Category: create

Beautiful Compost

Even the compost pile can be beautiful. Last month I submitted two articles to two different publications within six days. Both took a lot out of me and involved revisiting pain (more than a few tears shed) to excavate joy. Important, deep, meaningful work. Energizing and exhausting work. Last week I heard that one of … Continue reading Beautiful Compost

Writing as a Spiritual Practice

I will be leading a 4-week workshop on Writing as a Spiritual Practice (via Zoom). If you can tell a story to your neighbor when you meet at the mailbox, you can write. And if you’re a person of faith, you can use writing as one more tool in the toolbox to deepen your relationship … Continue reading Writing as a Spiritual Practice

Spark

The smallest spark can ignite a fire,for good or ill,To warm friends around a campfire on a chilly nightTo candle-cozy a room and illuminate a page of readingTo create a fireline for safetyOr burn down buildings. The smallest spark of electricity canPower a light bulb or an engineAnd heat or cool your food or home.Lightning … Continue reading Spark

Want to Be Productive? Add Joy!

When our younger son was diagnosed in middle school with inattentive ADHD, I discovered that I have it, too. Our older son has what most people think of as ADHD: capital-H Hyperactive. Our younger son’s personality is so different that we had no idea. Turns out, ADHD doesn’t always look the same. I thought I … Continue reading Want to Be Productive? Add Joy!

Take All the Time You Need

Dave may have over-planted our front yard garden. In winter, he dug up all the plants and bulbs between the three white rose bushes. He put in new trim, amended the soil, and planted (or replanted) up to 100 bulbs - ranunculus, gladiolas, calla lilies, and dahlias. The ranunculus emerged first, confirming our hope that … Continue reading Take All the Time You Need

New Shoes

At one point, I couldn’t imagine wearing out two-plus pairs of shoes per year. Now each day begins with pavement pounding. My junior high mile run time was slower than my current walking mile time. I loved school and books and writing, but hated PE. I snail-crawled my way through the mile “run,” followed by … Continue reading New Shoes

Know Your Why

Besides caring for myself, my guys, and our small menagerie, I invest myself in writing. Why? I write to encourage those who read my words. I write to encourage… Your heartYour faith and practiceYour health and wholenessYour pursuit of lifelong learningYour commitment to justice and right actionYour creativity - even if you think you don’t … Continue reading Know Your Why

I Write…

To know what I thinkTo work through what I don’t yet knowTo know and be known, to love and be lovedTo acknowledge my feelings To organize the chaos and cultivate inner orderTo connect the dots and create meaningTo noticeTo bear witness To remember the past and record the present for the sake of the futureTo … Continue reading I Write…

Questions & More Questions

It rarely happens, but my words have stopped flowing. Not entirely, as I have experienced sudden word-gushes that burst in one direction or another. But the regular flow of words that lands in daily 20 minute journaling sessions and twice-weekly blog posts and daily social media posts...that flow has dammed up, leaving only trickles seeping … Continue reading Questions & More Questions

Setting Goals & Making Progress

I don’t make resolutions, but I do set goals. Hmm, aren’t “resolutions” and “goals” two words for the same thing? Resolutions: a firm decision to do or not do something.Goals: the object of a person's effort; an aim or desired result. So, yes, “resolutions” and “goals” may be interchangeable. Maybe I’m mincing words, engaging in … Continue reading Setting Goals & Making Progress