Category: Connect

Yes, I’m Smiling at You!

You might know that I walk most days of the week, and I try to take a different route each time to keep things interesting for me and the dogs. Today, we enjoyed a walk around the Reservoir on a beautiful fall morning, the temperature warm in the sun and cool in the shade, dappled … Continue reading Yes, I’m Smiling at You!

Do you have ANTs?

Hi, I’m Siv (“See-v”) and I struggle with negative thinking. That might seem like a vulnerable thing to write, but I suspect I’m not alone. I won’t ask for a show of hands, but I wonder if you relate. I snapped this selfie before a special occasion. I deleted it the next day when my … Continue reading Do you have ANTs?

Pursuing Hobbies Side-by-Side

Relationship tips: do your own things side-by-side. Also, support each other in doing your own things even when you can’t do them side-by-side. Dave wanted to go fishing while we were in British Columbia. Who knows if we’ll ever get back there, so it was worth an afternoon. We spent the morning together gasping at … Continue reading Pursuing Hobbies Side-by-Side

Taking Risks

I faced my fears. I’ve been afraid of heights since childhood, a learned fear from my mom - also afraid of heights - who constantly yanked me back or warned me against getting too close to anything high-up, railings in particular. On our anniversary, Dave gave me a card with a sentiment about adventuring through … Continue reading Taking Risks

Sharing Cookies & Legacy

My son bought me a gingerbread man. While that may not seem like a big deal to you, for me it represents a generous role-reversal. For close to 20 years, my family joined my mom and nephew for one summer week along the Monterey Bay in what we called our “Cation House.” Because Mom and … Continue reading Sharing Cookies & Legacy

Sharing Stories Only You Can Tell

My mom died on February 4, 2023. Though she’d been declining over the past three years, when she left us it felt like a devastating earthquake, complete with aftershocks. Six weeks later, my sister organized a gathering Mom would have enjoyed: a garden party and lunch with her inner circle of dear friends. She arranged … Continue reading Sharing Stories Only You Can Tell

Efficiency Isn’t Everything

Society tells us to move faster and get more done. And when your To-Do list seems longer than Santa’s Nice and Naughty list, that’s tempting. Sure, some tasks can be done quickly and crossed off. And you could give yourself the gift of more time by crossing a few undone tasks off your list. Other … Continue reading Efficiency Isn’t Everything

It’s My Birthday!

It’s my birthday! Well, when I wrote this yesterday it was my birthday... So how about a birthday introduction? I love a good celebration, but I don’t enjoy being the sudden center of attention (spotlight = okay only when I choose it, thank you very much). The year I turned 7, I asked friends not … Continue reading It’s My Birthday!

Why Smile?

To make eye contact and smile is a kind of prayer, and it changes you. - Anne Lamott Lamott’s quote about the power of smiling has been on my mind most mornings when I walk my dogs past others in our neighborhood: the gaggle of women, the power pairs, the man who limps alongside his … Continue reading Why Smile?