“Kindness and Grace as Spiritual WD-40”
I’m a fan of the writer, Anne Lamotte. Her writing style inspires my own as she infuses her words with candor, clarity, and humor. Each year just prior to New Year’s Day she publishes an anti-diet diatribe. One of her admonitions this year flagged my attention. Read more
A More Equitable and Just World Where Everyone Blooms
I received a special edition Apple watch band for Christmas. The description accompanying it says it was created to celebrate the beauty of Black unity. Its floral design symbolizes the growth and resilience nurtured by generations working together to address injustice and dismantle systemic barriers.
Christopher Columbus is no Hero of Mine
A New York Times article in November described how some Americans, exhausted by the recent election, were catching flights out of the country. I must confess, we were a couple of those Americans. We caught a flight to Puerto Rico where we boarded a cruise ship and headed southeast toward Antigua, Guadeloupe, and back up to the British Virgin Islands.
Perfection is the Enemy of Good Enough
The “average” woman criticizes herself eight times a day, half of whom start their denigrating assaults before 9:30 in the morning. How can we be kinder to ourselves and regard our perceived faults as assets.
When Disappointments Transform into Precious Moments
Doodling is a non-threatening way to exercise creative muscles while engaging the mind. It helps with problem solving and mindfulness
How Do you Handle Hurricanes? Take the Quiz and See
Florida just endured a massive hurricane creating devastation throughout the state. I was curious how different personality types handled Hurricane Milton. Read the descriptions and see where you fit
Nuptial Notes #5: The Wedding
Following a month in Southern Illinois prepping for the wedding of my daughter, the big day finally arrived and it was filled with love and joy.
Nuptial Notes #4: Nature is Nurture
Nature really is nurturing as I discovered during my month long stay in Southern Illinois participating in the preparation of my daughter's wedding. The Shawnee National Forest and its waterways offer head-clearing get-a-ways.
Nuptial Notes #3: Creative Coping Cures
How to recharge your battery in the midst of a stressful situation? Creativity works for me, and a couple of art exhibitions thrown in for extra psychic nourishment.
Day One of My Nuptial Notes: I’m Already Tired.
I failed to anticipate the pre-wedding stress fatigue I'm experiencing in advance of my daughter's wedding over Labor weekend.
Navigating the Nuances of Impending Nuptials
My husband and I escaped the daily 108-degree Florida heat to travel to Southern Illinois for the wedding of our daughter. Family is everything to me and I didn’t want to miss a minute of the joy, confusion, chaos of choices, and time with my daughter as we jointly execute the items on our ever-expanding to-do lists.
Thank You God for This Five Minutes
We don’t know what health issues lurk around the corner but I’m feeling very grateful for the body and mind I have right now. That’s even worthy of a magenta designation (magenta is a dominant color in my book.) Thank you God for this five minutes.
The Color is Apricot for this Birthday Puppy Post
I’ve been writing posts this week about turning 71. Yet another birthday present I received? A second dog delivered on my doorstep the morning of my birthday.
Birthdays Provide Opportunities for Reflection and Gratitude
A tour of the Albin Polasek Sculpture Museum in Winter Park was an excellent way to celebrate my 71st birthday.
I’m in the Pink this Birthday Week
Today is my birthday eve. I’m 71 tomorrow. My husband teased me into opening my presents early tonight. It didn’t take much coaxing and now I’m happily drinking from my LuLu Lemon pink water bottle and sporting an apple watch.
Are You a Reluctant Angel?
A defining angel attribute is their ability to listen–with undivided attention and seemingly without judgment. These angels often offer good advice for addressing anxiety-invoking issues, so it’s easy for the beneficiaries of this attention to come down with angel addiction
Am I a Mother’s Day Grinch? Not Really
Mother’s Day is often fraught with complications and pesky expectations. But one truth is the fact Moms often derive joy from other’s joy.
Three is the Perfect Number
An Atlantic Monthly article entitled, “Always Have Three Beverages”, employs the universal “Rule of Three” to argue the importance of ordering three drinks. “The first is water. The second is a source of caffeine. The third is something fun – juice, soda, glass of wine. Small pleasures, like adding a fun drink to your retinue, have psychological value.
What is Your Divine Proportion? (And I’m not referring to your body mass index)
Spring has sprung in Central Florida and it’s gorgeous. Nature begs us to pause, notice, and say Amen. I would argue, this time in nature’s calendar invites us to incorporate more color into our daily lives.
Jingle those Car Keys
A new puppy, health concerns, and limited travel dollars have caused me to re-think travel priorities at age 70.
Find a full index of all of the Be Brave. Lose the Beige! blog posts here