“Tears are words that need to be written.” ~Paulo Coelho It was lovely to see you today. I haven’t seen you in such a long time. So much has happened since the last time we saw each other. You asked me how I was. I politely replied, “I’m fine” and forced a smile that I […]
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” ~Pablo Picasso I was fifty-two when I found my purpose. I wasn’t even looking. It literally just smacked me upside the head. That’s a funny thing about life. It throws things your way, and you either grab […]
“Some people are in such utter darkness that they will burn you just to see a light. Try not to take it personally.” ~Kamand Kojouri The saying goes that money makes the world go round, but of course that’s not true. It’s our relationships. How we relate to other people and how they relate to […]
Trigger warning: This post deals with an account of suicide and euthanasia. “Kindness can be its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.” ~Eric Hoffer The first time I sat with a person contemplating suicide, I had no idea until it was too late. I think about her often. She was a stranger. […]
“You just never know what someone is dealing with behind closed doors. No matter how happy someone looks, how loud their laugh is, how big their smile is, there can still be a level of hurt that is indescribable. So be kind. Even when others are not, choose to be kind.” ~Andrea Russett Everyone is […]
“It’s easy to judge. It’s more difficult to understand. Understanding requires compassion, patience, and a willingness to believe that good hearts sometimes choose poor methods. Through judging, we separate. Through understanding, we grow.” ~Doe Zantamata “Why doesn’t he say something?” I was sitting at the dinner table with my partner and friends. Everyone was interacting […]
“This is a moment of suffering. Suffering is part of life. May I be kind to myself in this moment. May I give myself the compassion I need.” ~Kristen Neff Your best friend just lost her husband and her mother within five days of one another. Her husband was terminally ill. Her mother was eighty-six. […]
“An enemy is a person whose story you do not know.” ~Irene Butter We all know the status of our currently hostile nation—it feels as though you can’t make it through a single speech or read an article or engage in a conversation with friends that doesn’t somehow touch on polarizing topics or divisive politics. […]
“The cry we hear from deep in our hearts comes from the wounded child within. Healing this inner child’s pain is the key to transforming anger, sadness, and fear.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh We all have a wounded inner child. Recently, my wounded child was hurt that my sister hadn’t called or texted me for several […]
“You can never know how many lives you’ve touched, so just know it’s far more than you think. Even the tiniest acts of love, kindness, and compassion can have a massive ripple effect. You have made the world a better place, even if it doesn’t seem like it.” ~Lori Deschene I never had trouble sleeping […]
