The Sweet Independence of Solitude
I’ve always appreciated wide open spaces — the chance to be alone in nature, to listen to birds, watch an osprey hunt fish, and breathe deeply in the quiet, far from human activity. Lots of room. Crowded places where people push their way to the front of the line, talk loudly on their phones, or […]
Do You Like Scary Movies?
Some people love horror: terrifying movies, distressing books, and shocking television shows. I asked my friend, Adrienne, who likes such things. “Why?” “Oh, I get such a rush,” she said. “It’s a thrill to confront my fear from a safe distance.” She clapped her hands. “Besides, it isn’t real.” “I think I understand, but I […]
Hitting A Wall
In the days of covered wagon travel, pioneers ventured west with hopes and dreams of the fertile lands of California and Oregon. It’s estimated that 1 in every 10 emigrants died on the Oregon Trail. Diseases like dysentery and smallpox claimed some. Drownings during river crossings took out others. Falls from wagons. Accidental shootings. Weather. […]
Change: Constantly Having a New Growth Experience
A woman with short hair, highlighted with blond and gray streaks, touched my arm. “Sharon?” Startled, I pulled my arm away from her. Who was this stranger? I peered into her blue eyes, trying to recall when I might have met her. “Sharon, it’s me. Yvonne.” Yvonne? I don’t know any Yvonnes. Was she some […]
Peace Begins When Expectations End
Several years ago, when my husband and I were planning our trip to Tasmania, we decided to splurge by spending a night at an expensive resort. It was to be a rest day from travel, hiking, and touring. The online photos of the place were gorgeous. The room we picked was surrounded by lush forest […]
FEAR: Forget Everything and Run
A few years ago, I participated in active shooter training, which taught me strategies for recognizing potential threats and reacting appropriately. Having spent years in the mental health field, I thought I’d do okay. However, I was caught off guard when the training suddenly changed. For most of the day, we were seated in a […]
Better Together
One person can do a beautiful thing: draw an exquisite portrait, compose a song, write a book, run a marathon, climb a mountain, invent a cure. Small groups of people can also do amazing things, such as the grassroots movement, known as the Peaceful Revolution, that contributed to the fall of the Berlin Wall, or […]
In the Palm of My Hand
Each of us has a unique palm print, and the palm print of one hand does not resemble the other. Even identical twins have different palm print patterns. These lines, ridges, and creases are formed during fetal development, and the principal palm flexion lines and ridges remain relatively unchanged throughout life. Palmistry, the practice of […]
The End of Things
I have a friend, Monica, who only reads books with “happy endings.” She says, “Why read sad books? Life is hard enough without reading about some tragedy.” Fair enough. Ending: the point where something ceases to exist; the conclusion; nearing a time when something is reaching completion; the opposite of beginning. I hear my friend […]
Freedom is Priceless
Today is Canada Day, a national holiday in Canada, honoring the birth of Canada as a country when the British North American Act came into effect in 1867 (originally called Dominion Day). Interestingly, Canada didn’t gain complete independence from the British Parliament until 1982, and the O Canada song didn’t become its national anthem until […]
Plastic and More Plastic
I noticed litter strewn across many interstate highways on a recent road trip. Since the Pandemic, it seems trash alongside roadways has increased. Are there more drivers who just throw their garbage out the window? On one particular thoroughfare, I recorded the items I could see through my car window: plastic bottles, fast food wrappers, […]
Truth and Lies
Before a witness testifies in a jury trial, they must take an oath, the promise “to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth…” According to the Bible, Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” The Buddha is quoted as saying, “Three things cannot be […]
A Brave New World
The movie Her (2013) explores the concept of one having an intimate, meaningful relationship not with a human being but with AI. Ex Machina (2014) also explores this, with spine-chilling consequences. When I watched those films, the idea seemed far-fetched. However, a bit more than a decade later, it doesn’t at all. AI is rapidly […]
May Flowers
The month of May is notable for many things, including Mother’s Day, May Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Memorial Day. It also represents when flowers start to bloom where I live: tulips, lilacs, iris, geraniums, columbine, pansies, roses, peonies, bleeding heart, lily of the valley, and the beautiful magnolia blossoms. It’s like a parade of […]
Writing: Hobby or Career?
Is writing a hobby or a career? One probably doesn’t have to worry about monetary value if it’s a hobby. If it’s a career, you need to. Right? Can it be both? Most writers don’t make enough money from their writings to support themselves. For example, they keep a well-paying job, be it a college […]