Events & news
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What will you tolerate?
“I have insecurities and flaws, of course, but I don’t hang out with anyone who points them out to me.” ~Adele I was lucky to grow up with folks who believed in positive reinforcement. They encouraged my interests and were generous with praise and compliments. Their interpretation of the Golden Rule still resonates: “Be kind, respectful, and treat other people the way you want to be treated.” Over the years I’ve learned that not everyone was raised by the same operating instructions. So I had to develop a thicker skin, especially when I was the target of nasty remarks or thoughtless behavior. Sometimes constructive criticism is necessary and useful. And…
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Making it up as we go
“Life seems sometimes like nothing more than a series of losses, from beginning to end. That’s the given. How you respond to those losses, what you make of what’s left, that’s the part you have to make up as you go.” ~Katharine Weber When a mother is the nucleus of a family, her death changes everything. Yesterday, my sister-in-law and I agreed that everything feels different, almost surreal, after our mother-in-law’s death on Saturday. Family life had revolved around her for years — and even more so as she neared the end of her life. Though all of us had expected this, our family will feel a bit unmoored while…
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Happy places
“Cheerfulness, it would appear, is a matter which depends fully as much on the state of things within, as on the state of things without and around us.” ~Charlotte Bronte Sometimes, if I’m not mindful, disturbing news can poison my mood for days. As behavioral psychologists remind us, what we “feed” our minds influences so many other areas of our lives. A constant diet of doom, gloom, gossip, or conspiracy theories can drive anyone totally nuts. Is ignorance bliss? Not really. But it helps to have a sense of humor — along with the willingness to look for the good in other people and things. When I’m feeling down, for instance, it helps to visit…
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The beauty of “letting them”
“When you say Let them, you make a conscious decision not to allow other people’s behavior to bother you. When you say Let me, you take responsibility for what YOU do next.” ~Mel Robbins, The Let Them Theory As Mel Robbins sees it, some things in life are beyond our control — and that can feel painful at times. In her best-selling guide, The Let Them Theory, Robbins shares a simple philosophy that will free you from the stress of trying to manage other people’s opinions and actions. The need to be in control is often our biggest roadblock to healthy relationships and true contentment, Robbins believes. We can’t micro-manage the weather or change the…
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Wild things
National Poetry Month ends soon, so I want to share another wonderful poem with you. This one was recently shared by an author I follow on Substack, and it resonates in so many ways. “The Peace of Wild Things” reminds us to take comfort in the wisdom and beauty of the natural world — no matter what else is unfolding around us. I hope it will inspire you to set aside your phone and other devices while you spend time outdoors this weekend. ~CL The Peace of Wild Things By Wendell Berry When despair for the world grows in meand I wake in the night at the least soundin fear…
