Making Mistakes

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something. – Neil Gaiman What a great quote […]

THE LOSING SIDE OF THINGS

Cora Nichols slumped in a burgundy-colored sofa, her arms a shield of defiance at her chest, and glared at her family. She’d a mind to go over and slap each and everyone, show them what grieving a loved one truly looked like. Even the funeral director had more sense, somber and quiet, standing at the front doors, welcoming those that entered.

What I’m Left With

Some mornings demand a reprieve from the news and all the stories of fear and conjecture, but I don’t always know this until after I’ve read my fill. What I noticed the most this morning were the headlines that offered might-happen stories or blatant-fear stories, and, of course, there’s always an abundance of opinion with […]

SIT AND BE CALM

Maybe the next time I’m in a controversial meeting or a heated discussion I can practice sitting like a cat. I could stay attentive but aloof, serene but on-the-ready.

Sacred and Cherished

A library is a good place to go when you feel unhappy, for there, in a book, you may find encouragement and comfort. A library is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided, for there, in a book, you may have your question answered. Books are good company, in sad times […]

SELF-STRIPING

Julia lounged on a lime-green couch with white pillows embroidered with tiny pink flowers. She hummed and knitted. Her self-striping hat was coming along nicely. She was pleased and figured she’d have it done in time for Christmas.

Doing What We Were Afraid To Do

One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do. – Henry Ford There are many things that I do today that I didn’t believe I could do or didn’t know that I would like to do. Like riding […]

This Thanksgiving

I began this day cleaning the kitchen to prepare for making pie crust for an apple pie. Several years ago my intention in the kitchen would have been imbued with urgency and impatience – too many things to do and not enough time. Of course, under all that would have been the drive for perfection […]

Searching For Stillness

Stormy lays, stretching and licking her paws. She is my muse, as is my dog Stella. Both stay close to offer their example of being instead of doing. This ties in with something I read this morning about the practice of stillness. We are such a busy society, going to and from every point of interest […]

Kicked Yourself Lately?

If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month. – Theodore Roosevelt I laughed this morning when I read this, and so related. Most of my difficulties lie in me, my perceptions of what I “think” is going on. I create fantasies and […]

Vehicle for the Soul

Several years ago a friend of mine offered insight into how she viewed her body. At the time, I was struggling with dressing my body up for display, i.e. getting attention, but I wasn’t so concerned with the actual functionality of my body. I remember talking to her, conversing about my concerns of not being […]

You %$&# Up. So What. Begin Again.

Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent. – Marilyn Vos Savant Several years ago, I made a goof that, literally, if I’d stayed in the muck of it, I would have diverted on a path that would have lead me straight to hell. Maybe that sounds like an exaggeration, but […]