No matter how ugly life gets, a bounty of beauty is nearby. You need not look further than out a window. Better yet, step outside and be inspired by how seamlessly nature exists. When we pause and observe the beauty of our surroundings, we can witness unexpected joy. Reminders of the farse of perfection can…
Ensuring you have the right words when saying goodbye isn’t easy. When dropping my daughter off at college, this was the challenge I faced. There were so many things I wanted to impart to her. Being a writer and an empath makes me guilty of being too wordy. I knew my mushy tendencies would not…
One would think a babysitter would be the one to teach kids lessons in inappropriate things, not the other way around. My daughter received an earful while babysitting nine, six, and five-year-old siblings the other day. The lessons she learned were entertaining, wise, and worth repeating, if for no other reason than to humor you.…
Technology is great, but one thing that can’t be improved upon is a good, old-fashioned note. Remember the excitement you felt as a kid when something just for you came in the mail? It could be junk mail, but it had your name on it, indicating it was meant for only you. Eventually, seeing your…
Gratitude and guilt are emotional enemies. So are joy and jealousy. These emotional enemies make playing the game of life difficult to enjoy. They are competitors of one another. These conflicting feelings show up when people who know each other want the same thing, but only one receives it. Take friends applying for the same…
The delayed flight from Denver to Boston made all the passengers impatient for take-off. Everyone, including the pilot, was anxious to get in the air and arrive at the destination somewhat on time. There were complaints about insufficient space to put carry-on luggage, confusion with reservations, and seat assignments. The usual bitching that goes along…
Do you see the dog howling? Or the snail head? Does something else catch your attention? Cloud formations are fascinating. Depending on a person’s imagination, the fluffy white puffs against a blue backdrop can vastly differ from person to person. Our imaginations make connections and give life to shapes in the clouds. What is obvious…
Do you remember laying in bed, frozen with fear as your imagination conjured up monsters under the bed? It didn’t matter that you couldn’t actually see the monster. The creature was as real as your hand, and threatened to grab hold of you at any moment. Falling asleep became practically impossible. Setting foot on the…
Lucy the Golden Doodle puppy, and Twix the rescue kitten are the newest additions to my brother’s family. At first glance one might think them to be unlikely companions. In reality, they’re best buddies. Their jest and banter, acceptance and affection for one another are examples from which humans could benefit. No one taught them…
I’ve been volunteering in my friend’s first grade classroom. At times the group of six and seven year old’s can get a little too rambunctious. On one such occasion I interjected, “T.O., T.O.” and made a “T” with my hands. Not wanting to continue until all of the kids were quiet I repeated myself. In…