Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
With the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II, much has been said about her commitment, work ethic, and love for family. As a 21-year-old, she pledged herself to a life of service, not knowing that she would step into the role of queen much sooner than anyone expected. Over her seven decades on the throne, […]
Although we usually associate loss with death, loss comes in many forms. Perhaps your loss is related to a broken relationship, a health situation, a life change, or some other challenge. No matter how loss comes, working through it takes time. Following are some tips to help you successfully navigate loss: Grieve Your Loss Sometimes […]
Last week, a dear friend encountered a monumental life pause when she found her husband on the floor, unresponsive. Three days later, she released him to heaven. We all experience times when life takes a sudden twist that slams us into a “road closed” sign and halts forward motion. Although perhaps not as unexpected and […]
In my search for tomatoes that taste like the kind my father used to grow in the backyard, I discovered the ones that come closest are what the grocery store labels “cluster tomatoes,” the kind with the vine still attached. Sometimes, strange things, like cluster tomatoes, speak to me about life. As I unloaded groceries, […]
In recent weeks, I have become increasingly aware of those in various types of pain. A friend and also a family member who are experiencing physical pain. Extended family members endured the emotional pain of watching the physical pain of a loved one’s final days on earth. Others suffer pain related to aging or chronic […]
Emotions are God-given and part of our humanness. They serve an important purpose by allowing us to express feelings and release tensions. Sometimes, we avoid emotions, suppressing them until we can experience them at a more convenient time. But often that moment never comes and those squelched emotions bubble to the surface unexpectedly and in […]
Last week, I had a conversation with a friend who is emerging from a difficult season of life. For over a year, she served as a caregiver for her father while also working. His death was traumatic. A week later, she was involved in a traffic accident that resulted in significant injuries. Now, she is […]
Several days last week, I saw a Ram Jack truck parked in the driveway of a neighbor’s house. Seeing that truck let me know the neighbors are having some sort of structural issues, probably with the foundation. In recent months, many of us have felt we were dealing with issues that rattled our foundations and […]
Although, in many ways, it feels as if COVID-19 pushed the pause button on our world, other life challenges are happening. People are still dealing with other types of illnesses and are hospitalized or in need of surgery. Some are grieving deaths unrelated to COVID-19, and others are recovering from weather events that happened earlier […]
Photo by Manan Chhabra on Unsplash Habits are like a train in motion. They start slowly, but gradually pick up speed until they are barreling through your daily existence at breakneck speed, blowing relationships, goals, and dreams aside. If anything gets in the way of your habit, you likely won’t be able to put on the brakes in […]