In her best-selling book, Moving On, Sarah Ban Breathnach lists the seven senses. The usual five we know: sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. But then she adds knowledge and wonder. A working definition of “wonder” is “Surprise mingled with admiration caused by something beautiful, unexpected or inexplicable.” As we age, I think we can […]
My mother taught me to love reading. After the farm chores were completed, the supper dishes washed and the homework finished — everyone in our family sat down to read. This discipline meant we drove to the library every week and checked out stacks of books. Then an important milestone changed my reading habits. When
Hope Comes Full Circle Read More »
Such a disappointment! As I scrolled through my Facebook posts, I saw the vitriol. Several people I respect had posted ugly words against the congresswomen dressed in white for the State of the Union address. Giant black X’s on their faces. Those women were dressed in white to honor the 100th anniversary of the 19th
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In the middle of supper, my son turned toward me and asked, “What do you think of my generation?” An honest question, laced with hope that my answer might satisfy or invite open debate. What do I think of his millennial generation, these precious ones born to Baby Boomers during the years of 1981-1996? “I
We barely knew each other, the guy in the adjoining cubicle and I. As a mere temp worker, I did what I was told, edited the website, made few friends. Tried to survive as a single mom in the corporate jungle. Doug was a full-time guy with plenty of responsibilities, a loving wife and four
Hope in the Favorite Read More »
He’s in a sweet spot – finally – this child of mine who has conquered so many battles: a malignant brain tumor, chemo, radiation, a disastrous hernia surgery, the death of his best friend and other challenging losses. But now – thank you, God – he is happy. The IT training he’s enrolled in is
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I come alive in March. In fact, I count off the weeks during January and February, looking forward to the day I can flip the calendar to March. Why March? Because it signals the beginning of spring. The days are longer. The sunshine is brighter. For years, I didn’t know how to define my problem
My New Year’s Day began with a cup of hot cocoa and a few hours watching the Rose Parade. But the day quickly turned sour with a painful cry upstairs. Betsy, my tortoiseshell cat of 18 years, was in distress. I knew her days were numbered. Multiply 18 times 7. How many animals live to
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During the end of 2018, I reflected on the Hope series of this blog. For several years, I’ve used practical anecdotes and surrounded them with the umbrella of Hope. I’ve also written a book, using this blog series. Check out Hope Shines. But what does it really mean to have Hope? After several weeks of
Are you beginning this new year the usual way – reviewing the past and considering your direction for the future? For my 2019, I have set goals to complete three nonfiction books, begin a Coaching group and continue working on another novel. Each goal includes its own set of action steps and deadlines for accomplishment.