As we witness the closure of this season's magnolia blossoms, I am reminded of one of my favorite movies, Steel Magnolias. The title borrows a term that means both femininity and fortitude, a depiction of its characters and of the word "Dignity," meaning worthy of honor. I mention Steel Magnolias in my book in "Contemplation … Continue reading Dignity: worthy of honor
Words
Vocabulary worth exploring.
Awareness Leads to Prevention
Photo by Kat J on Unsplash Did you know? Every 98 seconds an American is sexually assaulted.1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18.1 in 5 children who touches a computer will be sexually solicited online.45% of child victims will not disclose abuse for 5 or more years.More … Continue reading Awareness Leads to Prevention
My 30-day Challenge
So, I decided if we are now on a 30-day lock down, that I would make the best of it (focus on the cans, not the cannots) and work through a 30-day challenge, starting today. I decided to focus on four areas: reading, writing, cleaning/organizing, and self-care. Maybe you’d like to join me in your … Continue reading My 30-day Challenge
I Wonder…
I recently watched Crown Heights, a drama based on the true story of Colin Warner who was convicted of a murder he did not commit, resulting in 21 years behind bars, 21 years of horrific injustice, 21 years of a changed life. The story is also (and equally) about his best friend, Carl King, who … Continue reading I Wonder…
Welcome to February
February and valentines are like Bonnie and Clyde. For better or worse, they go hand-in-hand, ‘til death do them part. As clichéd as this partnership is, I must give proper attention to it if I want to truly engage in February. Dr. Ruth Westheimer, "The Sex Doctor" Like most I suspect, I wasn’t trained in … Continue reading Welcome to February
Falling Upward
Okay, so it's not orange, but this is Florida's fall all the same. It's officially fall, so what better time than now, to "fall upward." This is the title of a Richard Rohr book I'm reading. I highlighted nearly everything in it. I plan to host a book study to dig further into his words. … Continue reading Falling Upward
Words to Live By
"I was quickly reminded of the many facets of fences: white picket, wrought iron, wood, and chain link to name just a few." I pay attention to words more than ever. Not because I know them well. On the contrary. But because little words trip us up in big ways. Take the word “fence” for … Continue reading Words to Live By
Purpose in Our Pieces
"This is a powerful place, when we can find purpose in our pieces, in our imperfect lives. It’s a place that I think Pat Conroy portrays beautifully in the movie rendition of his memoir The Water is Wide." –Momentous Living https://youtu.be/ZTePeZag_yI
Success vs. Significance
"The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but on significance–and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning." –Oprah Winfrey
Respect and Interdependency
Photo by my good friend Vern Seward, who's on his way to Namibia to fulfill a two-year commitment with the Peace Corps. I've been pondering a couple words from my Momentous Living book chapter, "Village: doing life with others." These two words—respect and interdependency—encompass important stuff that has to do with relationships and community. Respect … Continue reading Respect and Interdependency