This post is part of my cornerstone content, written years ago, updated for today, and still inspiring wisdom and deep understanding. Back a few years ago I was inspired by watching my son, Garrett, play a video game. (Pretty amazing, right?!) It’s an online game called Rune-scape in which players have to collect valuables, mine precious metals, meet characters, and kill zombies to move up to the next level. While all valuables, metals, and people will give you gold coins, killing zombies does not. Looking over his shoulder one afternoon, I asked my son what he got by killing the zombies, and he told me,Read More →

This post is part of my cornerstone content, written years ago, updated for today, and still inspiring wisdom and deep understanding. As I sit here typing, I feel the lizard (the ancient part of my brain that wants to keep me “safe”) pushing me to do it already. “Write the post, then you can be done. Just write it and then start working on the other 9 things on your to-do list. You have a lot to do today, so it’s time to get cracking.” Geesh, pressure much?! My lizard wants me to make it quick, something short and sweet. Although I could write something to getRead More →

This post is part of my cornerstone content, written years ago, updated for today, and still inspiring wisdom and deep understanding. One of my most significant faults is rushing. Rushing through my responsibilities, I’m always hurrying to get someplace else. Instead of being fully present, a lot of times, my head is already ten steps ahead of where I should be, and I miss out on the whole experience. It takes practice to become more mindful of my thoughts and actions. Gretchen Rubin talked about mindfulness on her Happiness Project blog. She writes “I’m trying to stay more deeply in the present moment, to savor the seasons and thisRead More →

This post is part of my cornerstone content, written years ago, updated for today, and still inspiring wisdom and deep understanding. We all have to let go of something at one time or another. Like that security blanket when we were little, the training wheels for our bike, or that ex who had completely different hopes and dreams, holding on to what is no longer meant for us creates a drag on our energy, slowing down our progress. Like a seedling breaking out of its shell, exposing ourselves to new and different elements can make us feel vulnerable, unsettled, and alone. Whether you call it enlightenment,Read More →

This post is part of my cornerstone content, written years ago, updated for today, and still inspiring wisdom and deep understanding. Many years ago, this word, quintessential, came up when Blake, Garrett, and I played “telephone” one evening. We had a blast despite there were only three of us! Blake would whisper something to Garrett, and then Garrett would come to whisper it to me. Since there were only the three of us, I would go ahead and say it out loud. Being the good boy he is, Garrett was playing the “right” way and repeated what he heard. Well, Blake decided this wasn’t nearlyRead More →

This post is part of my cornerstone content, written many years ago, updated for today, and still inspiring wisdom and deep understanding. This is the story of my first spiritual awakening, although I didn’t realize it at the time. I was married once before. My first husband and I were always looking for some way to make the other feel small. (Especially if there was someone else around to try to impress.) Communication between us was sarcastic, contemptuous, and cynical, and usually ended up with one or both of us sulking, at best. Fortunately, we divorced after only being married for a year. It was theRead More →

This post is part of my cornerstone content, written years ago, updated today, inspiring wisdom and deep understanding. When I was about 10 or 11 years old, I remember looking at my pile of gifts one Christmas morning. Santa had been generous that year, so there was quite a bit to carry into my room. Although it is embarrassing to admit, I specifically remember thinking, “Now” where am I going to put all of this crap?” Ugh. All of those gifts, all of the anticipation, and all of the joy turned to ‘crap” simply because I didn’t think I had enough storage space. I’m sharing thisRead More →

This post is part of my cornerstone content, written years ago, updated today, inspiring wisdom and deep understanding. For the past 20 years, right after Thanksgiving, I have started making about 50 eight-ounce boxes of English toffee and peanut brittle to send to family and friends. Using fresh ingredients and sticking to a well-practiced process, I sing along to Christmas music while standing in front of the oven and stirring for hours. The most important ingredient I add is love. Yes, that’s right, I stir in love. I know it sounds corny, but it’s true! The English Toffee takes 15 minutes of constant stirring and mustRead More →