A tiny life moment gives way to hope. The Moment Never give up on children or strangely blue orchids. My son beamed as he walked into the house clutching a brilliant blue orchid. Touched by his thoughtfulness and unexpected gift, I smiled. The inky cobalt tinge on the leaves [...]
You stand out — but never alone. * * * 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, [...]
If you abandon the present moment, you cannot live the moments of your daily life deeply. —Thich Nhat Hanh * * * I think of many moments left abandoned in the hope of seeking the one right thing. In retrospect, we discover the difference between what’s popular or expected [...]
I didn’t know what to say. The consequence of my mother’s words ricocheted pain that bounced back and forth across our family. What do you say to someone you love when they act in ways that hurt others—and themselves? Tucked away in an old journal, I found the poem [...]
This day offers me 1,440 minutes to grow, to love, to hope, to make a difference in a world longing for kindness. * * * Have you ever ended your day wondering, "What did I do?" That happens to me more than I care to admit. I wander aimlessly [...]
We have much to learn from trees. I have always marveled at how trees can bend nearly to the ground and survive. Living near the Gulf Coast, I’ve watched trees as they brave the fierce winds of a hurricane, their branches arching to the ground. A few limbs may [...]
Does age matter? For the past several months, self-pity shrouded my thoughts, convincing me that age did matter. It mattered a lot, and the clock for me was running out of time. I questioned whether starting new writing projects, learning to play the ukelele, stepping out into new adventures [...]
“Did you hear me? I want to know why. How can you keep going day after day as voices spin a web of untruth? Don’t you care? What can we do? I am fearful for the future and what will happen if we continue down this divisive path.” My [...]
No Other Choice I’m confused as I mourn this mountain of hate. Demons seek to capture my hope. I will not condone this evil or ignore love. Breathe the clean air of faith and compassion. Silence the enemy. Listen to the voice of clarity that soothes my soul. I [...]
I needed words to give voice to this thing called love. I wanted the storybook version—the 1960s TV rendition of a family and a dad. I didn’t get that, but I still learned love. The shade from the boxy white station wagon shielded us from the blazing sun. With [...]
