Adventure and exploration
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Star therapy
“If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live a lot differently.” ~Bill Watterson, cartoonist One of my favorite late-summer pleasures is star-gazing on a crystal-clear night. This is more easily accomplished when I’m visiting the west or northwest side of Michigan — the Third Coast, as I like to call it. In the beach towns along Lake Michigan, you’ll find less industrial pollution and more opportunities to spot the constellations. But I’ll watch the stars anywhere. When I do, I always recover my sense of awe and wonder, and the troubles of the day seem so much smaller in starlit perspective. ~CL
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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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A compass for everyday living
“Leave the road, take the trails.” ~Pythagoras When I’m in a hurry to reach a specific destination, I don’t mind driving the expressway. But my favorite vacation memories usually involve exploring country back roads, where greener landscapes or small towns await discovery. Side streets and backstories — even those near our own hometown — are too easy to miss when we’re speeding down the interstate. Today’s quote also serves as a direction for everyday living. Wherever your journey takes you this weekend, why not take the scenic route? ~CL
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How big is your world?
“The world only exists in your eyes. You can make it as big or as small as you want.” ~F. Scott Fitzgerald Up until the past couple of weeks, I stayed close to home while Coco recovered from her accident. During the those early days of her convalescence, I was reminded of sheltering in place during the pandemic. Back then, I rarely ventured beyond the front yard. While there’s comfort in being a homebody — especially in the winter — our worlds can get too small if we’re not careful. ~CL
