Yearly Archives:: 2013

6 American Optimists

March 26th, 2013
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Readers: start your engines!
If you are anything like me, you probably have days when it’s just plain hard to get into gear and get going.
To help you move it along today,  here are six Americans (I am inspired by Gabby Giffords!) who told Reader’s Digest that life is better when you think positive and here’s what they have to say about looking on the bright side of life:
Spirtual Adviser
Billy Graham, 94, Christian minister, says, “If I didn’t have spiritual faith, I would be a pessimist.  But I’m an optimist.  I’ve read the last page in … Read More

An Emotional Box

March 25th, 2013
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As I continue to slowly reorganize my freshly painted bedroom, it is amazing the things I find stored under my bed. Last week I wrote about my long put-off decision to finally paint and reorganize my bedroom following my husband’s death.  Now, as I pick and choose what I am bringing back into that room, I am dealing with some of the things that I pushed aside after his traumatic death and choose not to think about. In this instance, it is an old Estee Lauder box that once held cosmetics and perfume.  I loved the different colored berries pictured… Read More

St. Francis & His BFF Clare

March 22nd, 2013
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With the recent election of Pope Francis I to head the Catholic Church, people are talking about faith and religion with a renewed enthusiasm. I think people are filled with hope and that’s always a good thing. Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo! and the mainstream news outlets have been full of stories and comments about what changes, if any, this new pope may bring about.  I was at friend’s house for dinner the other day and the subject of the Pope spontaneously came up.  Even my dentist started talking about it yesterday morning and I don’t think we’ve ever discussed the subject… Read More

Public Tears

March 21st, 2013
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I’ve done it in the grocery store in the applesauce aisle.  I’ve also done it while walking down 17th Street, NW and on the Metro platform at Farragut North. What have I done? Crying in public.  And you know what? When I was doing it, I could have cared less about who I ran into or what I looked like.  I was in the throes of grief and I had either heard a song that reminded me of my husband or was coming from a situation where no one acknowledged my loss or what was happening to me. When I… Read More

Diane Von Furstenberg

March 20th, 2013
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You probably know of Diane Von Furstenberg from her infamous dress designs for women, especially her iconic wrap dress.  Her dresses have been worn by First Lady Michelle Obama, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.  Today, Diane Von Furstenberg masterfully runs a global company, tastefully designing women’s fashions, along with fragrances, cosmetics and home collections. Diane Von Furstenberg But Diane Von Furstenberg is more than a fashionista. She is also a passionate and generous person who spends a lot of time mentoring women and distributing her grant and philanthropic money to community building, education and environmental causes, among… Read More

Wild By Cheryl Strayed

March 19th, 2013
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Tell me, what is it you plan to do With your one wild and precious life?                      ~ Mary Oliver                      “The Summer Day” From the moment I started reading the first words of the amazing New York Times bestseller, Wild, by Cheryl Strayed, I couldn’t put it down. It has truly been a long time since I have read a book written in such a direct manner; a book so full of beautiful introspection and honesty and yet at the same time so poignant in its telling of Strayed’s compelling personal experience with grief following the tragic death of her mother… Read More

Making A New Bedroom

March 18th, 2013
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On the weekends, I like to try and organize myself.Sometimes I succeed in my de-clutter efforts and sometimes I don’t.  During the work week, I have a very bad habit of throwing clothes and papers into piles.  By the time the weekend rolls around, I know I have to deal with the piles and hang stuff up and throw things away. This past weekend marked a milestone for me because I just had my bedroom painted and most of the stuff that was under my bed,  hanging on wall and door hooks and on top of my furniture was in… Read More

An Irish Memory

March 17th, 2013
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In the spare words of poetry, I find simple elegance and peace. Poetry helps to bring me back to my center.  To take a deep breath.  To slow down and find my direction. If you are not familiar with William Butler Yeats, he was a distinguished Irish poet who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923, the first Irishman so honored, and later, with others, went on to found the world famous Abbey Theatre located in Dublin. Yeats’ The Lake of Innisfree is musical in its words and when I close my eyes, I imagine I am in … Read More

The Art of Resilience

March 15th, 2013
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Being Proactive Can Strengthen Your Resilience The subject of resilience totally fascinates me. Resilience is being able to bounce back after being tossed around by life.  Trying to figure out why one person bounces back from a life trauma and another person breaks from the pain tells us something about the human condition don’t you think? It’s a roll of the dice. It’s the $64 million question. The ability to stay on track and keep your focus, the ability to develop an inner strength in the face of adversity is inspiring to me and in turn I draw strength from… Read More