I wake up several times each night. I know I’m not alone in this repeated I’m-asleep-now-I’m-awake middle of the night routine. The first thing I do when I wake up is glance at the alarm clock on my bedside table. It’s an illuminated model with oversize red digital numbers I purchased several years ago for my mother-in-law who battled …
Choosing to be Present Today
I tossed several topics around for this blog post. Things like the Super Bowl halftime show or the president’s State of the Union address or how about the craziness of the Iowa caucus? Nah. I’m not about wading into controversy and ruffling feathers today. Instead, I came across these words by poet Maya Angelou: “Every day I awaken grateful. …
The Problem of Letting “What If?” Lead Us into Our Future
@bethvogt Most mornings I wake up and wander into the bathroom down the hall, step on to the small electronic scale, and start the morning off with a quick check of my weight. Some mornings it’s an “all good” kind of day. And some mornings it’s an “uh-oh” kind of day. My reaction is directly related to my actions …
The Fallacy of Doing Our Best
KLowering the Bar to Achieve More by @bethvogt Success, my friends, isn’t always about giving our best effort. Sometimes success is doing a little bit less. Can I get an “amen!”? Over the years, my family has learned to ask, “What’s the wise choice?” And sometimes the best, wisest choice is to stop trying so hard. There are times when …
In Others’ Words: Two Ways to Be Happy
I shared with a friend this week how my emotional margin is depleted and how, at the same time, I’m pushing to meet some self-imposed goals. She listened. This friend always listens. And then she spoke some much-needed truth to me. About how my circumstances probably weren’t going to change right now. And that maybe, instead of pushing against the …
In Others’ Words: Listen and Learn
We all have certain morning routines — habits we’ve fallen into. Things like: waking up at a certain time eating the same breakfast drinking coffee or tea exercising or maybe taking our dogs for a walk getting out the door and on the road at the same time What if we started off each day determining to talk less and …
In Others’ Words: What Each New Day Brings
I’m writing this blog post in a hotel room in Minnesota. A rerun of Iron Chef is on the TV. My husband and daughter are discussing our plans for tomorrow — a college visit and then flying home to Colorado. When I’m done with this blog post, I need to pack. And I’m tired. Of course, I have good reasons …
In Others’ Words: Preparing for Tomorrow
Even as I prep this post, I’m mulling over the quote: “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” I agree with H. Jackson Brown Jr. . . . and then, part of me trips over the words “doing your best.” “Doing your best” doesn’t mean today went exactly as you planned. “Doing your best” doesn’t mean …
In Others’ Words: Looking for the Good Stuff
What are you looking for today? Me? I’m looking for the good stuff. The good people. The good actions. The good interactions. Kindness. Patience. Smiles. Acts of grace. Laughter. That kind of good stuff. And then I’m going to praise that goodness. I’m going to say “thank you” out loud. I’m going to smile back. I’m going to hug …
In Others’ Words: The Serious Business of Joy
I often expect to find joy here. Now. And then I’m reminded that joy is other-worldly. Oh, sure, we can catch glimpses of joy in our lives here on earth. As we love and are loved by others. And I always, always hear echoes of joy in the laughter of children. But the love and grace and forgiveness of God …
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