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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Welcome back to the Pink Elephants Blog! This year’s content is sure to keep providing and challenging you with different lenses through which to view life. Changing perspectives of how we think about things is like going to the eye doctor. I’ll hold up the lenses, but you identify what feels good to you. Prescriptions…
The gifts are opened. The air is cleared. It’s time to start a brand new year. Before you do, I’ve one request to ask. Reflect on the days of all of your past. Consider the changes you intend to make. Think of the opportunities you’d like to take. Blue days have come, but also have…
Tone of voice is to words what a visual impression is to sight. It’s an underestimated aspect of communication. Whether written or spoken, tone of voice reveals itself. A message can take on a very different meaning depending on the tone of the delivery. Emotions are conveyed, and moods are influenced by how something is…
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…
Life doesn’t always make sense, especially as it’s unfolding. We might never know “why” things happen, but if we can find acceptance, we can make sense of life’s hard knocks. There are silver linings if we are willing to look up. Last fall kicked off a series of events that left my family reeling. Challenges…