“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” ~Mother Teresa My friend, Beth Jusino, probably didn’t even realize how her words encouraged me, but to this day, I remember where we were, what she said, and how I hugged those words to myself. At the time, Beth was an agent with Alive Communications, …
In Others’ Words: Think and Wonder
“Think and wonder. Wonder and think.” ~Dr. Seuss, American writer & poet Here’s the wonderful thing about being a writer: It has forced me to think and wonder. Some days it feels as if all I do is think and wonder. Wonder and think. (And, no, I don’t just wonder why I decided to become a writer, although there are those …
In Others’ Words: Doors
“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.” ~Flora Whittemore, author Open doors and closed doors. Sometimes I’ve had no choice in the matter — a door has been slammed in my face with the finality of, well, the slap of a hand across my face. Sometimes I’ve chosen to shut a door. While that …
In Others’ Words: Give and Take
“One half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it.” ~Sidney Howard, American playwright This is spring break week for my youngest daughter. And yes, we are having some vacation fun. Sort of. I am the “sort of ” part of the equation. I have several major deadlines looming. I’ve learned that …
In Others’ Words: Forgiveness
“Forgiveness is giving up the possibility of a better past.” ~Unknown I keep a gift beside my bed. It’s wrapped in shiny blue paper and adorned with a white bow. And, yes, I know what’s in the box. And, no, the gift isn’t for me. I gave the gift to someone more than a decade ago. Inside the box is …
In Others’ Words: Joy
“Joy is the best makeup.” ~Anne Lamott, novelist & nonfiction writer Sometimes I don’t want to look in the mirror. Well, really, sometimes I look too closely in the mirror and I get all uptight about this wrinkle and that wrinkle and that one there! and there! and there! Sheesh. I’m surprised I don’t go running through the house with …
In Others’ Words: Beauty
“Beauty …. is the shadow of God on the universe.” ~ Gabriela Mistral, Chilean Poet, Desolacion (a poem) One of the advantages of living in Colorado is that I get to savor the most a-ma-zing sunrises and sunsets. We’ve lived here 13 1/2 years now, and I haven’t seen the same sunset twice. The colors are stunning: vivid oranges, startling …
In Others’ Words: Whatcha’ Thinking?
“We become what we think about all day long.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist & poet I was a pretty fearful kid growing up. Sad to say, I dragged some of my fears right into adulthood. What made me change? My first child was born. I remember being at home with my baby boy and the lights went out. It …
In Others’ Words: Etiquette
“Etiquette — a fancy word for simple kindness.” ~ Elsa Maxwell, labeled the “Hostess with the Mostest” by the press in the mid-Twentieth century, columnist & author You hear the word “etiquette” and I bet you groan, thinking “rules, rules and more rules.” Should I offer my seat to the elderly woman who just got on the subway? How do …
In Others’ Words: Focus
“It is wise to direct your anger towards problems — not people; to focus your energies on answers — not excuses.” ~ William Ward, English missionary & author There came a time in my life when I had to face a harsh reality: I was an angry mommy. I had a lot of aspirations for myself as a mom — …