We’re all familiar with the fairytale of “Jack and the Beanstalk.” The expression of being an ostrich with their head in the sand is also well-known. Here’s my own cautionary version of the two. Don’t be Jack, the Giant, or the ostrich. Jack has the advantage of seeing life from above and below the clouds…
This week, I’m going to share the words of others in a short Pink Elephants playlist: Pink Elephants Playlist Everyone can benefit from the words of some very talented musicians. Please know that the songs selected do not reflect the political views or opinions of the musicians themselves. I have no idea how they cast their…
Exercising is important to me. Training and being physically prepared for whatever adventure comes my way is why I work out. I run now and then because it’s good for me, but running isn’t my thing. Long or short, the distance doesn’t matter. I can be bitter or better, but I’m always ready for it…
Once upon a time, there was a bored child. To alleviate his boredom, he began spying on his neighbors. He knew what he witnessed wasn’t his business. The people he observed were unaware, and most of the time, what he saw was of no interest to him. However, there was one time that disturbed him…
Indulge me for a moment. Picture yourself in the mountains on a dirt hiking trail. There is blue sky above, a river flowing below, and a rainbow of wildflowers in every direction. The beauty and silence are intoxicating until an out-of-place sound pierces the moment. In a split second, your defenses are up as you…
Friends are the people you choose to surround yourself with. They are individuals that grab and hold your attention and make you curious to know more about them. Acquaintanceship is often the starting point of a friendship. Some friendships last for the time needed, and others become lifelong. The longer a friendship lasts, the more…
Being in 4-H, my daughters compete in the county fair. No county fair experience is complete without a visit to the rodeo. At a time when religious opinions are openly expressed, the political climate is tense, and kindness can be hard to come by, I was pleasantly surprised by the rodeo’s approach. Before the events…
How is it that the older one gets, the faster time passes? When you’re a kid, time moves at a snail’s pace. Waiting for summer or your next birthday seems to take forever. The words, “How much longer?” escape the lips of every child. “Faster! Faster! Hurry up!” is the mantra of youth. Before you…
Fantasizing about what life will be like as grown-ups is part of childhood. Children’s imaginations continually bloom with thoughts of careers, houses, spouses, and the possibility of children. They paint colorful pictures of what their lives will be like. They dream, without abandon, about their futures. With time and maturity, those dreams, or variations of…
Monumental events leave a lasting impression. Some years roll over into one another with no distinct variation. You go through the motions without noteworthy happenings. Other years go down in the books for being extraordinarily eventful. The past twelve months have been of the eventful kind for my family. There have been plenty of blessings…