I’ve heard more than once that the answer to many of life’s problems, large or small, can benefit from one simple activity. Need to lift your spirits? Take a walk. Looking for a new idea? Take a walk. Want to reduce the risk of dementia? Take a walk. I’ve [...]
Life is full of milestones. Births, weddings, reunions, and the list goes on. This weekend, our family celebrated two such milestones: a college graduation for one and turning twenty-one for another. Both big moments filled with gifts, cheers, and family dinners, all held tightly in place with one [...]
I have never accomplished anything entirely on my own. Family, friends, and sometimes people I don’t know played a role in supporting my efforts. You read stories of how individuals overcame obstacles, pulling themselves by their proverbial “bootstraps.” Yes, we must take the first step and possess some self-motivation. [...]
Whenever I feel adrift, I clutch the lifesaver of memories and can’t help but smile. My favorite? Any meal with the people I love and cherish. "So much of what is best in us is bound up in our love of family, that it remains the measure of our [...]
“I think that I will never see A poem lovely as a tree.” I’m crazy about trees. Always have been. As a child, I held a fascination for their strong limbs and green leaves. High above, you can hide from the world. I think I could use a sturdy [...]
For years, I have hoarded quotes on small slips of paper, in journals, and now in a spreadsheet. I find them in articles, books, poems, podcasts, and occasionally, conversations. Something about the shape and formation of words can capture a thought, suspend it in time and place. You can [...]
Bridges intrigue and terrify me. Shivers run down my spine on freeway flyovers that appear to rise into the sky, and you wonder if there is another side beyond the pinnacle. Others hold my attention as I watch the traffic of vehicles or people moving about their day. We’ve [...]
“Go out and play.” That’s what I wanted to hear in the past few days, weeks, well, months. I wanted to let go of being an adult. For just a moment, I longed to forget about the news, responsibilities, and all the pain in the world. Remember when your [...]
I can hear Janis Joplin’s raspy voice as she belts out, “Freedom's just another word for nothin’ left to lose.” I've been thinking about freedom, what we have to lose, and how we can choose to see beyond ourselves. What does it mean to be free? Why do some have [...]
Song lyrics often stick in my brain, refusing to let go of the never-ending loop of melody and words. Like these: You’ve got to give a little, take a little, and let your poor heart break a little. That’s the story of, that’s the glory of love. Billy Hill [...]
