Health & wellbeing
-
Book banning
“Ideas are only lethal if you suppress and don’t discuss them. Ignorance is not bliss, it’s stupid. Banning books shows you don’t trust your kids to think and you don’t trust yourself to be able to talk to them.” ~Anna Quindlen Throughout my career, I’ve had the pleasure of teaching workshops at my local libraries. Before my classes start, I always take a moment to browse the shelves and absorb the ambiance created by so many literary choices. And sometimes I think about the consequences of book banning. As my mother used to say, you can make just about anything twice as attractive or interesting by declaring it “off limits.”…
-
Everyday luxuries
“Using fine china, updating bedclothes to something ultra-soft and cozy, framing a favorite photo, or polishing a cherished piece of silver fosters such delight. And it doesn’t have to break your back or the bank.” ~Cheryl Richardson A few years ago, I decided to start using a set of my “good dishes” every day. The set isn’t particularly fine, but it includes several sturdy serving pieces, mixing bowls, and accessories. Most were stored in our basement — until we hosted company for dinner. To make room for the whole set in the kitchen, I sold my old set of everyday dishes in a garage sale. Using my favorite dishes elevates…
-
What do you believe?
“What you believe yourself to be, you are.” ~Claude M. Bristol, The Magic of Believing World War I veteran Claude Bristol (1891-1951) was a pioneer of the positive thinking movement. He wrote The Magic of Believing to help his fellow veterans adapt to civilian life — yet his book also resonated with others who struggled to overcome trauma, self-limiting patterns, or negative attitudes. Bristol was convinced that success in any realm depends on dedication, belief, and character. His philosophy explains how some people triumph over adversity while others remain stuck. Bristol’s “magic” was about unleashing the power of the subconscious mind. You are what you believe. You achieve what you…
-
Time management
“Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time’ is like saying ‘I don’t want to do it.'” ~Cheryl Richardson How many times have you heard the phrase, “We’ll have to get together sometime” — but nobody ever follows through on the suggestion? There are so many things we postpone because we claim we don’t have time for them. For instance, we might put off scheduling certain medical tests, finding a better job, cleaning a closet, or reading all those epic novels that everyone says we should read. But if we’re honest with ourselves, we realize that it’s not really a matter of time management. We often postpone…
-
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…
