This week I am sharing on my blog and on Instagram about My Life in Coffee Mugs. On Monday, I wrote on the blog about New York City. On Tuesday on Instagram I posted about my hometown of San Diego. Today I am blogging about Norway... We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary with two weeks … Continue reading 2020 Armchair Traveling: Norway
Category: Connect
2020 Armchair Traveling: My Life in Coffee Mugs
Along with so much else in 2020, travel has been cancelled. Good thing my coffee mugs remind me where I’ve been--exactly what Starbucks intended, right? This week, I’ll let my warm cuppa whisk me away to share a few highlights from my life. Today is my birthday. It’s also an ordinary Monday in an exceptionally … Continue reading 2020 Armchair Traveling: My Life in Coffee Mugs
How are you? No, really…
How are you? she asks, a simple question requiring an easy answer. But do we really have a simple answer? I could tell her I’m tired, weary in my bones and soul. So weary that sleep plays hide and seek through the dark hours, slipping through my grasp each time I think I’ve caught it. … Continue reading How are you? No, really…
Quirky and Wonder-full, YOU are the Main Character in Your Story
Think about some of your favorite TV or movie characters. What idiosyncrasies do they possess? How are they uniquely quirky? Like Moira Rose’s voice (Schitt’s Creek). Or Barney Stinson’s suits (How I Met Your Mother). Or Sheldon’s bathroom schedule (The Big Bang Theory). Or Phoebe’s off-key singing voice wailing: “Smelly cat, smelly cat, what are … Continue reading Quirky and Wonder-full, YOU are the Main Character in Your Story
When What’s Staggering Isn’t: Seeing Sad Truths
The US has now passed the staggering statistic of 200,000 COVID-19 deaths (global deaths are approaching one million). That’s the equivalent of:66 days of 9/11 attacks109 Hurricane KatrinasAlmost 1,200 Oklahoma City bombings1,450 full commercial planes, or eight plane crashes every day of our six-month quarantineThe combined US death toll from the wars in Korea, Vietnam, … Continue reading When What’s Staggering Isn’t: Seeing Sad Truths
Clinging to Trust as a Lifeline
Four years ago I stopped watching the news. For most of my adult life, I had been in the habit of watching at least the first twelve minutes of the 10 o’clock news before getting ready for bed. Until I realized that images from the news creeped into my dreams, resulting in fitful sleep and … Continue reading Clinging to Trust as a Lifeline
It Takes Courage to See Eye-to-Eye
In this fast-spinning gyroscopic world, society clings to hard-and-fast categories. Black or whiteRed or blueForeigner or citizenUs or them Categories give us a handhold to grip, something to steady us as we try to make sense in the dizziness. These days, we’re holding on for dear life. Not for their dear lives, mind you, but … Continue reading It Takes Courage to See Eye-to-Eye
Reminder: YOU are Essential Even if You’re Not an Essential Worker
Essential: s·sen·tial/əˈsen(t)SHəl/adjectiveDefinition: absolutely necessary; extremely important. Who knew the word essential would take on such significance in 2020? At midnight on March 17, 2020, Californians were suddenly under lock-down orders due to an unprecedented pandemic. Everyone but essential workers would stay at home, leaving only for exercise (and that on foot or bike) or essential … Continue reading Reminder: YOU are Essential Even if You’re Not an Essential Worker
Challenging the Challenge: Why I Passed on the #challengeaccepted
When Instagram began to fill up with black-and-white photos of women tagged #challengeaccepted, I googled it. The lead article mentioned some female country singers promoting natural beauty - no makeup/hair, no special lighting or filters, no glam, just women being themselves. Women supporting women being real women. But that wasn't what came across my Instagram … Continue reading Challenging the Challenge: Why I Passed on the #challengeaccepted
Who Will Be the Good Samaritan?
When someone tells you they’ve been hurt, you wouldn’t tell them they haven’t.When someone shares with you about their experience, you wouldn’t tell them that can’t have happened because you have a different experience. When a whole group of people tell us they’ve been hurt, a compassionate response involves listening.When a whole group of people … Continue reading Who Will Be the Good Samaritan?