The summer of 1973 and cousins, plus one (left to right): cousin Dale & his buddy, cousin Debbie and me
This is a great one to share with cousins you love!
For many of us, our cousins are woven into the childhood fabric of summer visits with extended family. These times together are the glue that binds generations. Now, as my children’s cousins from the U.K. are en route for long over-due time together, I’m thinking about the extraordinary importance of cousins…
Underdogs: the ones who are doubted, discounted, and looked at as long shots. But we are also the ones who persevere with determination and tenacity. We defy the odds. And as we forge on, this is where we find fuel for our unquenchable fire…
Read moreDad and I in the newspaper, circa 1968, the apparent era of bowl shaped haircuts.
Turn to someone you love and share your heart. Don’t wait. You can’t afford to because time is precious and brutally unpredictable. It can trick us into believing we’ll have more of it when sometimes we don’t. I remember when sharing my heart was difficult. And awkward. At first. But then everything changed….
Read moreI don’t usually do more than one post in a week right now because of the book I’m writing.. and because you don’t need to be bombarded. But I had to follow up with you on this let you know it’s gonna be okay. In fact, it might just be great…
Read morePhoto booth memories of a salvaged Mother's Day
Mother’s Day, that sometimes sweet, sometimes difficult, sometimes ironic teacher, isn’t always what we wish it could be. I’m about to face my first one without kids at home. Maybe you have tough circumstances, too. Whatever they are, take heart. We can still salvage Mother’s Day… and learn a little something in the process…
Read moreThe world will slap labels on you all day long and those can easily become your identity. Father. Mother. Wife. Husband. Job doer. Student. Shy. Outgoing. But underneath those worldly layers, who are you really? The answer is worth finding if you want to live your real life…
Read moreNia adventurers, Deb (left) and I, ready to embrace the new and unknown.
When you try something new, you get something new. My innner adventurer taught me this and I discovered that the payoff was profound...
Read moreBanish embarrassment. Ignore uncertainty. There's an adventurer waiting to be freed from your life's schedules and routine. Let her out and you'll remember how amazing a little excitement feels...
Read moreAlred Street Baptist Church, where Church happened without walking in the door.
A "chance" encounter with a stranger brought Church outside, to me, and delivered a powerful lesson for all of us. If you're open to it, you, too, will find yourself attending service when you least expect it....
Read moreWe all have those things we hate to do. Cleaning the bathroom. Doing tax prep. Going to the gym. But what if we do the things we hate with love? That's a powerful shift. Let me explain in this Extraordinary Minute...
Read moreSometimes appearances deceive us, leading us to think there is no hope when, in truth...
This profoundly important question deserves pause. Your answer is your guidepost, an indication of whether you're really living the life you want...
Here's a little departure from the typical spoils of Valentines Day with its foil-clad chocolates and bouquets of flowers. Let's go deeper than the eighteen-billion dollar commercialization of the heart. This one won't cost you a thing, but it is priceless. It is where true love starts....
Read moreBeware that the external storms you face don't silence the power of the storm within you. It's there, waiting for you to use it. Being the storm will change your life...
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Right??
Read moreAs night fell, I wondered how I'd make it home before the blizzard paralyzed my town for days, making my return impossible. No planes. No trains. No automobiles. Just four strangers united by a common goal: to beat the storm...
Read moreThe raw and deep sadness of grief can leave us wondering what to say and how to help someone who has suffered a heartbreaking loss. When you understand what's needed, it's a little easier.....
Read moreHappy New Year, Underdogs! I'm not sure who came up with the idea of creating annual resolutions, but we all know a one-and-done approach rarely works. Here's a better way to really reach those lofty goals you're setting.....
Read moreWe work so hard to make Christmas perfect. We run and rush and decorate and bake ourselves into a frenzy. But my old, worn nativity reminds me Christmas was never meant to be about perfection. Take a breather, just for a minute, and read on.....
(Photo used with permission from Mi Esperanza)
As you shop for those you love this Christmas, Hanukkah, holiday season, choose gifts that change lives.
No doubt you'll love the goodies I'm about to show you, but you'll love their lasting impact even more.....
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