Dealing with Stressors
For the past two weeks, I've been dealing with a couple of specific stressors; one is a recurring cause of stress (more on that later), and the other was (I hope) a one-time event.The first event that caused me considerable stress was one I thought I was prepared...
Cultivating Joy
Warning, personal disclosure ahead! Although I've always found great happiness in specific events -- almost any time spent with my family, watching a favorite television show, reading a good book, etc -- I have never been what you might call a "joyful" person....
Personal Safety (part 2)
Personal safety options are varied; opinions on personal safety options are even more wide-ranging. My opinions are purely that -- my personal opinions based on my own experience, knowledge, and situation. I realize many will disagree with what I write today and...
Personal Safety (part 1)
Even though my husband worked shifts and was gone overnight many nights throughout our almost-25-year marriage, I was never actually worried or fearful of my or the children's safety. We lived in average, middle-class neighborhoods where, I know, crime can and does...
The Best Laid Plans
The English teacher in me must first explain that the familiar phrase "the best laid plans" is actually a misquote of Burns' poem "To a Mouse"; the line actually reads "the best laid schemes". I probably shouldn't perpetuate the misquote, but "plans" works better...
An Anniversary after All
Anniversary: a date that is remembered or celebrated because a special or notable event occurred on that date in a previous yearEven though the Merriam-Webste online dictionary doesn't specify that the "special or notable event" must be a positive one, when I hear...
Ahhhh . . . Sweet Affirmations
Before I go any further, I'm going to break one of the rules of blogging as handed down by a couple of blogging gurus whose blogging material I've read. According to the experts, a blogger should never apologize for not posting for a few days or even longer;...
Guilt
Guilt. Is there anyone alive who hasn't felt their stomach churn and their face burn with it? Of course, sometimes guilt is well-deserved. Bringing work issues home and then snarling at a loving spouse, yelling at the kids, and kicking the puppy should make a...
With Apologies to Tolstoy
What is it Tolstoy said about unhappy families? "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Perhaps Tolstoy is right -- I don't know. But the exact opposite is true about the books -- both fiction and nonfiction -- I've read in...
Finding My Voice
Last week, I received an email from a dear friend; in it, she responded to my earlier emailed request to please give me feedback as she reads my posts. With her permission, I'll share the 2 points she raised.First, she noted that I may be limiting my scope and,...