don’t condemn the means

For a number of years, I had wanted to go to the Ralph Waldo Emerson House. I’d imagined myself walking on the same wooden floors, looking out the same windows, and touching the same walls, as this great man did so many years ago. I fantasied that some of his inspired thought might rub off…

Time to be real

Last night, we were having dinner with friends and the song, Somewhere Over the Rainbow*, sung by  Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, was playing.  The way that he sang and "mixed up" the original lyrics was so touching to me. I don't generally like re-makes of songs (or anything else) but his version was magic. He brought to life…

A new curiosity…what is right about me, you, it, them, Life?

The desire to psychoanalyze people; to figure out why they are the way that they are, why they do or say, or don't do or say, certain things, is quite possibly one of the most destructive habits that I've engaged in....and it used to be one of my favorite things to do. I cannot even…

Listening to ourselves

From what I have observed in life, it's the people who are (in that moment) most unhappy, that give the most advice to others....I see this pattern in myself also. Unhappy, frustrated people are chock-full of opinions and ideas about how others should live, change, and grow. I know a woman who buys boxes of…

Easy…does it!

The other day, I decided to switch back to my old style of running shoe. The minimalist shoes were just too cold for winter running. It's been almost 2 years since I made the change, and I couldn't even remember what brand of shoe I wore (but I used to save my last pair so…

Enduring Love

I went into the bathroom yesterday and saw this spider resting on the roll of toilet paper. I've seen him/her in the bathroom for a couple of weeks but this was a new place and so it surprised me. I've been reading a biography of Emerson and the author said of Emerson's mother, "She expected…

I really appreciate……

My birthday is at the end September and so I've been thinking about what I want to do. The weeks before Jack’s birthday, I’m also in planning mode. I love planning special days and trips, and this process makes the build-up to the day seem like a celebration too. Not so for Jack. The thought of…

these holy hands

Sometimes the language used to speak about the Divine, is antiquated and can get in the way of the deeper spiritual concept, but most writers of the 18th and 19th centuries, spoke of God in masculine terms. I have had to make peace with this and look beyond the limited use of language so I…

Friendship, and a Blue Moon Giveaway!

Years ago, I was very good friends with a woman (who I really liked a lot) but she wasn't the first person I'd call when something wonderful happened for me. She struggled with life and so other people's victories or happiness felt unfair, or even like an unkind barb to her. As much as I…

no more chalk eggs

A couple of months ago, I was invited to a gathering of some old friends. This involved a fair amount of travel on my end, but  I was still excited to go. One of the women, whom I had always felt a little uncomfortable around, was co-hosting the party, and little by little, I found…