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

Your Life, Your Movie

February 17th, 2014
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“Stay In Your Own Movie” ~ DeVon Franklin When my son was a young child, he would talk about going to various friend’s houses to play and how wonderful their house was, how great their snacks were and how nice their parents were and how perfect everything always seemed when he was there at whatever friends house he happened to be.  Sometimes he would even tell me that the parents of some of his friends never even ever argued.  Ever. First I told him that they were waiting for him to leave so they could have their argument and then… Read More

Happy Valentine’s Day

February 14th, 2014
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Happy Valentine’s Day!! Falling in love and being loved is just so oh-la-la isn’t it? May your heart expand today with the joy of being with your Valentine or having great memories of a special Valentine who may no longer be with you. I’m sending this song out today to Valentines around the globe:… Read More

It’s Snowtime!

February 13th, 2014
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After days of hearing the local weather people forecast that lots of snow was headed our way, it really happened!  Flakes began to fall around 7 pm last in Washington, DC and it remained steady throughout last night and continues into this morning. I measured 14 inches of snow outside my door and I have yet to see a snow plow come into my neighborhood.  Oh well. . .  The federal government is shut down and so are schools along with most businesses. Yes, my friends, a day off from work is a healing day!! Here’s what my part of… Read More

A Listening Binge

February 12th, 2014
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For the past several weeks, I have been on a listening binge and it feels healing. There are a number of family members and friends who are going through various kinds of difficult personal situations and, in trying to be helpful, I have been listening to what they tell me they want to talk about, in particular what it feels like to be in their crisis, what they really wish they could do to solve it and how frustrating it is to have the situation go on and on. Listening may seem as though it is a passive activity but… Read More