In Others’ Words: When Rain is Grace

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 15 Comments

Several people in my family love rainy days … and I have to admit, I don’t. I don’t like driving in the rain when I can’t see the lines in the road. I don’t like having to be out and about in the rain when my shoes get wet. I don’t like what the rain does to my hair. Don’t …

In Others’ Words: Repeating Good

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 8 Comments

  Have you ever gotten an irritating song stuck in your head? You hear it over and over again … Yeah, that kind of repeat is not a good thing. But there are times when a certain song uplifts my mood or touches my heart or even inspires me as I write. And I pull the song up on Spotify …

In Others’ Words: Planning and Planting for Shade in Years to Come

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 11 Comments

How often do we think about how our actions today will affect someone else in the future? I can get so caught up in the here and now — crossing off all the things on my To Do list that I accomplished — that the future encompasses only a few days from now, and not much further. Oh, sure, I’m …

In Others’ Words: Making Changes

Beth Vogtchange, In Others' Words, Quotes 9 Comments

  Some quotes you just can’t argue with.  I could leave it at that and this would be a very short blog post, wouldn’t it? Yep. Feeling a bit sassy today. Expounding on the whole “making changes” theme: People in my life can influence me so that I see the need to change. People can inspire me by the changes …

In Others’ Words: Crowding Out Trust

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Quotes, trust 22 Comments

Last week didn’t go exactly as I planned. This week isn’t going exactly as I planned, either. My husband, 17-year-old daughter, Christa, and I traveled to Washington, DC last Friday so Christa could compete in a volleyball tournament with her club team. We started off the trip by showing up at the Denver airport — only to find out that …

In Others: Be More Courageous

Beth Vogtcourage, In Others' Words, Quotes 15 Comments

If at all possible, I like to hang out with courageous people. People who don’t back down from a challenge. People who aren’t scared of the unknown — or, if they are, stare it down with their own brand of moxie. People who’ve been through the worst that life can throw at them and have held onto their faith and …

In Others’ Words: Start or Finish?

Beth Vogtcompetition, In Others' Words, Quotes 12 Comments

I’ve watched many a volleyball game since my youngest daughter started playing back in fifth grade. I’ve got to admit, I like it when her team comes out hot, all the players fired up and ready to go, knocking the team on the other side of the net off kilter. But I’ve learned over and over again that, while fired …

In Others’ Words: When Story Conquers Fear

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Quotes, story 10 Comments

I sat across from my trusted friend Wise Guy recently and told him, “My heart seems smaller.” Had unrelenting circumstances — mine and others’ close to me — turned me into some emotional Grinch and downsized my heart? As I talked some and listened more, I realized that yes, fear had crept in and silenced me … that unknowingly I …

In Others’ Words: Start Writing, No Matter What

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Quotes, Writing 8 Comments

I’m in a “not writing” phase at the moment. Except the moment has stretched over a number of days. And, while I’m not on a hard deadline, I do have things to write. I have written blog posts … my In Others’ Words posts and other blog commitments. But that’s one type of writing, as opposed to working on fiction …

In Others’ Words: The Multiplication of Applause

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Quotes, Writing 7 Comments

It’s the most natural thing in the world to applaud when someone does something good, isn’t it? Well, yes … and no. I love to attend Broadway shows. I don’t hesitate to start the applause after a moving duet or rousing dance performance. I’ve clapped my way through more school productions than I can count, not to mention sports competitions, and even …