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“Goodbye to You”
“When I loved myself enough, I began leaving whatever wasn’t healthy. That meant people, jobs, my own beliefs and bad habits — anything that kept me small. My judgment called it disloyal. Now I see it as self-loving.” ~Kim McMillen January is the month for making major changes. This year, for instance, I’m meeting the Dry January challenge and limiting sugar in my diet. Today’s quote speaks to that idea, reminding us that we need to leave behind anything that threatens to “keeps us small” as we try to move forward. As you work on your own goals, think about these questions: How do I spend my free time? What…
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Look for the helpers
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” ~Fred Rogers As Mister Rogers reminded us, there’s always hope and healing wherever you find the helpers. Late last week, for instance, I had two minor emergencies (one more critical than the other) that sent me in search of medical help. Despite the stress of it all, I was amazed at how quickly two of my doctors were able to see me — almost immediately — when I called their offices for advice. I can’t begin to express…
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“Winter gardening” in The Detroit News
“How many lessons of faith and beauty we would lose if there were no winter in our year.” ~Thomas Wentworth Higginson Today’s edition (Jan. 17) of Homestyle in The Detroit News includes a story about “gardening” in the winter. Design writer Jeanine Matlow interviewed me for the story and included a few of my tips on how to decorate your garden when it’s too cold to plant anything. You’ll recognize a few of my own winter garden photos in the piece. Subscribers can read the feature online or you can purchase a print copy of The Detroit News on the stands today. ~CL
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Wintering
“Over and over again, we find that winter offers us liminal spaces to inhabit. Yet we still refuse them. The work of the cold season is to learn to welcome them.”~Katherine May, Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times Is there a winter-bound midwesterner who hasn’t toyed with the fantasy of Brian Wilson’s “endless summer” on a sun-drenched beach? And who doesn’t envy the pals who have condos in Florida or Mexico, and manage to escape winter entirely? But hold your mittens. I’m gaining new respect for “wintering” after a friend gave me a copy of Katherine May’s book of essays, Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult…
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Remain calm
“Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat any time.” ~Hermann Hesse Lately, a friend and I often joke that our blood pressure spikes every time we watch the news. Given the unpredictable political changes ahead, not to mention the devastating wildfires in California, it’s a challenge to remain calm while staying informed. The best we can do is to stay centered — especially when we wonder if everything around us is falling apart. “Sanctuary” is one of the most beautiful words in our language. It conjures images of a safe, holy place — a room or a building that offers an escape from…
