When I was younger, I thought there was only one way my heart could be broken. I blame my limited thinking on all the Harlequin romances I read as a teenager — and back then, Harlequins were quite innocent. Years later, I know a person’s heart can be broken for many different reasons: the end of a relationship — think of …
In Others’ Words: Milestones and Moments
Life is both moments and milestones. Yesterday, my daughter CJ just accomplished a major milestone in a teenager’s life: She got her driver’s license. An hour later, she drove off in my car, heading to a volleyball workout. Did we celebrate that milestone? Oh, yes, yes, we did! Photos were taken and posted on Facebook and Instagram and there was …
In Others’ Words: Spending Money
I believe that you can never have too many books. Here’s proof: A year ago, my husband and I did some time-to-get-serious cleaning of closets and bookshelves. I forced myself to part with some books. (When I wrote that last sentence, I originally typed the words “get rid of” but that sounded so callous.) I cried when I had to …
In Others’ Words: Be Mindful
We fool ourselves sometimes, don’t we? We created a nice, safe, manageable lives for ourselves. Our family. Our friends. And then something happens. An unexpected illness. I keep hearing about friends and acquaintances having their gall bladders removed. Or being diagnosed with cancer. Or maybe it’s an accident. Or even a natural disaster. Friends of mine had their house struck by lightening just …
In Others’ Words: One Word Wisdom
I handle stress different ways. Sometimes I go for a walk — my stress level determines how far I go. I might watch an episode or two of Dick Van Dyke. Sure, the TV show is in black and white, but nobody does comedy like Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore — not to mention Rose Marie and Morey …
In Others’ Words: What are You Ignoring?
Sometimes … sometimes I get too focused. On my laptop. My iPhone. The laundry. The errands I need to run. (Grocery store. Check. Dry Cleaners. Check. Drop my daughter off at volleyball camp — only she does the driving, not me. Check.) I’m getting things done, yes. But that thought I keep having — the longing inside to take a …
In Others’ Words: True Success
There are many definitions of success, but this one by Dr. Kelly Flanagan tops my list: “… success is what happens when you make your true self your lived self.” We can accomplish so many things — academically, professionally, personally — but unless we are being true to ourselves, all our victories ring hollow. We can allow someone to place …
In Others’ Words: Keep Holding On
] At one time, I believed courage meant the complete absence of fear. Of course, that kind of thinking disqualified me from ever being brave. Now I know that courage and fear often — if not always — go hand in hand. Being afraid doesn’t disqualify me or you from also being courageous. We can face a personal Goliath and …
In Others’ Word: So You Think You Can
“I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.” Thinking “I can” gets you nowhere — no matter how many times you mentally repeat those words. At some point, thinking has to become plowing … I mean, doing. I’m stating the obvious today, aren’t I? But how many “I think I cans” have we walked away from? Our thoughts never …
In Others’ Words: The Reward of Listening
I enjoy a good conversation, don’t you? The give and take. The exchange of ideas. The back and forth of opinions. I don’t even mind if things get a bit heated, so long as people are respectful of one another. I especially enjoy talking and laughing with people. That is the best of times. But sometimes when I’m with a …