If something inside of you is real, we will probably find it interesting, and it will probably be universal. So you must risk placing real emotion at the center of your work. Write straight into the emotional center of things. Write toward vulnerability. Risk being unliked. Tell the truth as you understand it. If you’re a writer you have a moral obligation to do this. And it is a revolutionary act—truth is always subversive.” ~Anne Lamott
It’s less than a week until Christmas. There are presents to wrap, stockings to stuff, cookies to frost, wine to purchase, and grocery shopping to do. But guess what? I’d rather snuggle up in front of the fire with a blanket, a cup of coffee, and some of my favorite blogs. Hungry Runner Girl by Janae….
Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. ~Howard Thurman It’s a new month and that means a new guidepost from Brené Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection. This month’s focus is cultivating meaningful work—work that results…
It’s been a while since I read a book that I like enough to recommend to you. Recently I’ve read two, Lincoln’s Melancholy (which I’ll review in a future post) and the one I want to share today, The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood. This is the story of an unusual young boy bringing people together,…
In the midst of chaos When the wind is howling, I hear The ancient song Of ones who went before And know that peace will come ~Susan Stauter It’s election day and coincidently the day I was scheduled to write about Brene Brown’s next guidepost—cultivating calm and stillness. Whatever your politics, I have a feeling…
Here’s something you may not know about me: I like BATS. No, not the mammals with webbed wings that hang upside down in caves and are a staple of Halloween movies (though they’re pretty awesome too). I’m talking about Blessings, Accomplishments, Talents, and Strengths; an exercise from one of my favorite self-help books, Creating Your…
I recently read another good book I’d like to share with you. The Good Father, by Noah Hawley. If you’re looking for light-hearted comic relief, this is not the book for you. However, if you are looking for an intense, thought-provoking, beautifully written psychological drama, check it out. The Good Father explores the responsibilities and…
It’s the day after Labor Day, and therefore, the unofficial beginning of my favorite season—autumn! I love the cool mornings and evenings, the beautiful fall leaves, and all things pumpkin! I loved autumn, the one season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it. ~Lee Maynard While…
It’s a new month and that means a new guidepost from The Gifts of Imperfection. This time it’s Cultivating Intuition and Trusting Faith (letting go of the need for certainty). Growing up I most often heard the word intuition in combination with women—as in women’s intuition—and it seemed to me to be something mystical, like…
“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.” ― Leo Buscaglia The other day, as Larry and I drove past the hospital in our neighborhood, I commented to him that it’s been a long time since he’s been there. Then I quickly added, “Knock on wood” and rapped my…
So we’re back at the cabin, and in addition to hiking, lounging on the deck, and playing Yahtzee, I’ve been reading again. It seems I always finish good books up here. This time it was The Nest, a New York Times Bestseller by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney. Fair warning: The book is at times dark, and…
