If I had my life to live over again, I’d dare to make more mistakes next time. I’d relax…I would eat more ice cream…I would try to have nothing else — just moments…instead of living so many years ahead of each day. — Nadine Stair

It’s a common sentiment. Things people say when they’ve reached their golden years or the end of their days due to an unexpected illness. I should have…I wish I would have…life goes so fast…

We’ve heard that we should stop and smell the flowers, take time to be present, and enjoy the little things in…

‘Should’ is the modern woman’s shackle. It ties us to guilt and shame and “never good enough.” — Mary Gallagher

I have my list of personal ‘shoulds’ and I am sure you do too. I’ve carried them around like a ball and chain. They kept me bound to societal pressures, family expectations, religious rules, and my own unrealistic expectations of perfection.

Our ‘should’ lists can contain the hard stuff: I should call the friend I lost touch with; I should visit my mother-in-law; I should lose 35 pounds. …

I have a fascination with stories about hikers who tackle trails like the Appalachian Trail (the AT) or the Pacific Crest Trail (the PCT). I’ve read dozens of these stories from the famous memoir, Wild, by Cheryl Strayed to the story of Grandma Gatewood, the first woman to solo-hike the AT, to the entertaining account of Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods. I’m enthralled with the adventure, the dedication of these individuals, the humorous and touching stories they each bring to their walks, and the lessons they learn along the way.

One theme that repeats itself over and over…

It’s not that I don’t take advice — I do. It’s just that you don’t really offer the kind of writing advice I want.

It’s tempting, yes, to click on some of those headlines, but if I’ve learned one thing about writing it’s this: trust your instincts and use your own voice.

So I won’t emulate you, copy your voice, or name drop in order to get a reader’s attention (and give you more views). Unless you’re inspiring me to listen to my own muse or highlighting what the writing life is about for those of us who write because…

Since COVID-19 hit the world people have become interested (and even obsessed) with ways to stay healthy. Most of the focus has been on washing hands, sanitizing surfaces, and keeping a healthy distance from others. While those are fine strategies for reducing the risk of contracting a virus such as COVID, there are many other things that anyone can do to keep their immune system strong in fighting off the risk of catching a virus. The COVID vaccines are doing their part but we need to do our part in staying healthy as well.

What else can you do to reduce the chances of catching COVID or any other virus?

One thing I wish was discussed…

I’ve always loved the acronym that the teaching of Jesus creates in Matthew 7, where he talks about asking, seeking, and knocking:

Ask
Seek
Knock

I was meditating on this biblical teaching of Christ one day when the Holy Spirit reminded me that there was more…

After we ask, seek, and knock, sometimes there is an immediate response, sometimes waiting. But in the in-between, we are also called to expect a response, and then we must be willing to receive it.

Ask yourself not only if you ASK but if you are an ASKER

The Bible is filled with examples of people who took action in seeking to know God’s ways. …

“They” say everybody wants freedom. But what is freedom? How do you define it for your life? And what does it take to have it and keep it?

The secret to happiness is freedom and the secret to freedom is courage.” — Thucydides

Ok, now we’re getting somewhere. In order to find freedom, we have to risk something. We wouldn’t need courage unless risk was involved.

I recently took a risk and jumped back into full-time work. It’s something I thought I’d never do. I had finished (or so I thought) that part of my life burnt out and gun-shy…

As I walk around my neighborhood on Sunday evenings I can’t help but notice the reduced noise, the sense of calm, the different vibe on the streets from what I feel during the week. It’s palpable.

Paying attention, I notice the absence of things. No cars weaving through the streets and roundabouts, no children riding bikes, no grass cutting, or car washing, or shoppers bringing groceries in from the car. Just a peaceful sense of calm and stillness.

Why are Sunday evenings so quiet? I wondered aloud. And then I remembered: a day of rest changes everything.

The silence speaks…