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I’ve been taking special note of the times during the week when I feel hopeless.  I’m trying to identify what makes me feel that way and when I am successful at replacing the hopeless feeling with joy.  First, I try to figure out how I got here.  What prompted this feeling of despair rather mild […]

I feel the world needs a lot more grace and a lot less judgement.   So I’ve been thinking how I contribute to that. I should never judge another person’s motives, heart or intent.  I can’t see inside their head or soul, nor do I always have the gift of discernment in each discourse.  I’m reminded

My mother-in-law, Betty, had a quiet and gentle spirit, and never said anything that wasn’t positive.  So, I remember the few exceptions vividly.  When I first met my in-laws, they were avid bridge players and belonged to a club that played in one another’s homes monthly.  One night, when they were trying to teach me

When my son was in first or second grade, he had a teacher that should have retired many years earlier.  One day his class was late coming out of the school.  I watched anxiously until I saw my little man walking out to the car with his head down looking dejected.  As I pulled out

I’m new to being a Yaya (grandmother).  Our eldest grandson is eight and his little brother six.  I was looking through old picture albums recently when I realized just how much I’ve used my own as well as my children’s grandmothers as role models.  There is a lot of diversity there to gleam from.  My

I parked at the end of the parking lot, so I could get a few more steps in while I was doing my errands.  When I came back, I noticed a pile of fast-food wrappers visible above the window on the passenger side of the car next to me.  The sheer volume of fast-food meals

This week I read yet more research confirming how we judge the world based on our first impression.  It’s been called the anchor point or the impression fallacy.  It made me stop and evaluate how do I decide ‘what I believe’?  Whose information should I trust?  And where is it best to trust in something

This week life reminded me of the merry-go-round from my childhood.  It was made up of extremes that constantly kept me off balance.  I mailed a sympathy card and a birthday card at the same time.  We had friends visit from out of town, and while it was a joy to see them, it was

I’ve always loved trees.  It started with climbing them to fetch fruit, then hiding under the shade of a Hemlock to get some relief from the sun and later gazing at the big waxy flowers of the Magnolia tree that seem to say “I’m happy you’re here”.  I was fascinated to learn that trees need

When the kids were youngsters, we sang a little song that’s refrain said “Self-control is just controlling myself, it’s listening to my heart, and doing what is smart.”  I still sing the first verse when I find myself needing some self-control.  The simple message relayed in a bit of humor always helps me get back