Mindful Self-Care: “Fancy Fridays”
A recent conversation at our house: Ed: Look at all that beautiful jewelry. It’s a shame you never wear it anymore. Me: I know. Sorry. I hardly comb my hair anymore. Sorry. Ed: I love you anyway….
Your Authentic Life: I Am an Imperfect Mother of an Imperfect Family
My perfect little grandson at birth Years ago, I published an essay about the anguish of our estrangement from a few of our adult children. I titled it My Big Happy Illusion, because one underlying issue in our particular estrangement story was my powerful illusion…
Friday’s Funny Job Description
Little Did I Know at Six Months what I Would Someday Be Called To Do Here’s a funny job description of my thirty-year career as a university professor: I talked in other people’s sleep (in my classroom).
“Don’t Get into the Rightness or Wrongness of It…Just Seek to Understand” – My Interview with Josh Coleman
I am pleased to bring you the thinking of today’s guest, Dr. Joshua Coleman. Josh is a psychologist in private practice in the San Francisco area, with particular expertise in family dynamics,…
Your Authentic Life: Why Not Follow Our ‘Calling?’
In Monday’s blog, I explored what it means to find our ‘calling,’ meaningful work that reflects our passion, skills, service to others, and above all, who we truly are. I cited the results of a recent Gallup poll, indicating that over 80% of college-educated Americans aspire to have…
Your Authentic Life: Finding My Calling — a Second Time
Dad on the left — Mom on the right On August 26, 1943 — the day after their wedding — my parents John and Clara Schmidt were at the Newton, Kansas train depot, on their way to South America. They were ‘called’ to serve as doctor and nurse for a new settlement of Russian…
My Disappointment – and Surprise!
Aberacadabera This week’s topic has been disappointment, and the yucky feeling we get when someone we care about says, “I’m disappointed in you.” I try to lighten my writing up a bit on Fridays, but lightness and disappointment don’t seem to go together all…
Personal Transformation: “I’m Disappointed in You”
My Father and I in 1970 Coming from people who are important to us, there are very few words that can wound us as deeply as, “I’m disappointed in you.” The words take me back to a rainy cold day in July 1970, in…
“Why Do We Want What We Want?” – My Interview with Jackie Shannon Hollis
I am pleased to bring you the thinking of today’s guest, Jackie Shannon Hollis. Jackie is a writer, storyteller, speaker and the author of the memoir, This Particular Happiness: A Childless Love Story. The book…
The Diverse Faces of My ‘Now Normal’
One face of my ‘Now Normal’ is that of a serious author, being interviewed about my life and my writing. Another face of my ‘Now Normal’ is that of a silly Nani chasing my grandsons with a water hose. …