clay pot. Seek peace, and more peaceful moments will find you. Last month, I ended my blog with this paragraph… I long to slip into silence. I read a poem. I become aware of subtle
Cool weather signals a move to indoor activities. Barbecues, block parties, and beach days are disappearing. Now we reach for sweaters and jackets. A desire to sit quietly, journal, or hike in thewoods might begin calling to you. We need to pay attention to these subtle longings. It is not always easy. Some days, news
Crackle and pop sing the gravel under the car wheels as we pull out of the parking lot. Crow who greeted me on arrival now sends us on our way. Don spent time exploring New Mexico and Colorado. I led a five-day retreat here at Mabel Dodge Luhan House in Taos, New Mexico. For
Saturday, August 3, 2024, 6:55 a.m. Our house is still. Don sleeps in another bedroom. I sit propped up in our bed. The Covid beast has finally found me. I have escaped its claws for four years. I thought I was impenetrable. Even when Don caught it months ago, I did not get it.
Spinning. Wobbly. Uncertain. The world feels chaotic. Chatting with others confirms that they also feel this way. Politics. Wars. Environment. Looking “out there” fills us with concerns. Worries are compounded by the realization that many situations are out of our control. On a personal level, our community of friends lost yet another tenderhearted
Jennifer is a professional violinist and is in one of my women’s circles. She taught me a powerful lesson. She realized that the fear of looking foolish was holding her back. So, she created a situation that had the potential to do just that. Grand halls and ballrooms are the usual venues for
Last week I got hearing aids. This week I took all the dark color out of my hair. Shifts like these need to be given thought. I had considered them for quite awhile. Birthdays at any age can give us pause. They can be a time of reflection. Turning eighty this year was significant.
Endings are powerful points of transition. They grab our attention and ask us to clarify their meaning. They want answers. What did you gain from the experience? What did you learn? What might you have done differently? Some endings are uninvited. Others we choose. Either way we must adjust. Often our self-image needs to
