I try to write a little each night. You know the tortoise from Aesop’s Fable, The Tortoise and the Hare — well, the tortoise and his “slow and steady wins the race” pace is me. Yes, imagine me with my hard outer shell cranking away each night at my laptop. In the story, the tortoise walks slowly … More The ups and downs of a writer
Kids love to play dress-up. Educators tell us that imaginative play boosts problem-solving skills, creative thinking, and helps manage emotions. Kids create situations and scenes and then act them out. In the long run, they become well-adjusted adults. When I was a kid, I was pretty typical, I loved to play policeman, soldier, cowboys, and mimic … More Playing dress-up
At a recent medical appointment, I was told that I am too flexible. My bendy joints and soft collagen put me at risk of twisting, spraining, and throwing out. While my hyper-mobility inspires awe in yoga classes, pushing the boundaries of my flexibility could eventually land me in hot water. For the past week, I’ve … More Flexible To A Fault
One month after I was born, my parents began their first family tradition. On Christmas Eve, while all the other young families were rushing around in preparation for the holiday, my parents spent the day walking around the zoo. That first year, when the total population of Phoenix was still under one million, the three … More Tiny Delights Over Big Bright Lights
Let’s talk about the idea of light versus dark. There are a great number of social, cultural and religious ideals that offer a stark juxtaposition between light and dark. The viewpoint is often that darkness offers a state to be wary of, or has a capacity to undermine, or to the extreme, gives embodiment to … More Within Darkness There is Light
“Now is the best time to make a change, for the future is built upon the choices we make today.” Unknown The latest school portraits of the granddaughters: These photos are placed with one on each side of my TV. Even when the TV is turned off I can see the faces of these beautiful … More Will Anyone Say Thank You In Twenty Years?
“One person caring about another represents life’s most significant value.” Jim Rohn I was struck by a moment of utter, age-related joy a few weeks ago which then turned to age-related horror. Given that we are discussing gratitude this month what better time can there be to share. Please note however, I AM poking fun … More Still Younger…With Some Wiser Tossed In
I told a rather light-hearted tale on my personal blog this morning. A brief glimpse into what I remember as a rather courageous act for someone who was not often willing to stand up, or stand out. I remember it mostly as a first glimpse into what being bold and brave might feel like. At … More Defeating Trauma With Courage
When I was young, I believed that courage was sitting still for my tetanus shot, whispering “trick-or-treat” to a stranger, or climbing to the next highest branch on the biggest tree. As I’ve gotten older, my understanding of courage has shifted dramatically. The etymological origin of the word “courage” is the twelfth century French word … More Courage Is Not The Abnormal
The other night after dinner, my four-year-old son, Mr D, wanted to set up a lemonade stand. It was on a weeknight after a full day for both my kids and for me and as I sat there listening to his request, I felt the solidness of the seat underneath me. I also had a … More Department of Low Energy
The Heart of the Matter 