personal growth
Moving Beyond Fear
“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” ― Marie Curie (1867-1934) The hair on the dog’s back ruffled, standing up as if someone had brushed it against the grain. I have a healthy fear of a growling […]
Read MoreNo Complaints
“What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. Don’t complain.” ― Maya Angelou, Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now “I can’t believe he…” I switched the band to my other arm. Twenty minutes later, in frustration, I began […]
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The Faces in my Treasure Chest
“Our faces will become works of art that our grandchildren will treasure.” ― Adriana Trigiani, Don’t Sing at the Table: Life Lessons from My Grandmothers My grandmother’s face is still visible to me when I close my eyes. Her skin was soft and filled with beautiful gentle wrinkles. My grandma’s face wasn’t as soft, but her face […]
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Our Choices
“In life our first job is this, to divide and distinguish things into two categories: externals I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them I do control. Where will I find good and bad? In me, in my choices.” ~ Epictetus The rain began to fall, and far from home or […]
Read MoreWhere’s that Joy?
“Do anything, but let it produce joy.” ― Walt Whitman What a long ride it was from the house to the market on my little blue bicycle. Living on top of a hill meant leaving was a breeze and returning was hard work. Flying around the curves, staying close to the edge of the road to avoid […]
Read MoreStep One
“The first step is always the hardest” ― Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever There is just nothing quite like a new journal. If you’ve never been a journaler, maybe it’s easier for you to appreciate the feeling of a new package of notebook paper — opening the plastic, straightening the pieces of paper, and clasping them […]
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Endings
There´s a sad sort of clanging from the clock in the hall And the bells in the steeple too And up in the nursery an absurd little bird Is popping out to say “cuckoo” ~Oscar Hammerstein II It’s been a little less than four years since a news editor at the Daily News Journal […]
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I’ll Choose Serenity
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference.” ~Reinhold Niebuhr “You’re really not acting like you normally do. You need to chill out.” Was my friend really saying this to me? Yes, she was, and it was very painful […]
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It’s Not About the Likes
“If you just set out to be liked, you will be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and would achieve nothing.” ― Margaret Thatcher The votes came in, and I took second place in the category of “Best Dressed Girl” in my senior class. Vicky had more votes, in my opinion, more likes, and […]
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Making a Choice
“How many have laid waste to your life when you weren’t aware of what you were losing, how much was wasted in pointless grief, foolish joy, greedy desire, and social amusements — how little of your own was left to you. You will realize you are dying before your time!” ~Seneca “Just say no, Susan,” […]
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Thoughts to Encourage
Nothing helps like a good nap…
Birds are Beautiful
A Dog is Faithful…
