Adventure and exploration

  • Adventure and exploration,  approval seeking

    Your own footsteps

    “It’s not your job to curb or contain yourself in order to become someone else’s idea of a worthwhile human being. You are amazingly worthwhile and capable right now. Not because other people think you are, but because you are in full control of the next step you take.” ~Marc and Angel Chernoff When I was in college, a couple of my professors and an advisor suggested law school after graduation. Becoming a lawyer was a more dependable and lucrative path for my writing and communication skills, they said. Or at least it was more lucrative than working as a journalist or freelance writer. But practicing law wasn’t my career…

  • Adventure and exploration,  Leisure and vacation,  Where I'm published

    On treehouses, beaches, and spring break

    “Is there a place you can go to break away for a little while? If you haven’t yet built your tree house, it’s never too late to start.” ~Gina Greenlee Whether you opt for a vacation on the beach or a quick escape to a treehouse, you need a break from your daily routines. Especially this time of year. Even if you don’t have a treehouse or time for a long vacation, you can build a quiet place in your mind and “ink in” some free hours on your calendar. Go out for dinner without checking your damned phone. Take a break from social media. Let the chores chill for another…

  • Adventure and exploration,  Health & wellbeing

    Is that normal?

    “What makes us normal is knowing that we’re not normal.” ~Haruki Murakami, novelist Last week, Doug and I spotted a woman dressed in a crazy, colorful costume in a diner where we were eating lunch. Since it was nowhere near Halloween, we wondered why the woman looked so … out-of-the-ordinary. As it turned out, she was en route from a local grade school after portraying a character from a kids’ TV show. Like everyone else, we’re easily jarred from our perception of what is normal. We expect to see costumes on Halloween, or at special holiday events such as the one shown above in today’s photo. Otherwise, we might wonder…

  • Adventure and exploration,  approval seeking,  Motivation

    Are you feeling stuck?

    “You will either step forward into growth, or you will step backward into safety.” ~Abraham Maslow This is the time of year when we’re likely to feel stagnant. The calendar tells us it’s spring, but the weather isn’t convinced yet — and we’d rather not dig in the garden until it’s warmer outside. Feeling stuck isn’t just a symptom of cabin fever; it can sneak up on you anywhere, any time of the year. For starters, you’re stuck when you keep making the same recipes for dinner because you’re too tired to find new ones. Maybe you’re feeling stuck at home but can’t summon the motivation to make plans with…

  • Adventure and exploration,  Health & wellbeing,  Inspirational quotes

    How to feel more alive

    “Try to learn to breathe deeply, really taste your food when you eat….Try as much as possible to be wholly alive, with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive.” ~William Saroyan Lately I’ve been seeing more articles with statistics detailing the perils of experiencing life primarily through screens and devices. If we’re not scrolling our cell phones, we’re watching TV or staring at a laptop or a computer monitor (like I’m doing right now). The Internet has made it possible for us to read and publish articles, watch videos, find new recipes, and chat…