Columns
December 2009
Embracing Life
Attitude of Gratitude
Eric Hoffer, writer and philosopher said, "The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings."Have you ever felt like everything in your life seemed to be going wrong and your... Read More
November 2009
Embracing Life
Get To vs. Have To
How much of your day do you spend doing things you have to do as opposed to the things you get to do?A teacher new to the school where I work clearly spends her life getting to do the things important to her. She taught... Read More
October 2009
Embracing Life
We Need Each Other
We need each other. We must understand our differences. We are one. My earliest memory of an individual accepting my weakness and helping me identify a potential personal strength occurred in an eighth grade chorus... Read More
September 2009
Embracing Life
Travel
Mark Twain said, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness."Twain's quote helped me to understand my intense desire to travel.Adventures outside of Florida were limited during my first... Read More
August 2009
Embracing Life
55
Double Nickels, Over-The-Hill, Senior Citizen -- however you choose to label this landmark anniversary of my birth, I survived five and one-half decades. Whoo-hoo, I am 55 years young!Age has never been an important... Read More
July 2009
Embracing Life
Anticipation -- Mind Poetry in Motion
Pretend you are a contestant on "$100,000 Pyramid." The host provides the following clues to help you determine the correct SUBJECT: (1) racing heart, (2) upset stomach, (3) insomnia, (4) sweating. Are you... Read More
June 2009
Embracing Life
Almost Mafia
If written, my father's autobiography will be entitled, "Almost Mafia." He declined my offer to be his ghostwriter, saying no one would believe his stories anyway. In fact, until a recent family reunion,... Read More
May 2009
Embracing Life
Tapestry of Life
Imagine for a moment how the threads of your life might look if displayed in a continuous loom illustrating your life from birth to present. Each of our woven stories is as unique and individual as our fingerprints.... Read More
April 2009
Embracing Life
Interstate 75
I ran back into the house to turn off the coffee pot. The one-minute delay may have saved my life. However, my momentary setback was, without a doubt, a divine intervention. God's message was a dramatic reminder... Read More
March 2009
Embracing Life
Jay Travis Jernigan, Expert at Extreme Spontaneity
When our best man decided our traditional wedding cake-cutting ceremony was too sophisticated, he intervened. Without hesitation, Jay Travis Jernigan smeared my husband and me with a sizable serving of the sweet treat.... Read More
February 2009
Embracing Life
Our Earth
Armed guards greeted us on a dark rural road in a third world country. God finally got my full attention. Regular readers know that simple sublime messages usually answer my colossal questions. This time it was... Read More
January 2009
Embracing Life
Am I meek - or weak?
Possessing the assertiveness and self-confidence required to reach my professional potential has been a lifelong challenge. Colleagues continue to encourage my advancement and have faith in my capabilities. Recently, a... Read More
December 2008
Embracing Life
True Colors
Fall festivities were in full swing the day I cast my ballot. Carved pumpkins sat on front porches, while spider webs swayed in the damp breeze and "The Woman in Black" played at The Hippodrome State Theater.... Read More
November 2008
Embracing Life
Communion
My mother taught me the importance of communion even though we never went to church together. She died 21 years ago on Thanksgiving, which was her favorite day of the year. As we approach the upcoming holiday season, I... Read More
October 2008
Embracing Life
Hidden Drawers
My husband only wanted a drawer. Last spring, I embarked on a much-needed home improvement project. Since our children are happily married, it was time to replace the faded furnishings, flowered wallpaper and funky... Read More
September 2008
Embracing Life
Making Memories… With Mollusks
As I write my column, Labor Day is fast approaching. Soon the summer of 2008 will be history. War wounds from an army of insects (ants, mosquitoes and no-see-ums) who ambushed my skin with their poisonous ammunition are... Read More
August 2008
Embracing Life
The Heart of a Horse
Tattered tack is all that remains from my years when owning horses brought me indescribable joy. I really should sell my saddle, as its seemingly sole purpose is to serve as a perch for my cat to peer out of the garage... Read More
July 2008
Embracing Life
Negative Detoxification: the 21-day challenge
I accepted the challenge. On May 4, 2008, my horoscope read, “Rise above the mundane. You don’t need to listen to stories of frustration, alienation and desperation. It isn’t that problems will... Read More
June 2008
Embracing Life
Feeling Forgiveness
“To err is human; to forgive, divine.”The above excerpt from “An Essay on Criticism,” written by Alexander Pope in 1711, remains a timeless popular proverb nearly three centuries later. It has... Read More
May 2008
Embracing Life
The Crack House
My son’s salvaging habit started small, but steadily grew. Jeffrey learned from the best, Uncle Jack.Uncle Jack was always looking for a good deal. Classified ads, flea markets and garage sales were venues to find... Read More
April 2008
Embracing Life
Lists
Agendas, calendars, itineraries; lists: address, e-mail and telephone number; birthday, grocery and prayer. Itemizing, prioritizing and scheduling seem to have taken over my existence. Meeting deadlines and managing... Read More
March 2008
Embracing Life
Raising the Sail
Miracles occur daily. Ramakrishna, an Indian saint, said, “The winds of grace are always blowing, but you have to raise the sail.”Raising my sail was a slow process. For years I crawled through life, wrapped... Read More
February 2008
Embracing Life
Trust versus Love
Trust versus love — two powerful components of human relationships. Which is the most important? What an interesting thought to ponder in February, the time of year when Hallmark cards and Valentine hearts are... Read More
January 2008
Embracing Life
Feeling Forgiveness
The above excerpt from “An Essay on Criticism,” written by Alexander Pope in 1711, remains a timeless popular proverb nearly three centuries later. It has taken me more than five decades to fully grasp the... Read More
December 2007
Embracing Life
Kindness, My New Year’s Resolution
Kindness simply means being considerate, sympathetic and warmhearted. Humans cannot purchase benevolence, but can practice and perfect their ability to contribute to the needs of others. Mark Twain said, “Kindness... Read More
