I just spent a day and a half out of town with a dear friend and writing partner . We cut our planned time together because of family needs, but we enjoyed (while also doing some meaningful work) every minute of it. This time together got me thinking more about friends.
I have had many acquaintances. As the spouse of an ambitious upper-level university administrator, moving geographically to attain the next level position and providing care for my family while trying to pursue my own professional career required most of my energy and time. As we age, we typically increase
Some places just feel like home. I didn’t know that until I left home. I was born and grew up in central North Carolina, so it is also my first home. Specifically, the woods of central NC have always felt like home to me. As a child in a
Just at dawn the other day I was running on a paved trail, feeling the burdens of my responsibilities and commitments and mulling them over in my mind, seeking some reassurance I was where I needed to be, doing what I needed to be doing (yes, of course, going on
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you may have noticed by now that I integrate my reading into my reflective practice. Reading is part of my reflective practice and of course something I do for fun. For fun, I am reading a book on horse training which
My morning reading and writing (pages) are part of my daily renewal. “(with) a profound tonic, with sanctuary and rest, we can prepare to go forth again.” This quote is from 365 Tao: Daily Meditations, a book I found in a little free library that I have been reading daily.
I have always enjoyed biographies and memoir. Probably memoir the best. In the back of my mind, I have held a tiny flame of an idea that I could write one. This flame is constantly kept small by negative thoughts. What’s so special about me? Who would care enough
You all know about my pages. As I recount my daily life, readings, listens, experiences and emotions, I find myself using the words, should, try, but and have to. I never use the word should in my professional writing because it sounds judgy and that is not appreciated by readers
I have been counting my “free days” since I learned about them. Free days are a beautiful notion. I read about them in Free Days with George by Colin Campbell. A free day happens when you spend it doing exactly what you want to do and doing it with who
I practice gratitude every day. I have a separate journal for it. I write a daily list of persons, places, things, situations I am grateful for. Gratitude practice is evidence based and supports mindfulness and presence, but it can also sometimes foster resignation, a belief that “I have so much,
“Writing to find my happiness, I find my happiness.” Julia Cameron The act of writing my pages helps me find myself and brings me a sense of peace by letting my thoughts and feelings “out” of my head. Morning pages, three of them are the brainchild of Julia Cameron in
“The answer to your problem could be something as simple as slow-down.” Charlotte Preval-Reed Do you know how many books and research studies I have read on the broad concept of Rest? Me either, because it is so many. If knowledge led to action, I would be the