Blog, Celebrate Life, Joy, Life, Memoir, Memories, Nature Photography, Personal, Photography, Uncategorized, Virgina, Writers, Writing

“Sweet Dreams, Lilac”

  The smell of moist earth and lilacs hung in the air like wisps of the past and hints of the future. (Margaret Millar) Ahhhhhhh…the melodious scent of lilacs is practically enough to put me into a trance. I can’t really think of another more distinctly memorable essence with such direct links to my childhood.… Continue reading “Sweet Dreams, Lilac”

Blog, Life, Personal, Pop Culture, Struggle, Writing

She Implored Me to Speak Up

  I mean no disrespect to those who also find these debates complicated, charged and even bewildering, but I wish that I could understand why so many people are threatened by the #BlackLivesMatter movement. And I’m not talking about the extremists, although they are out there, they are out everywhere, in every group; religion, politics,… Continue reading She Implored Me to Speak Up

Blog, Grief, Life, Loss, Memoir, Memories, Parenthood, Struggle, Transitions, Uncategorized, Writing

A Letter from My Inner Wise Self

You, dear soul, are doing fine. You have been finding your way through the struggle, and the muck and mire. You’ve had a lot to contend with over this past year. But you’ve done it every single day. Every night you’ve gone to bed, and every morning you’ve gotten up and faced the day. That’s… Continue reading A Letter from My Inner Wise Self

Anxiety, Blog, Grieving, Life, Memoir, Self-Compassion, Writing

Hungering for Solid Footing

“…nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.” ― Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times Often lately I find myself asking my conscience or my inner voice what all this past year has taught me? I really plead with her to answer me. What have I learned that I needed to know, I ask. Have I even learned it, because some things seem to be holding on so tightly? Almost a year ago now I can pretty much pinpoint precisely when things started snowballing around me, and I felt myself losing the tenuous control that I thought I had had on my life...

Blog, Grieving, Life, Loss, Love, Memoir, Memories, Motherhood, Personal, Unconditional Love, Writing

A Hundred, Million Worlds

When my son was a child, we said some variation of this to each other every day and every night, "I love you a hundred, million worlds." I'm not exactly sure of the origins of our saying it, but I know that my heart had never before felt the way that it did about him,… Continue reading A Hundred, Million Worlds

Blog, Life, Writers, Writing

Practice Compassion for All Beings; (Including Yourself)

Practice Compassion for All Beings; (Including Yourself) I don't get crazy-upset very often, at least not in public. But quite honestly I don't often have reason to? I am not very aggressive, unless it's called for; as in taking a chance to get ahead or through, like when I have to drive on a busy,… Continue reading Practice Compassion for All Beings; (Including Yourself)

Blog, Dreams, Family, Life, Love, Memoir, Writers, Writing

Reflectionology

It has become somewhat painfully apparent that time truly stands still for no one. I had recommended that it slow down. It did not comply. I must accept that life goes on and things change, of course. Yet although it's incredibly exciting, it’s also overwhelming some days. And it's not that I'm in the twilight… Continue reading Reflectionology

Blog, Celebrate Life, Choices, Inspiration, Life, Motivation

Ten Times Karen Salmansohn Resonated Perfectly with Me

 (When I Really Needed It) **And so now for a little inspiration… I am a big fan & “Like” her Facebook page, but it has been totally uncanny some days when one of Karen Salmansohn’s illustrated quotes has randomly showed up on my FB newsfeed...and then it’s just the thing, I mean the exact thing… Continue reading Ten Times Karen Salmansohn Resonated Perfectly with Me

Blog, College Bound, Family, Life, Parenthood, Turning Points, Writers, Writing

Stand Upright and Be Strong

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go. — Dr. Seuss Our youngest got his first college acceptance letter – well let… Continue reading Stand Upright and Be Strong