Hello faithful reader. Living in the same place for many years, made me complacent, comfortable, and even jaded. In the space where life and routine got upended, I tended to complain. why is my first reaction wanting to return to the way things were? “Missing the old ways” seems to be a common theme among…
Tag: observation
A Month of Sundays: Book Review
I went to see a friend recently and we talked about a new book that just came out, A Month of Sundays: Elevating Self-Care to Soul Care, by Davia William Stevenson, a clinical counselor. She explains how each of these topics affects our self and soul care. Under five section headings, Physical, Mental, Relational, Emotional…
The Tale of Two Apartments
Elle and Rose were neighbors in the same apartment complex of nearly 300 dwellings. Management announced that every resident would be going through a mandatory renovation that would take one, possibly two days per unit. Both women were initially upset because of the inconvenience of having to pack up their belongings. However, rather than having…
Adjusting to the Compass
How do you know when it’s time to move? Either from one apartment to the next, to another city, or even across the country? After thirty-nine moves, I’m very tuned into YHVH on this. Five years ago this month, my husband began talking it up about moving. We even went to a place or two….
The Mitzvah Season
Surrounding various dates on the calendar are opportunities to perform random acts of kindness. In some cultures these are mandates to be kind to others, look out for the widow and the orphan and those less fortunate. What sorts of things fulfill this mitzvah? November reminds me of my days as a single mom with…
Disappearing Act vs. Finishing well
I once took a job that lasted about three hours. My trainer showed me the ropes and because of my restaurant experience, left me to do my job. Suddenly overwhelmed with the knowledge that this was a really bad fit. I began planning my escape. Instead of waiting to the end of my shift, I…
Betwixt and Between
A new friend and I were recently discussing the place of in-between, where what is coming is not yet here. At what point does it become real? At inception? Conclusion? Or somewhere along the way? In the waiting it often looks like nothing is happening, especially if forward motions isn’t visible to the naked eye….
Getting here from there
Most of us have found ourselves working next to someone that really grates on every single nerve. I’d love to tell you how I rose above it. I’m ashamed to say, I can be as petty as the next person. I’ve failed miserably, which is why I’m sharing this with you. I had been in…
Adventure Day: A Dare
There was a point in my life where we moved a lot. This meant new states, unfamiliar businesses and unique opportunities. In a new environment, some basics need to be figured out pretty fast: where to get groceries and gasoline, the nearest grocery to get supplies and the most direct path to work. In my…
Destined for Success
One year in late winter, I decided to try sprouting an avocado pit. In some ways, this seemed doomed to fail at the outset. For one thing, avocados are tropical plants. Currently, it’s the coldest season in the Midwest. The best light happened to be in the kitchen in front of the sliding glass doors….
Design Your Own Life
Spring does strange things to people and I’ve been on a cleansing and purging kick. These deep digs turn up funny things. I found a box of rejection slips—from lit journals, anthologies, magazines, and various other publications. It’s like I couldn’t take no for an answer. One “yes” every six months kept me going, and…
The Beginning is Here
When YeHoVaH brought back those that returned to Zion, We were like unto them that dream.2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter,And our tongue with singing:Then said they among the nations,YeHoVaH has done great things for them.3 Jehovah has done great things for us,Whereof we are glad.4 Turn again our captivity, O YeHoVaH,As the streams in the…
Juli Ocean 