My little town has been blessed with an independent book store on Main Street. The Old Town Open Book had a soft opening last Friday. They sold 1700 volumes in six hours! The store was so busy it couldn’t even close on time; the local online paper reported the store stayed open an additional 90 … Continue reading A Book By Any Name
So Noted: Grab a Pen and Take Some Notes
I’m a note-taker. When I attend a meeting, presentation, or class, you can bet that pen and paper go with me. When I teach a class, within the first five minutes I am recommending note-taking to my students. Studies show that we’re more likely to have long-term retention of new information if we write notes … Continue reading So Noted: Grab a Pen and Take Some Notes
An Obsession is Born
Since I don’t watch the news or live television, I’m not the person to turn to for pop culture information or the latest show business buzz. But I couldn’t avoid seeing the online much-ado about Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper singing their nominated song Shallow live at the Oscars. So I pulled up YouTube and … Continue reading An Obsession is Born
Color My World
My spot of Virginia had an end-of-winter snowfall on Friday. The temperature was just right to produce picture-perfect snow; every single tree branch and bush was deliciously and thickly coated in white. The soggy marsh that’s supposed to be my yard was painted a pristine pearl except, of course, for the tracks of Mr. Fox … Continue reading Color My World
Giving Up or Taking On…or Both?
The beginning of Lent marks the season of getting ourselves ready for Easter. Many Christians view it as a time of increased or contemplative prayer. Others consider it a space to pare down the busyness of our lives and minds to focus on our faith. According to LifeWayResearch.com, most Americans who observe Lent do so … Continue reading Giving Up or Taking On…or Both?
Show Me The Money…Or At Least How To Handle It
When my husband and I have finished a restaurant meal and the server attempts to hand my husband the check, he has a standard response as he gestures toward me: “Please give it to the Vice President of Finance.” My husband is perfectly capable of reviewing the bill, calculating a tip, and pulling out a … Continue reading Show Me The Money…Or At Least How To Handle It
Rock, Scissors, Paper
The television show featured a young woman having an argument with her dad. The father was urging her to write down some important information. Her reply was something like this, “My generation doesn’t write stuff down. By posting photos and videos, we SHOW what we’re doing, where we’re going, what we like.” Okay, I get … Continue reading Rock, Scissors, Paper
An Abstract Kaleidoscope of Goodness
The public speaking homework I had assigned my leadership students ended up being more difficult than it sounded. From a list of sixty characteristics of an effective leader, each student was to choose just three and in a class presentation, convince the rest of us why their three chosen attributes were the most vital ones. … Continue reading An Abstract Kaleidoscope of Goodness
A Vision of American Womanhood
If I ever wanted to be someone else, it was when I was twelve. My mother must have cut my poker-straight hair for my school picture that year. It’s uh, how should I describe it, a bit uneven. Not just the bangs but all over. My face was bare of makeup, of course. I’m wearing … Continue reading A Vision of American Womanhood
The Opposite of Hoarding
My friend Pat and I talk about downsizing material goods and “getting rid of stuff” nearly every time we’re together. Pat says she tries to follow Marie Kondo’s advice to keep only the items that spark joy. But, she adds, there’s a whole bunch of joy-sparking going on at her house. Pat and I are … Continue reading The Opposite of Hoarding