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Truth-seeking
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” ~Thomas Jefferson When I was a kid, my parents would stop me in my tracks if they caught me “bending the truth,” as my mom put it. Lies and gross exaggerations were unacceptable. Honesty was the best policy. Most of us know the difference between right and wrong, truth and lies. Yet in today’s political culture, too many people in power have lost respect for the truth — or have no problem bending it. Even more baffling: Their followers don’t seem to mind, and hear only what they want to hear. Here’s a true thing: It takes time and discipline…
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Another Year: Thoughts on a Milestone Birthday
“Every birthday is a gift. Every day is a gift.” — Aretha Franklin A friend jokingly refers to the first week of August as my “birthday week” because I usually take full advantage of the opportunities to celebrate. This time around, however, I’m feeling a bit less celebratory and a lot more reflective. My driver’s license proves that I’ve landed on one of those milestone birthdays — the kind that inspires black balloons from the party store and bad jokes about seniority. For the past two years, I’ve facilitated a monthly workshop/discussion group titled “Aging with Grace & Courage” at a local library. Thanks to this group of thoughtful women,…
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Looking within or without?
“I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time.” ~Anna Freud, psychoanalyst and daughter of Sigmund Freud The world of social media revolves around building a brand and attracting followers. It’s not a solo actvity. Few people I know use social media platforms without hoping to attract, entertain, inform, or provoke an audience, even if it’s just a small one. Without question, it’s fueled by the reward of earning “likes,” validation, and constant attention. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with that — especially if we’re using social media to build community in positive ways. But keeping social media in…
