In 1930, Watty Piper wrote “The Little Engine That Could.” The most famous line in the book is, “I think I can. I know I can.” Nearly one hundred years later, the lesson of believing in yourself remains the same. The Little Blue Engine never told herself or let anyone else tell her she couldn’t.…
While loading a Teflon pan into the dishwasher the other day, I noticed the label “Dishwasher Safe, Handwashing Recommended.” It got me thinking about how often people choose convenience over care. Humans take the easy route over what is better when given the chance. The rush to accomplish as many tasks as possible fuels our…
It’s easy to forget to show ample appreciation to those closest to us. The people we interact with daily and share the minutia of our lives are the ones who most need to be sprinkled with gratitude. Our daughter did just that when she arrived home from school the other day. She gave my husband…
Not long ago, my friend gave me a greeting card. The card reads, “Your crazy is showing… you may want to tuck that sh*t back in. The inside inscription continues, “Or not…depends on what look you’re going for. Holidays have nothing to do with the card, but I can’t help thinking of them when I…
Evergreen forests are home to a variety of pines. These needled trees retain their beautiful shades of green year-round. Their never-changing color makes them appear strong and healthy. Despite growing to soaring heights, pine trees are deceiving in their stature. Their strong branches can support a heavy snow load. But they can easily be uprooted…
Safety instructions offered by flight attendants before take-off are, for the most part, ignored. Their words are heard but not really listened to. The directions are to “Affix your oxygen mask first, before helping others. Even if the mask does not inflate, air is flowing.” Thankfully, most of us haven’t had to heed the warning,…
Lifting the lid off a cookie jar only to discover nothing more than crumbs is disappointing. We expect the good stuff that was there the day before to still be there. No one reaches into a cookie jar in hopes of coming out empty-handed. So, whose job is it to fill the cookie jar? Does…
“The world is round” are the words my husband is most known for saying. More than just a phrase; it’s a way of life for him, one that he has instilled in our family. His statement has nothing to do with the shape of the Earth and everything to do with being generous. He’ll gladly…
Love is an insatiable human need. When we give a gift we strive to make it the “perfect” gift, so why not strive for the same thing when we give love? Different types of relationships require us to love differently. There is romantic, familial, friendly, and self-love to consider. Not everyone needs to be loved…
Once upon a time, life gave me what most would call a nightmare. At the encouragement of others, I turned the nightmare into a dream and wrote a book about the experience. But what is it called when a dream I’ve never imagined comes true? I can only think a blessing is what you call…