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Setting sail
“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” ~John A. Shedd Sometimes it’s wise to put safety first — such as crossing the street in rush-hour traffic. Likewise, we should check the expiration labels on our food, wash our hands frequently, and never share personal information with strangers on the phone. Playing it safe isn’t such a bad thing — unless we get so complacent (or agoraphobic) that we rarely leave our own harbor. Earlier this week, a friend told me that pandemic isolation nearly turned her into a social loner. She got a little too cozy staying home, she said, so she’s…
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Why helpers are luckier
“You can get everything in life you want — if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” ~Zig Ziglar The phrase “paying it forward” — helping others without expecting anything in return — is practically a cliche now. But there’s something to it. I’ve discovered over the years that whenever I do nice things for others (or help them out of a bind) my life magically improves, too. Helping other people adds to our own happiness, opens new doors, and even improves our health and wellbeing. In other words, generosity may look altruistic but it’s actually self-serving — in a good way. Life isn’t a competition.…
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Deep roots
“True friendship withstands time, distance, and silence.” ~Isabel Allende During my recent bout with COVID-19, I had to cancel all social plans until I recovered. Being in isolation for nearly a month was hard, but I was cheered by the “check-in” messages from friends and neighbors who worried about Doug and me. Sometimes I took car rides while in quarantine — just for a change of scenery. Driving back home through my neighborhood, I got to thinking about all the friendships I have within blocks of my home — friendships that have grown richer through shared history and experience for more than 30 years. Even when I don’t see these…
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A light on self-promotion
“Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.” ~Anne Lamott I’ve always been conflicted about self-promotion. As soon as Writing Home was published, I had to set aside any sense of modesty or humility and “sell” my book (and myself) to a wider audience beyond my newspaper readership. It usually felt awkward. Today, I admire younger authors and entrepreneurs who grew up on social media platforms and don’t think twice about putting themselves out there for attention. But like most baby boomers I know, I was raised to think it’s not so cool to toot your own horn. And I still…
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Herd mentality
“Sheep only need a single flock, but people need two: One to belong to and make them feel comfortable, and another to blame all of society’s problems on.” ~James Rozoff When I was a kid, my parents often discussed politics and watched talk shows featuring guests with opposing viewpoints. The following day, we’d enjoy rehashing the issues around the dinner table. I learned a lot about what I valued during those discussions. My parents encouraged me to develop my own political opinions — even when my opinions didn’t mirror or echo theirs. More than anything, they wanted me to think for myself, and I’m grateful for that. Today’s quote got…
