"We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” ~ George Bernard Shaw Many of us have experienced great losses in the last two years. I lost two of my friends to cancer; several of my friends lost loved ones in unexpected tragedies; we’ve been isolated and experienced the worldwide chaos triggered by Covid. Under such circumstances to talk about fun may sound frivolous and out of touch. But I have good reason to believe joy is exactly what we need. Research Continue Reading
Pull Up a Thanksgiving Chair {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}
Years ago, when our children were still small, I used to put a large glass jar on the kitchen counter at the beginning of November. Beside the jar, I would put a basket filled with strips of paper and a pen. Our thanksgiving exercise consisted of writing one thing we were grateful for every day and placing it in the jar. On Thanksgiving Day, as we made the one-hour drive from our home to Nana’s house, I would read the entries, and we would pray together, thanking God for his many Continue Reading
The Best Recommendation You Can Make {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
As the holiday season and Black Friday in particular approaches, I'm reminded that we are by nature promoters. In the coming weeks, we're likely to tell family and friends about the brands we like, the best places to find deals, and the recipes we most recommend. Some of us will post online asking others for the best Christmas events in our area or rating our own experiences to give others insight into how they might spend their next festive weekend. We naturally share about stuff we like, Continue Reading
Try This Great Recipe for a Thankful Heart {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
Who loves a great recipe? My hand’s raised. Whether it’s our favorite foods or trying something new, recipes assist in the desired result. Even online dish-and-recipe photos pull us in with the promise of achieving success as the cook. Every Thanksgiving, I follow a special recipe to make my Grandmother Clarkston’s lemon pie. Yum. It’s my favorite dessert of all time. Then, as soon as I post pie photos on social media, family and friends, far and wide, ask for the recipe. Stirring up a Continue Reading
It’s Never Too Late for a Comeback {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}
History has many accounts of men and women whose work and influence changed the world, but whose beginnings were less than impressive. At the end of their lives, the list of accomplishments undeniably challenged their humble, often failing records as children, which in some instances followed them into adulthood. Winston Churchill, the man considered England’s most extraordinary prime minister of the 20th century, was not a bright student as a young man. He performed poorly in every subject Continue Reading
Expecting Change without Changing = Insanity {Recharge Wednesday}
“You know when you are sailing, and you lose the wind? What do you do? You try a different tack. You need to try a different tack with your son.” I hit the pause button on the episode of my favorite TV show and picked up a notepad. The powerful visual was too good to dismiss. It is true and I could certainly relate. I used to sail in a bay on the shores of South Brazil, and what the character described is precisely what often happened when I reached the open ocean with my small Laser boat. As Continue Reading
