Yearly Archives:: 2014

Giving Comfort

March 4th, 2014
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Yesterday was a snow day in Washington, DC with the local and federal governments shut down and people resigning themselves to once again bundle up and go out and shove and clear their cars of winter’s one two punch: ice and snow.
Before I braved the outdoors, I indulgently hung out in my pajamas and worked on the computer, answering emails and checking out Twitter for Oscar gossip.  I also made use of my snow day by tackling a large stack of magazines in my home office and in hopes of ridding myself of some unnecessary clutter.
I came upon … Read More

In Honor Of The Oscars

March 3rd, 2014
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In honor of the Oscars last night, I’d like to give out a personal award.Last night’s Academy Awards speeches seemed to me to be particularly emotional, expressing the gratitude of recognition, the fulfillment of dreams and deep thanks for the years of incredible support that people received while working on their ground breaking film projects.It brought to mind for me the role that others play in our lives during difficult times and reminded me that support groups around the country are on the front lines of our communities, doing the nitty gritty, down and dirty and painful work of helping… Read More

Ew! It’s Funny Friday

February 28th, 2014
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What a whirl of a week this had been.  Deadlines. Pressure.  Meltdowns.  Not me.  Others. You’re familiar with this kind of dynamic aren’t you?  I know you must be because there is no way that this kind of stuff only happens to me. How do I deal?  (Did I hear someone say booze?) No my friends I don’t drink but I do make a lot of jokes about being in really awful situations because humor helps me cope.  I constantly make jokes about myself — and believe me there’s a lot of material there — and I also make jokes… Read More

Willing To Wonder

February 27th, 2014
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I do not at all understand the mystery of grace — only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.           ~ Anne Lamott… Read More

Johnny Cash’s To Do

February 26th, 2014
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I write about the great American singer songwriter Johnny Cash today for two reasons: the first is it’s his birthday and if he were still here with us he would be 82 years old (Happy Birthday Johnny!) and the second is his infamous “to do” list. Cash’s iconic songwriting talents crossed over into so many different kinds of music that he is one of the few people to have been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.  Incredible right? Cash’s most powerful songs to… Read More

Getting In Gear

February 24th, 2014
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The calendar still says February but the warm temperatures this weekend offered me hope that Spring is close to arriving in my area of the world. I think my neighbors felt the same way because all weekend I saw them emerging from their homes of hibernation, waving hellos and walking around their yards picking up recently fallen branches and small sticks and checking out winter’s damages.  It was also nice to see the baby brigade out and about with strollers and young toddlers in tow.  While doing my errands, everyone seemed to be energized by the warm and shining sun. … Read More

Beyond His Clutter

February 21st, 2014
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Oh my goodness I can so identify with the story that I am sharing with you today. It’s a story titled, 54 Drawers, and it’s about a daughter who thoughtfully and lovingly is going through the drawers and drawers of file cabinets containing huge amounts of paper her recently deceased father stored in the office of his house. In my case it was and still is the papers that my late husband left in his office.  Over the years, I have made a lot of progress and thrown out lots and lots of boxes containing everything from old bills, old… Read More

A Navajo Prayer

February 19th, 2014
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As we embrace a new day. . . Contra Costa County, California Photo Courtesy of Flickr A Navajo Prayer In beauty may I walk. All day long may I walk. Through the returning seasons may I walk. On the trail marked with pollen may I walk. With grasshoppers about my feet may I walk. With dew about my feet may I walk. Planting Fields Arboretum  Long Island New York With beauty may I walk. With beauty before me may I walk. With beauty behind me may I walk. With beauty above me may I walk. With beauty below me may… Read More

Say Yes to Empowerment

February 18th, 2014
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The essence of resilience is bouncing back to a healthy place after you have been counted out. Emotionally resilient people recognize that some good can come from even the most traumatic events.  Not only are people resilient but cities can be too.  Look at New York City.  In the 1970’s, New York City was a dangerous place.  It’s economy was on the verge of collapse and its streets and subways were full of crime and gangs and homeless people.  People could not find jobs.  Traveling to New York City today, there is hardly any evidence of its darker and grittier… Read More