Photo stories
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When in God’s name?
“In addition to needed gun control reforms, America urgently needs a stronger protest movement dedicated to reducing the glorification of violence in our culture — in music, film, television, video games, and on the Internet.” ~Bernice King Tuesday was one of those gorgeous May afternoons, sunny and cloudless. After another trip to the plant store, I prepped my herb garden bed, trimmed a shrub, pulled a few weeds, and admired my handiwork. Then I started an upbeat post for this blog — a post about spending a perfect day in the garden. Hours later, however, I learned about the massacre at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, and realized that it…
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How to save the world
“This is the way we save the world: one peaceful word, one act of compassion, one long sweet nap, one burst of laughter at a time.” ~Martha Beck, Finding Your Way in a Wild New World Watching the news makes me feel hopeless — and helpless. Mass shootings (almost daily). The war in Ukraine. The pandemic. Political ugliness (daily). I long for a new age of unity, peace, civility, and dignity — a tall order that’s seemingly impossible to fill these days. But each of us can take small steps toward healing — starting in our own homes and communities. We could perform a random act of kindness or two. And…
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The power of “No”
“If you find that the demands on your time are overwhelming, don’t be afraid to politely say ‘no’ when someone asks you to do or attend something. It’s better to say ‘no’ early on instead of ‘maybe’ or ‘we’ll see.’ You’ll appreciate the freedom of protecting your schedule and prioritizing your commitments.” ~Dr. Andrew Weil No is a powerful word — and sometimes we have to muster the courage to use it. Too often, we’re afraid of losing approval if we deny a request or turn down an offer. People-pleasers, especially, feel twice as guilty when they say no, and typically follow their negative response with an elaborate explanation. But…
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Embracing the void
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Never settle for boring
“If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” ~Jim Rohn Even when I was a much younger woman with a fragile ego, I wasn’t impressed by the stuff my peers wanted to wear. In those days, designer logos, status scarves, and “it” handbags were just starting to gain popularity. (Remember The Official Preppy Handbook?) To me, they seemed boring and unoriginal, and rarely worth their extravagant price tags. I still wonder why anyone would want to be an unpaid, walking advertisement for someone else’s product. And why would anybody want to dress like someone else, unless a uniform is mandatory for…
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The right tools?
“Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.” ~George Herbert Procrastination is so easy to justify. We convince ourselves that we can’t begin (or finish) a project until we’ve acquired the right workspace, a totally clear calendar, or a special set of tools or equipment … Or until the stars align perfectly in our personal universe. That’s when the tools we need the most are motivation, a can-do attitude, and the sheer will to start or finish the project. What have you been…
