Holidays
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Happy Thanksgiving
“We must find the time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” ~John F. Kennedy Unlike our highly commercialized Christmas season, Thanksgiving doesn’t demand as much from us. It doesn’t require spending loads of cash or credit on gifts and decorations, nor does it push us to party through January 1st. Regardless of our religious beliefs or church affiliation, Thanksgiving only asks that we sit down together at a table — one day out of the year — and express our appreciation. Too often, we’re so focused on our worries that we take our advantages and opportunities for granted. Or we forget to acknowledge…
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Your harvest, your life
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” ~Oprah Winfrey Late autumn inspires us to take stock of what we’ve planted or accomplished. The season of Thanksgiving — not just the holiday itself — underscores a simple choice we always have: We can celebrate all the good things we’ve reaped and experienced, or dwell on the difficulties we’ve encountered. A positive mindset is the natural outgrowth of appreciation. It’s part of the harvest we reap when we count everything that enriches our lives, large and small. Many Americans will spend this weekend shopping for food to share at their Thanksgiving tables. Some…
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Redefining “family”
“Family was a bigger word than I imagined, wide and without limitations, if you allowed it, defying easy definition. You had family that was supposed to be family and wasn’t, family that wasn’t family but was….It was possible to lack whole, honest love and connection from family in lead roles, yet to be filled to abundance by the unexpected supporting players.” ~Deb Colette, The Secret Life of Prince Charming The holiday season begins soon, shining a bright light on our family relationships. Sometimes that’s a beautiful thing, and sometimes it’s … complicated. (In another post, I’ve shared a column about coping with the loss of loved ones during the holidays.) Culturally…
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Halloween people
“Some people are born for Halloween, and some are just counting the days until Christmas.” ~Stephen Graham Jones ** Note: Due to a system glitch, my recent Life Lines posts were sent to subscribers without photos. To view photos and posts you’ve missed this week, visit the Life Lines website here. Every year, I eagerly await the start of the spooky season, and usually start decorating on October 1st. For me, Halloween always stirs a cauldron of happy childhood memories — making costumes with my mom and trick-or-treating with my dad. Year later, I walked door-to-door with my own child and his friends on magical Halloween nights. In recent years, my…
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Season of the witch
“Witches are outsiders, and those among us who have been bullied and ostracized can relate to their plight. Part of our fascination with witches is that they are the only female mythic figures with power. These are women who don’t need to be rescued by a prince or a king, but, instead, can save themselves.” ~Alice Hoffman, from the 25th anniversary edition of Practical Magic The spooky season is here. Several homes around my neighborhood are decorated with life-sized witch figures, some flying on their brooms in the trees or circling plastic cauldrons on front lawns. My fascination with the history of “witches” began early. Indulging their interests in early…
