Friendship and relationship advice
-
Make a note of it
“In this era of email and voice mail and all those things that I didn’t grow up with, a plain old paper letter takes on amazing intimacy.” ~Elizabeth Kostova Hand-written notes and cards can enrich our relationships. There was the time I found a thank you note in my snail mail, penned by a neighbor who was recovering from joint-replacement surgery. I had dropped off a container of chili at her home a week earlier, knowing how hard it is to cook meals when you’re barely able to walk. This thoughtful neighbor had extended the same kindness to me when I had surgery years earlier — and I certainly didn’t…
-
A matter of trust
“The most precious thing in this world is trust. It can take years to earn and only a matter of seconds to lose. It’s important to keep trust at the forefront of everything you do.” ~Lolly Daskal, for Inc. Last week, I heard Billy Joel’s “A Matter of Trust” on my car radio. As coincidence would have it, I’d been thinking about “trust” and why it’s the foundation for all our relationships — whether we’re talking about romance, marriage, business, friendship, family ties or political leadership. As today’s quote reminds us, trust is difficult (if not impossible) to repair when it’s betrayed or broken. Trustworthy people respect our stories and keep…
-
New doors, new things
NEW UPDATE 3/1: I’m taking a break from “Life Lines” — so this is the last post you’ll see here for a while. I’m currently at work on a new magazine piece and scheduling a series of writing workshops to be announced this spring. You’ll receive updates about my new projects and workshops in future subscriber posts. Wishing you all a spring filled with fresh and wonderful beginnings! “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” ~Walt Disney
-
What to give up for Lent
“Life is a lot more fragile than we think. So you should treat others in a way that leaves no regrets. Fairly, and if possible, sincerely.” ~Haruki Murakami Lent begins February 18, on Ash Wednesday. Many who practice a religious faith will give up bad habits (like nail biting) or abstain from things they love (like chocolate truffles). Last week, after considering the cruel rhetoric and divisive behavior in our country and around the world, Pope Leo XIV announced a novel idea for the Lenten season: He suggested that we “refrain from words that hurt or offend our neighbor.” It’s a tall order, given the current state of things, but…
-
Love defined
“Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins, but delights in the truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.” ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 *** Please invite your friends to subscribe. Building a larger audience for “Life Lines” will help keep my monthly service costs down — and allow me to keep providing free email subscriptions in 2026. In the meantime, I’ll be posting fewer times a week. Long before the first chocolate truffle was…
