In seventh grade, Jenny Raisch thought her life was over. In all honesty, many of her friends did, too. You see, at the school fundraiser, her parents won the bid for a slumber party. They gave it to Jenny as a gift for her 13th birthday. The problem was, this was not just any slumber…
Spring Break is over, so it’s back to reality. My reality is that it’s time for a spring cleaning checklist. My spring cleaning is sure to clear plenty of space in my life. I want my arms free of clutter and my mind clear of chaos, giving me more freedom to enjoy the here and…
Life is full of stigmas. They are everywhere, and most of them are untrue. Short, cute, blonde does not equal cheerleader. Cheerleader does not equal unintelligent. Depression does not equal crazy. A behavioral health center is not an insane asylum. Stigmas are labels of judgment that have no merit. I have a friend who suffers…
Running down the dirt hiking trail, my (then) two-year-old daughter tripped and fell on her little face. Before I could even reach her, she popped up with blood streaming down her forehead, pumped her fist in the air, and shouted, “Yee-haw, all girl!” She has always been one tough and undeterred cookie. My wish for…
Ask any child, and they’ll happily reveal who their hero is. Not surprising are the superpowers possessed and capes worn by childhood heroes. To a child, a hero is someone almost other-worldly. The notion that someone worth looking up to can be a regular person is a foreign concept to children. When a sliver of…
At my daughter’s high school, the week before Valentine’s Day is dubbed Spread the Love Week. The activities of the week are designed to celebrate love, and not just on a single day. Sharing acts of love over a whole week instead of just a single day is an excellent idea. The focus of the…
I’m not an experienced horse rider, but I have had the opportunity to ride horseback. Riding a horse is as unpredictable as waking up each day. You never know what’s in store. On more than one occasion, I’ve found myself in precisely the opposite position of where a rider should be. As the saying goes,…
How many times have you said or heard, “Things aren’t like they used to be” or “My how times have changed?” These are common sentiments that aren’t untrue. Life has and will continue to change, but certain principles would serve society well if we maintained them. Young George Washington had the right idea when he…
Years ago, a friend gave me a card that read, “I am fairly certain that given a cape and a nice tiara, I could save the world.” With or without princess attire, I’ve never had illusions of saving the world, but damn, if I don’t try to make the world a better place through acts…
Once upon a time, there was a woman who took great care in keeping her yard tidy. Day in and day out, she could be seen sweeping or raking. One morning, a neighbor stopped to converse with her. He couldn’t help but notice how committed she was to taking care of her property and inquired…