Several weeks ago, our pastor began his sermon with a story about pushing the limits on his gas gauge. He went on to equate the story with times we push ourselves too far and end up running on empty. I’m there…running on empty. The first half of this year has been non-stop, with very few […]
Moving Forward When Your Fizz is Gone
Last week, I opened a diet ginger ale bottle and didn’t hear the familiar hiss. I poured the soda anyway and saw no bubbles. You guessed it; the carbonation was gone, and the drink was flat. Have you encountered times in your life when you feel like your “fizz” is gone? Like a flat soda, […]
Finding Refreshment in a Frenzied World
Do you remember crowded stands at ballfields where a snack and drink were referred to as “refreshments”? In our fast-paced, frenetic world, aren’t we all in need of a little refreshment? Refreshment is defined as the act of refreshing; the state of being refreshed. This week, our family is enjoying a time of refreshing, togetherness, […]
Why Self-Care Isn’t Selfish
Anyone who has served as a caregiver for any length of time knows the challenges, one of the greatest being self-care. When your focus is on someone else, you put off seeing your own needs and attending to them. Don’t be fooled into thinking caregiving applies only to the aging. Mothers, spouses, siblings, and friends, […]
Mining Dreams for Insights
For the last few months, I’ve dreamed colorful dreams and remembering those dreams the next morning. Sometimes, those dreams linger all day and pick up again that night. I’m sure abundant research exists about why we dream and what dreams mean, but here is my take on how dreaming affects me. Dreams Change Perspective We’ve […]
On Waiting Well
I am experiencing a time of waiting—for my foot to heal, for the day I can drive again, for the return of writing inspiration, and waiting bedside with a loved one, who is hovering between earth and eternity. I should be able to wait well. After all, I wrote a book on life pauses […]
Post-Surgery Reflections
Last week, I finally had foot surgery after putting it off for years. Now that I’m on the other side of the surgery, I’m thankful it’s over and wish I’d done it sooner. Following are thoughts on why we delay and the benefits of having a hard thing behind us: Causes for delay: Fear of […]
Responding to a Life Pause
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 […]
Navigating Life Pauses
Several years ago, my husband and I experienced one of those life pauses that materialize when least expected. It came with a second job loss in less than a year in a topsy-turvy economy. The first loss felt like a hiccup. The second was more significant. As weeks lengthened into months with minimal prospects and […]
How to Survive When You’re Juggling Too Many Balls
If you’ve ever watched jugglers, you know they are dealing with more balls than they have hands for, and eye-hand coordination and timing are key to their success. The goal, of course, is to keep the balls in motion without dropping any. Sometimes, life feels a whole lot like a juggling act. Just when you […]