As a former classroom teacher and a parent, this post has been germinating for quite some time. It has been difficult to know how to put into words these thoughts and experiences as some of them, quite frankly, are still quite painful to remember. But if it can help even one it will be well… Continue reading recognizing a toxic school environment
It has been exactly one year since I began the ACA recovery process. This has been a packed year that started with someone guiding me to these "Laundry Lists," which continue to bring so much clarity. As I have said before, this process is NOT linear, but it is more like a spiral, and in… Continue reading Dirty Laundry: Seeing myself in the ACA Laundry Lists
Image by Michael Breiva from Pixabay A poem inspired by Emily Dickinson's Tell All the Truth but Tell it Slant. In honor of the feast day of Saint Martin. Bearer of Light If you have been named a bearer of light, Mind how you go about your sacred art. A lantern held up to the eyes is too… Continue reading Bearer of Light
Since my teen years, I have studied and been fascinated by personality typing, starting with the well-known Myers-Briggs and the increasingly prominent Enneagram. I have vascilated between telling myself that personality isn't important to thinking it is critical to our understanding of ourselves and others. In terms of Enneagram types, there is so much to… Continue reading How important is self-awareness? (Enneagram thoughts)
I first became acquainted with the term wabi-sabi years ago when I had the privilege of managing a one of a kind bookstore and art gallery. We opened up our space for events and classes and one such offering was a series on wabi-sabi art. It spoke to me deeply at the time on many… Continue reading wabi-sabi: pathway to joy
I started this blog as a reminder to myself that focusing on small living and internal health were the pathway to inner stability. I still believe this. If you would like to read how the title of the blog came about inspired by Emily Dickinson, you can find that here. But sometimes it is difficult… Continue reading just one: taking it literally
Years ago, I had the idea to put together a scrapbook of letters for my eldest son's 13th birthday. I asked people to share poems, letters, and meaningful advice for growing up. My favorite submission was the one his English teacher gave me. It was a well known poem, but new to me. And it… Continue reading Go placidly
The Soul selects her own Society --Then -- shuts the Door --To her divine Majority --Present no more -- Unmoved -- she notes the Chariots -- pausing --At her low Gate --Unmoved -- an Emperor be kneelingUpon her Mat -- I've known her -- from an ample nation --Choose One --Then -- close the Valves… Continue reading Unmoved
" As Lightning to the Children easedWith explanation kindThe Truth must dazzle graduallyOr every man be blind — " ~Emily Dickinson Before I start this personal account of my very limited experience of the divine, I want to state clearly that I am not a theologian. I have read a good amount of theology, but… Continue reading tell it slant (part 2) aka divine encounters at the dentist
Although it is practically impossible for me to choose a favorite Emily poem, one of my top ten would have to be "Tell All the Truth but Tell it Slant." Tell all the truth but tell it slant —Success in Circuit liesToo bright for our infirm DelightThe Truth's superb surpriseAs Lightning to the Children easedWith… Continue reading tell it slant (part 1) aka compassionate truth telling
It will probably come as no surprise to those who have read any posts here or that know me personally that I am a highly sensitive person (HSP if you want the acronym) as I suspect that some of you are. Being highly sensitive simply means that one experiences the world more intensely and it… Continue reading unsettled by beauty
I think by now many know that multi-tasking is a myth, at least on an intellectual level. But I recall the first time that I heard it via a friend sharing an article she had read in a science journal. I had always thought there was something slightly wrong with my brain in that I… Continue reading gathering loose threads
"To see things in the seed, that is genius." ~ Lao Tzu I am two months in to my focused project on Emily Dickinson and I have noticed a subtle but very real shift in my conciousness and daily habits, including my artwork. I don't yet call myself an artist, but I am a person… Continue reading art seeds
Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.” ~ Anne Lamott Sometimes when I take a step back to assess what I write about I worry that it might seem or even be self-serving. And there may be an initial phase (how long it lasts is… Continue reading on being a lighthouse
"In the domain of the absolute, in the domain of Limitless Love, circumstances are never twice the same. A particular case is never repeated. Every relationship of love between God and a particular man(or woman) is exceptional and unique..." Lev Gillet, The Burning Bush This week marks the end of a very significant year for… Continue reading an anniversary of sorts
When I was a freshman at a small Catholic University, a charming and wise professor, Brother Andrew, instructed us in Literature. As he was calling roll, he would pause on the name of an unresponsive student and say in his droll and unhurried way: "No Mary (or Carol, or Robert) here today?" No response. "Nobody… Continue reading Brother Andrew’s Universe
I'm nobody! Who are you?Are you nobody, too?Then there's a pair of us -- don't tell!They'd banish -- you know!How dreary to be somebody!How public like a frogTo tell one's name the livelong dayTo an admiring bog! ~Emily Dickinson This is one of Emily Dickinson's most well known poems. A bit of irony, perhaps, that a… Continue reading The nobodies and the somebodies
"Happiness is rarely absent; it is that we know not of its presence." ~Maurice Maternlinck I live on the east coast, and we do have a fair number of eastern bluebirds here. Still, it is not often that I have seen them up close. In fact I can count the number of times I have… Continue reading bluebird through my window
