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“Make music of what you can”
When I was a kid, I’d sit under the crab apple tree in my backyard and scribble stories in a notebook. In college I majored in English and journalism, but it took a few more years to find the courage I needed to begin a real writing career. The zig-zag path that led me here was marked with detours. After graduation, I worked at other jobs where I learned a few valuable lessons — including what I didn’t want to do for the rest of my life. “Against Hesitation” is the wake-up call I needed more than 35 years ago — but Charles Rafferty hadn’t written it yet. What dreams would…
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Three’s a charm
“Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are: Something to do, something to love, and something to hope.” ~Joseph Addison, English poet and essayist There’s something magical about “The Rule of Three” — a time-honored literary device. Just for starters, there are three blind mice, three musketeers, three little pigs, three spirits of Christmas, three wise men, and the three fates. In countless myths and fairy tales, the hero on the journey is typically granted three wishes or given three tasks. I’m also a fan of Dr. Andrew Weil’s “Three Good Things” journaling exercise. At the end of each day, you make a list of three good things that…
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Mother’s Day
“Behind all your stories is always your mother’s story, because hers is where yours begins.” — Mitch Albom Happy Mother’s Day to all!
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The circus of life
“You can get the monkey off your back, but the circus never leaves town,” ~Anne Lamott, Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith Some of my favorite quotes are circus metaphors. Another one that I’ve enjoyed using lately — “Not my circus, not my monkeys” — has Polish origins. Do you ever get the feeling that life is one big circus act? Sometimes we’re balancing with ease on the high wire; other times we’re stuck for hours in the clown car. Pass the popcorn. ~CL
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Book banning
“Ideas are only lethal if you suppress and don’t discuss them. Ignorance is not bliss, it’s stupid. Banning books shows you don’t trust your kids to think and you don’t trust yourself to be able to talk to them.” ~Anna Quindlen Throughout my career, I’ve had the pleasure of teaching workshops at my local libraries. Before my classes start, I always take a moment to browse the shelves and absorb the ambiance created by so many literary choices. And sometimes I think about the consequences of book banning. As my mother used to say, you can make just about anything twice as attractive or interesting by declaring it “off limits.”…
