On our trip to Israel, we saw lots of walls—torn down walls, damaged walls, still-intact walls, rebuilt walls, walls to keep in, walls to keep out, and sacred walls. As I scan through all my pictures, and see various walls, I think about the walls we erect in our lives. Following are some thoughts: Protective […]
Pilgrimage
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to Israel. The sights, sounds, smells, food, culture, and history bombarded our senses and overloaded our brains. Information poured at us with little time to absorb or process, somewhat akin to drinking from a fire hose. And yet, what we saw and experienced is etched on […]
What Will You Do with 2023?
Some people approach a new year with uncertainty and dread, fearing what is ahead rather than viewing a new year as a blank, white screen, or tablet, on which to craft a fresh story. A new year is refreshing, full of possibilities and hope. You can choose what you will do with the year ahead, […]
5 Positive Steps for the New Year
With the close of another year, do you look back with joy, or are you happy to view 2022 only briefly in the rearview mirror? Personally, I am happy to bid farewell to a year of uncertainty, caregiving, surgery, and grief. However, in sifting through the remnants of family members’ lives, I experienced joyous moments […]
Take Time
Last week, someone I don’t know took the time to email me, telling me how much an article I wrote five or six months ago meant to her. As a writer, knowing your words have a positive impact on others is a great gift. If this person hadn’t spent those few minutes writing a brief […]
Holiday Hospitality
What does holiday hospitality mean to you? Do you think of a spotless home, a lavish spread of food, fashionably dressed guests, elaborate party favors, and amazing gifts? What if, instead, hospitality conjured images of your home filled with family and friends, but also those who would otherwise spend the holidays alone. Recently, we hosted […]
Uncovering Blessings in Hard Things
In recent months, I have spent lots of time sorting, cleaning out, and throwing away at my maternal grandparents’ home, where two of my aunts also lived. It’s been an arduous task going through the remnants of multiple lives. Sifting through photos and other memorabilia has also been emotionally overwhelming at times. But as I’ve […]
5 Ways to Find Peace Amid the Hectic Holiday Hustle
The hectic holiday hubbub is upon us. Can you feel your stress level mount amid traffic snarls, crazy drivers, impatience, and displays of anger? This is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but often, the real reason for the season is overshadowed by too much noise, hustle, and busyness. Following are […]
Year-Round Thankfulness
When you think of giving thanks, do you imagine a Thursday in November with family, gathered around an overflowing table? Or perhaps you envision endless football on TV, the making of Christmas lists, and plans for marathon shopping sprees. But shouldn’t Thanksgiving be more than one day a year? Among the definitions of “thankful” are […]
An Empty Seat at the Table
This year, our family Thanksgiving will be different. This year, we’ll have an empty chair at our table. This year, a beloved family member, my aunt Marilyn, our “Chinkie,” who graduated to heaven in July, will be absent from our Thanksgiving table. All my life, she was present at every Thanksgiving. During my childhood, and […]