I gripped the handle of the jump rope, unaware of anyone or anything around me. My stage, a wooden picnic table, my audience, the trees, swings, and sky. Song after song, I belted out the melodies from all my favorite yellow vinyl records. In those moments, I never [...]
So, how hot is it? When the Texas heat brought scorching days and humid nights, my dad would fuss and fume about the heat shriveling his tomatoes or thwarting the growth of his crooknecked yellow squash. We heard, more than once, “It is so hot you can fry [...]
The task—bring back the witch’s broom. The small band would do anything to find a heart, some courage, a brain, and one longed to return home. I shrank into the sofa, keeping my eyes shut tight as the wicked witch crackled threats and winged monkeys swooped and shrieked [...]
I sit in my favorite spot every morning: on the love seat, next to the end table with stacks of books, photographs, a cup of pens and pencils, and my tea. One morning, lost in thought, I glanced across the room. Could it be? A rainbow. Bright colors [...]
Pack a bag. Let’s go! “Where are you going this summer? Any travel plans?” I asked my friends. dental hygienist, and a checker at the local supermarket. Hawaii. Visit family in Oregon. Just hanging out. Not all of us can, or want to travel the world. Exotic locales [...]
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 do have to lose, and how we can choose to see beyond ourselves. What does it mean to be free? Why do some [...]
A poem paints the picture. Look at Me Look at me. Say yes to me. You barely notice a life cast aside fractured and defenseless. When will you look at me? How long must I remain hopeless, caught in the darkness yet in plain view? But look at me. [...]
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 [...]
What would it take to create a kinder world? A kindness habit could push us closer to caring for one another in spite of our differences. “Wherever there is a human being there is a chance for kindness.” Seneca Kindness “kind-ness (kīn(d)-nəs) noun: The quality or state of being [...]
Accountability presents us with a choice to live above the line or settle for the role of victim. Where is the line between accountability and victimization? Accountability has two components: personal and shared. We focus more on the individual and miss the importance of shared accountability. How do organizations, [...]
