Essays
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Looking for dump trucks
“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson My two-year-old grandson, Liam, is obsessed with dump trucks. One morning earlier this month, I popped him in the stroller and set out on a mission to find a few in our neighborhood. With so many new houses in progress, I was sure we’d spot several dump trucks at work. But no. The daily brigade of construction vehicles hadn’t arrived yet. Disappointed, we returned to the backyard to play with a mini sandbox filled with toy excavators and dump trucks. (Liam is the only two-year-old I’ve met who can say “excavator.”) Suddenly, the little guy’s…
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How to be a badass encourager
“Be an encourager. The world has plenty of critics already.” ~Dave Willis The hilarious mug in the photo was a birthday gift that I’ve been enjoying ever since I unwrapped it. While I don’t think of myself as a badass, I break into a smile each time I fill it with morning coffee. It’s a daily reminder of how good it feels to be encouraged. Note to self: Find ways to encourage others who might need an extra boost too. After all, everybody’s muddling through the start of a tumultuous year. It would help if we’d all be nicer to each other — more encouraging, less critical. While I’m not an…
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Unwrapping it all … A post-holiday reflection
“I may not have gone where I needed to go, but I think I ended up where I needed to be.” ~Douglas Adams This morning I woke up in time to see a fresh layer of snow blanketing the trees and rooftops. It’s two days too late for the white Christmas so many wish for — but it’s still beautiful (as long as you’re not driving to work in it). Snow has a way of hushing the landscape. It covers the last remains of autumn decay while it highlights the graceful bend of bare branches. A snow day invites us to pause or slow down; to retreat and reflect. It’s…
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Building better boundaries
“Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love and respect ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.” ~Brene Brown All of us need boundaries. While social connection is essential to our well-being, there are times when we have to draw an invisible line between ourselves and others. This can be a challenge, especially in a tell-all culture that’s become addicted to social media and digital devices. Boundaries help us define our limits and foster emotional balance. Offline and online, healthy boundaries show others that we won’t accept cruel or careless treatment, dishonesty, insults, inflammatory gossip, or other signs of disrespect. We need boundaries to maintain family harmony and…
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The Healing Power of Gardening
“Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace.” ~May Sarton Gardening restores me — no matter what else is going on around me. The essay below is a tribute to my Scottish-immigrant grandfather and his garden. It first appeared a few years ago in Country Gardens and was reprinted in the American and British editions of Reader’s Digest. It’s also included in my essay collection, Writing Home. Grandpa’s Ferns My grandfather was the proverbial Scottish curmudgeon, born and bred on a farm in the Orkney Islands. In his last…
