I fell this morning while running with the dogs. I have no idea what happened, whether I tripped on a crack in the sidewalk or if I bumped the dogs or they bumped me, or maybe I just didn’t pick my foot up high enough. Whatever happened, I soared gracelessly through the air and landed … Continue reading Keep Going
Category: create
Meatless Monday: Instant Pot Pasta e Fagioli Soup (vegan!)
It cooled off just enough last week to eat soup again. Notice I didn't say "to cook soup," because IP cooking means I don't have to stand and stir a hot pot. It's one of my favorite things about the IP: I can quickly make yummy veggies and soups that would require more time on … Continue reading Meatless Monday: Instant Pot Pasta e Fagioli Soup (vegan!)
33 Ways to De-Funk Your Day
If you're anything like me, occasionally you find yourself in a funk. Not a physical, I-need-a-shower kinda funk; and not a Play that Funky Music, White Boy getcha movin’ kinda funk. Just an I’m in a funk kind of way. Here are some ideas for dealing with it: Practice gratitude: make a list of 3-10 … Continue reading 33 Ways to De-Funk Your Day
Starting Over
My son flubbed another school band audition, even though he played well in the practice room just before. Nerves. Before bedtime, I told him the story of why I quit playing the piano: The last time I performed on the piano was a lovely spring day in April 1988. Fifty or so music professors, music … Continue reading Starting Over
Free to Fail
My younger son is a musician. He’s played trumpet for six years and picked up the tuba a year ago. As a high school sophomore, he registered for two music classes: Jazz and Symphonic Bands. Music is his happy place, the band room his safety zone. His private instructor also works at the school; he … Continue reading Free to Fail
Sprinkle Kindness Everywhere
Someone left a rock dead center on the sign-in counter at the gym. Painted white with black letters reading “Sprinkle Kindness Everywhere” amidst colorful polka dots, it's so out of place it caught my attention. It reminded me of painted rocks I saw while on vacation in Pacific Grove. Someone(s) had painted stones to resemble … Continue reading Sprinkle Kindness Everywhere
Creativity as Spiritual Practice
I read in The Artist’s Way: Are you contemplative? Yes. Do you allow yourself to go on retreat? Oh, well… Shortly thereafter, I saw a magazine ad for a nearby retreat center. An ad for the same center popped up on social media a few days after that; I clicked, and Julia Cameron, author of … Continue reading Creativity as Spiritual Practice
What’s My Commitment?
I briefly interacted with a gal working one of the booths at BottleRock. She wore amazing eye makeup, intensely purple and shimmery, ombre, with thick, expertly-applied liquid cat-eye liner. Because I believe in freely and generously offering sincere compliments to friends and strangers, I commented on how beautiful her makeup looked. I also asked how … Continue reading What’s My Commitment?
Cultivating Quiet
To increase happiness, I made a commitment in January to practice silence by minimizing noise and negativity of all sorts. Since then, I’ve given myself permission to turn off the car radio when there isn’t a song that moves me. Music off, I get to sit with my thoughts for the duration of the drive—and … Continue reading Cultivating Quiet
Stay Human
Cautious of the time-sucking danger of social media, my Guy has intentionally cut back. A few months ago, though, he saw a post from a friend selling two three-day VIP tickets to BottleRock, a music festival in Napa. He immediately expressed interest, except the cost was a sad-but-immediate deal-breaker. Someone who cares for us all … Continue reading Stay Human