Photo stories
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The dead-end road
“Self-pity is a dead-end road. You make the choice to drive down it. It’s up to you to decide to stay parked there or to turn around and drive out.” ~Cheryl Strayed, Tiny Beautiful Things Have you ever found yourself totally blown off course by relatively minor problems and petty annoyances? (Been there, done that.) Then again, you’ve probably faced some major challenges and losses with bravery — and moved forward with grace. The road of life isn’t always smooth for anyone. But today’s quote suggests that every single one of us has a choice when encountering road blocks. We can feel sorry for ourselves and stay stuck — or…
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September memories of Mom
“There’s a story behind everything. How a picture got on a wall. How a scar got on your face. Sometimes the stories are simple, and sometimes they are hard and heartbreaking. But behind all your stories is always your mother’s story, because hers is where yours begin.” ~Mitch Albom, One More Day September is a bittersweet month — a month of longer shadows, golden light, shorter evenings, and rich, poignant sunsets. It’s the month when cottages are closed for the summer, school resumes, sweaters are pulled from storage, and autumn officially begins. In a way that only September can do, it feels like both a beginning and an ending. September 20…
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The right balance
“Good relationships are built on mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual effort.” ~Mona Sutphen Friendship experts suggest that “imbalance” is often at the root of relationship trouble. If a relationship feels off, it helps to consider what could be out of balance. Am I talking more than listening? Do I take more than I give? Am I initiating social activities or just waiting for someone to call me? Do I compromise or insist on controlling things? We all have times when we fall short of being present in the ways people need us. Then again, sometimes we expect more than others are able to give us. All said and done,…
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The hero on your journey
“It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.” ~Joseph Campbell Mythologist Joseph Campbell believed that everyone’s life is a “Hero’s Journey.” Along the way, there are metaphorical dragons to face. We each encounter life-changing challenges or setbacks (sometimes other people) that stand in our way. And while we rarely realize it until later, our biggest challenges and darkest moments contain the greatest lessons. For starters, there was the time I had both hips replaced within five months, in my forties, after a crippling battle with osteoarthritis. Though my surgical recovery took a while, I learned a…
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Put yourself out there
“Imagine living life so carefully that there are no signs you lived at all.” ~Raven Leilani I once met a woman who arranged her life to avoid appearing “wrong.” She never displayed artwork or family photos on the white walls of her immaculate home. She dressed appropriately in a style that never made a statement. Polite and reserved, she rarely revealed an opinion or a passion. I was always on my guard around her. As today’s quote suggests, life can be so much richer — and a lot more fun — when we are willing to take creative chances, make mistakes, and put ourselves out there. ~CL Photo by Cindy…
