Loss

ARE YOU A BEAR?

I was recently hired to be part of the opening team for a never-seen-before vision. This organization’s launch is enormous, and most people have been extremely appreciative of the sweat equity. Like anything new, not everyone is receptive or complimentary. New staff. New leaders. New procedures. New concept. New everything. One teammate described this adventure…

ALLOW. ANTICIPATE. ACCEPT.

My 2024 word of the year was ALLOW. I invited myself to consider an “and approach” rather than default to “or.” Dark and light. Cold and hot. Him and her. Wins and losses. One day as I was driving, I reflected on ways to incorporate allowance.  I thought about how vehicles provide convenience, shuttle services,…

PRESSURE VALVE RELEASED

At night, I struggle to sleep restfully for more than two consecutive hours. I follow an early to bed (8:30), early to rise (4-4:30). Lately, I’ve awakened with a sense of restlessness. Despite the previous tried-and-true successes, it’s as if there’s no calming my spirit. This morning, I was graciously guided to hear, “Release your…

COMIC FROG

Laughter can be the quickest abdominal workout, just in time for your New Year’s declarations. To break the darkness of winter, here are some crowd favorites I use from my 7-minute comedy skits for various events: Weight loss related: *Why is the narrowest aisle at Wal-Mart the one that’s stocked with weight loss products and…

A SILENT COACH

I watched a man repeatedly pitch baseballs to a middle-school-aged boy. The young man swung with about a 30% connection between the bat and ball. Neither of them said anything for nearly 15 minutes. As he walked off the pitcher’s mound, I told the man that it was unusual to see such silent practice on…

I AM NOT HIM!

He denied it and said, “I am not!” (John 18:15-27). If someone included my blunders in a book, I could only hope those published casualties would be limited to three. Peter is remembered for denying Jesus three times. Sometimes we forget that Peter was also the rock that Jesus chose to build his church and…

MY LIST OF ABUNDANT JOYS

To celebrate the month of November, in Thanksgiving, I share simplicities that bring me an inner smile… WHAT BRINGS ME LIFE & MAKES ME SMILE! Pastel colors, spring clothes Easter season (especially Jelly Bellies!) Diet Dr. Pepper Quiet walks in nature, wide open spaces HGTV makeovers Small town visits, walks downtown, country drives Musicals, marching…

FACE IT!

I channel surfed radio stations until one song line grabbed my attention. The artist sang about a woman who could stare straight at the sun but was scared to look in the mirror. That line exposed much of the illumination I’ve discovered this year. I’m ordinarily not one to back down from a challenge and…

PRICELESS LIBRARIES

The library is one of my favorite outlets for countless reasons. It’s a hub for workshops, author talks, computer assistance, copier services, DVD and book rentals. Librarians and library workers are unsung heroes. Our small-town library lists an itemized price on the checkout receipt to show how much a patron saves by renting that resource….

WHAT A SHOT!

A sudden sound of steady thuds shot me out of my backyard deck chair. I live in a quiet, older community with little-to-no crime. Our traffic is limited to local vehicles, mostly elderly folk driving their Buicks to senior center activities, the grocery, doctor, or hair appointments. When that muffled deep pounding began, I joined…