• Quotes about authenticity,  Self-confidence

    … And don’t look back

    “Contrary to popular opinion, quitting is for winners. Knowing when to quit — change direction, leave a toxic situation, demand more from life, give up on something that wasn’t working and move on — is a very important skill that people who win in life always seem to have.” ~Steven Bartlett I love it when friends share fabulous quotes with me, and the one I’m using today is a case in point. Have you ever had to leave a toxic workplace or difficult relationship that created more stress and drama than satisfaction? Did you ever find yourself investing way more of yourself in something/anything than you were getting out of…

  • Choices and decisions,  Health & wellbeing,  Inspirational quotes

    When you have to choose

    “Sometimes knowing what you don’t want is as valuable as what you do.” ~Oprah Winfrey When we’re out shopping, my husband and I often remark about the overwhelming array of choices lining every aisle in most stores. It’s great to have access to a vast selection of goods, yet sometimes I wish there weren’t so many products to choose from. Making a decision can be frustrating when you’re presented with a dozen different items that all serve the same purpose or perform the same task. That’s why today’s quote from Oprah Winfrey spoke to me. Yes, the process of elimination is a little easier when you know what you don’t…

  • Events & news

    Dear subscribers …

    Mailchimp, the service that sends my email posts, has changed its free program limits. To curb new monthly costs — while keeping the subscriptions free to you — I’ll share fewer posts each week. Starting next month, I will stop offering email subscriptions to NEW readers, making “Life Lines” more like a private blog with a limited audience. Again, I will not charge you for a “Life Lines” subscription.  If you currently subscribe, or if you start a new subscription by the end of this month, you’ll still get free “Life Lines” email updates when they’re posted. If you have friends who’d enjoy getting “Life Lines” posts, the time to subscribe is now, before the “Subscribe via…

  • Inspirational quotes,  Optimism

    Looking on the bright side

    “Every sunrise gives you a new beginning and a new ending. Let this morning be a new beginning to a better relationship and a new ending to the bad memories. It’s an opportunity to enjoy life, breathe freely, think and love. Be grateful for this beautiful day.” ~Norton Juster, children’s book author I usually try to avoid cornball positivity when I choose quotes for Life Lines. All of us have demons of various shapes and sizes to battle, and throwing pink paint or motivational pap on our problems doesn’t help. Sometimes it’s easier to adapt to the general negativity that clouds the atmosphere lately. But today’s quote struck a chord…

  • Garden tour,  Holidays

    Spring blooms

    “Giving flowers is a disarming way to remember another person, but flowers were first a gift from nature to all of us. They look beautiful, they smell beautiful, and they make us feel beautiful.” Victoria Moran, Younger by the Day This week I spotted a hyacinth and a miniature daffodil starting to bloom in my garden — the first of the spring bulbs to surface this season — so much earlier than usual. Like some of the other bulbs scattered around our yard, the hyacinth was an Easter gift, years ago, and I’m always delighted and amazed to see it reappear every spring. Flowers are living symbols of perseverance and…