“Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.” —Thich Nhat Hanh Some people just naturally wear a smile. For the most part, I’m one of those. Even in high school, other students would comment on my smile. I don’t think I was really aware of smiling. I certainly [...]
Every spring and late summer, the hummingbirds stop by to visit the milkweed, lantana bushes, and the sugar water we set out for them. For several weeks, they keep us company during our morning coffee and end each day in a flutter of activity among the blooming plants and trees. [...]
There is no doubt about it — excellence is hard work. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ―Aristotle Excellence requires commitment, a goal, and most importantly, persistence. I was riding my bike this morning, which I could easily have been [...]
“…whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting— over and over announcing your place in the family of things.” — Mary Oliver, “Wild Geese” in Dream Work As a child, I learned how [...]
Will minimalism guarantee peace and happiness? I thought I knew the answer, but I wanted to know what others thought. The idea of less is more intrigues me. I come from a family of “we might need that someday” savers. Not quite hoarders, but when I cleaned out my [...]
When you keep learning, the world and your mind reach beyond the limits of your imagination. Our reality has strung out into endless days of worry, anger, and uncertainty. Sadness overtook our normal joyful demeanor. What should we do to break the spell? The best thing for being sad [...]
You hope and dream of new beginnings and second chances. What is stopping you? Three myths keep us bound to the past and longing for more. We can choose a new beginning in our life’s story. With determination and commitment, we can create second chances. But the stories we [...]
In Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, Alice encounters the White Queen. The Queen explains to Alice how you can’t do two things at once, but the conversation takes a unique turn. Alice laughed, “There’s no use trying.” she said: “one can’t believe impossible [...]
I’m glad I knew the warning signs of a stroke. “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” – John Rohn You always think it can’t happen to you. Walking daily, practicing yoga, and eating plenty of fruits and fresh vegetables, you believe you've [...]
So much is wrong in the world. How do I even begin to make a difference? I have faced this question many times in my life. Many of the travesties we face did not begin in the past weeks, months, or years. They existed long before me, but must [...]
