For the love of a woman, or a girl

For the love of a woman, or a girl   I remember sitting in a conference hosted by Mark Gungar, who is a pastor/comedian/speaker whose main focus is talking about men’s brains and women’s brains and how we interact because of our wiring. He’s hilarious and mostly on point with his messages. I also remember sitting in this particular conference

Life at 3 miles per hour

I watch him as he sits at the kitchen counter watching woodturning videos on his phone. He is oblivious to the fact that I am staring at him… wondering what he thinks he is doing just sitting there. My mind races to all of the things he could be doing instead… in my frustration I can hear my heartbeat like

A shift of perspective – the lies our minds tell us as habit

A shift of perspective – the lies our minds tell us as habit   It smacked me midday, sitting in my office, doing this… writing.  Writing typically takes me to an inner happy place that lets the rest of my wandering mind have fun and consider lots of things, come to ah-ha’s, etc. (what? Not everyone has multiple awareness of

NO as a complete sentence

NO as a complete sentence   Once again she was validating why she was setting a boundary with a person who has no sense of boundaries. Every word she said after “No, I can’t because…” was just more fuel for the fire.    Just say “NO.” and be done with it, a friend told her.   “What she said,” I

Letting us off the hook – New Year message from LampLighter

Letting us off the hook – New Year message from LampLighter   I had been feeling it. The desire to just sleep, to rest, to drink hot beverages from a pottery mug, to write, to feel, to sit… and not much else.    I was on my feet of course, working, cooking, entertaining, all the holiday things… but this undercurrent

Endings and Beginnings

Greetings and welcome to a NEW YEAR!    How the heck did we get here?!   As a kid I remember complaining about how long things, like summer vacation would last. Yes, really. I was a farm kid so summer for many of my friends was biking around town, going to the lake to swim, hanging out with friends all

Your life in a nutshell – It is what you celebrate

Your life in a nutshell – It is what you celebrate   “Well, it’s not like it’s a big deal.” He said, in his usual tone when he doesn’t understand why I am saying what I am saying.   “I disagree,” I said, “this is your life happening. It deserves a picture.”   My husband and I were talking about

We take care of what we value…

We take care of what we value…   Her voice cracked as she spoke, “I don’t understand why they don’t treat me well.”  She was speaking, not of some random manager at work, or the barista at the local coffee shop, but of her own children.   We talked through the trials and tribulations of young adult children, how they

Don’t take time, Make time…

Don’t take time, Make time…   Making your List, checking it twice… are you on it? Tis’ the season for all the things!!! I love the holidays! All the busyness, gatherings, hosting, shopping, decorating, food, parties, I love it all! … Until I don’t. As a good extroverted introvert, (that means I was raised to engage well with others, but