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Blooming
“One day you will look back and see that all along you were blooming.” ~ Morgan Harper Nichols, author and artist Do you ever fight the nagging belief that you haven’t done enough with your life? No matter how accomplished we are, many of us undervalue our achievements and overlook our daily victories. Or we focus too intently on our mistakes or missed opportunities. Try this instead: Take inventory of all that you’ve done — and give yourself the credit you deserve. Count every achievement, small or large, whether it’s raising a family, rescuing a shelter pet, renovating a house, learning to cook, earning a degree, volunteering at a shelter, climbing…
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The freedom to decide
At first glance, today’s quote got me thinking about democracy and our duty to vote in our elections. But then I thought about how “our ultimate freedom” extends far beyond politics. Every single day, our ultimate freedom is expressed in the way we use our talents; what we choose to eat or drink; how we dress or decorate; what we read; how we care for our health; how we treat others and how we allow others to treat us. Just for starters. Every day, we make life-enhancing decisions, including how we spend our time and with whom. We often take this “ultimate freedom” for granted. Sometimes we settle for what’s…
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The road ahead
“People ask me to predict the future, when all I want to do is prevent it. Better yet, build it. Predicting the future is much too easy, anyway. You look at the people around you, the street you stand on, the visible air you breathe, and predict more of the same. To hell with more. I want better.” ~Ray Bradbury, Beyond 1984: The People Machines As we age, we map out the course of our own future. We plan for retirement, organize our personal finances, reassess our healthcare plan, and envision how we want to spend the second half of life. At the same time, we consider the bigger picture —…
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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…
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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…
