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Morning people
“The muses love the morning.” ~Benjamin Franklin I’ve always been a morning person. Since I’m the granddaughter of Scottish farmers, I wonder if I’m genetically programmed to be an early riser. Whatever the reason, I think it’s a privilege to watch the sun rise over the treetops while I sip my morning coffee and write. My mind is fresher early in the day, and since fewer people are awake yet, there are no phone calls or conversations to interrupt my early morning peace. The only drawback to early rising is that I’m inclined to tire out earlier in the evening when my night-owl friends are just getting started. How about…
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Writing to heal
“To survive trauma, one must be able to tell a story about it.” ~Natasha Trethewey When I was 38, the sudden death of my father shook me to the core. In my forties, while trying to work and raise a child, I was struck with a debilitating case of arthritis, which led to two total hip replacement surgeries and months of physical therapy. At age 60, I lost my mother to heart disease and dementia. Though very different, each of those experiences altered the course of my life. Along the way, I learned that writing about my losses and challenges paved the way to emotional healing. Best of all, teaching…
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On treehouses, beaches, and spring break
“Is there a place you can go to break away for a little while? If you haven’t yet built your tree house, it’s never too late to start.” ~Gina Greenlee Whether you opt for a vacation on the beach or a quick escape to a treehouse, you need a break from your daily routines. Especially this time of year. Even if you don’t have a treehouse or time for a long vacation, you can build a quiet place in your mind and “ink in” some free hours on your calendar. Go out for dinner without checking your damned phone. Take a break from social media. Let the chores chill for another…
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Is that normal?
“What makes us normal is knowing that we’re not normal.” ~Haruki Murakami, novelist Last week, Doug and I spotted a woman dressed in a crazy, colorful costume in a diner where we were eating lunch. Since it was nowhere near Halloween, we wondered why the woman looked so … out-of-the-ordinary. As it turned out, she was en route from a local grade school after portraying a character from a kids’ TV show. Like everyone else, we’re easily jarred from our perception of what is normal. We expect to see costumes on Halloween, or at special holiday events such as the one shown above in today’s photo. Otherwise, we might wonder…
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The challenge
“A part of kindness consists in loving some people more than they deserve.” —Joseph Joubert It’s so easy to be nice to like-minded friends and others who are kind to us. Yet the real test of our character is how we treat the folks who aren’t members of our fan club — especially those who hurt us or disagree with our viewpoints. I purchased the lawn sign in this photo because the message seemed like a breath of fresh air in our country’s contemptuous political climate. And I’m sorry to admit that, in the privacy of my home, I’ve said some nasty, judgmental things about others whose opinions differ from…
