The Value of Connections

I just returned from teaching at the American Society of Journalists and Authors conference. This was the first in-person conference in two years. In addition to teaching, learning was a big part of the experience. Even greater than knowledge gained, were the connections made with other writers, editors, and agents. I met several first-time attendees […]

Continue Reading

The Value of Roots

Each year, thousands of people search for their roots through online sites or by other means. Some are looking for birth families; others are curious to know more about the lives and locations of past generations. Roots are important in nature and in our lives. Although we might survive, without a healthy root system, we […]

Continue Reading

Waiting When Others Aren’t

Each year, with the approach of Mother’s Day, I’m reminded of the waiting journey my mother and I had in common, infertility. My parents were married for ten years before I was born. My husband and I were married almost six years before our daughter was born. One of the hardest parts of waiting for […]

Continue Reading

Discovering Hidden Treasure

In recent weeks, I’ve been cleaning out the storage room and a few other areas in my childhood home. The task has been physically taxing and emotionally draining. The initial clean out happened almost ten years ago following my mother’s death, but there were some things that fell into the categories of “don’t know what […]

Continue Reading

Appreciate Now

To appreciate means to understand the worth, quality, or significance of; to elevate in value; to judge with heightened perception or understanding; to recognize with gratitude. Yet, often, we don’t appreciate what we have, or the people we know and love, until circumstance change. Following are thoughts on appreciating now: Tomorrow Isn’t a Given Early […]

Continue Reading