Our neighborhood community garden has a pumpkin patch full of ripe, multi-colored, multi-sized gourds. I marvel at the variety of shapes in this garden yet each different fruit seems to occupy its own distinct place to make the garden a beautiful, restful place. There are small, white gourds with deep ridges lying next to large, deep-yellow colored pumpkins marked with misshaped forms. Long-necked gourds snuggle next to orange, perfectly round pumpkins that resemble artist-shaped displays. Surprisingly, this mismatched arrangement reveals…..
A Generational Saga My recent book of fiction ‘Ripples in the Generations’ is a generational saga that explores the delicate process of blending the heart-lifting joy of a life-long high school friendship with a soul-searching genetic relationship. Two factions of the Henry family share a common interest; Williams’ indiscretions, yet each is unaware of just how much they have in common. The next generation of William’s family share his DNA, but William has divided his legacy. Even though this novel…..
Why don’t people report abuse? Three basic reasons SOCIAL PROOF – Victims decide about reporting or revealing abuse when they feel safe about the reporting. They do this after they watch to see how others are treated when they report. They then ask themselves. Will I be treated like that when I disclose my abuse? PERPETRATORS – This defines someone who initiates, continues, fulfills or enacts a crime and continues the code of silence. A perpetrator usually has a set…..
When was the last time you gave something to someone that was good for their health? We all read information about how to keep ourselves healthy – it’s usually while we’re reading through a magazine article in the waiting room of a doctor’s office or when a friend says to us “Ya just gotta read this great article about vitamins.” But do we actually sit down with someone we care for and talk about health issues or share our time…..
‘Having a capacity for adaptive change‘ is Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary definition for malleable. This remolding can be accomplished either by beating with a hammer or intentional pressure from an internal force. However, both of these methods require that the shape being changed is flexible, elastic, fluid, adjustable and adaptable. Gee! That sounds like a shapeshifter. Yet everyone can do it. It simply takes desire, planning, and routine. Sounds easy I know but these 3 steps are the basis of any change,…..
While driving I noticed an unattended bicycle lying on a public sidewalk. The cycle was discarded along the side of a busy public street. A well-worn black baseball hat hung from the handlebars and the dirty strap of a battered red water bottle languished on the bike’s universal bar. This bike had a story. My nursing instinct urged me to approach to see if the rider had fallen and was lying nearby on the pavement in need of help. But…..
A variety of talents and abilities are needed to maintain a healthy body. Systems working together maintain homeostasis ensuring a disease-free body. Your lungs breathe, your blood flows, your heart pumps, your veins and arteries integrate fluid throughout your muscles which in turn deliver movement energy to all parts of your body. You move, you think, you breathe, you digest, you interact – you’re an integral part of the world. Integrating these individual talents into a cohesive team is also…..
BACK AND FORTH, UP AND DOWN, SIDE TO SIDE – WHAT TO DO? Sometimes life is mixed up. Jumbled-up seems to be the theme of the day. Disorganization follows everywhere even into our thoughts. So what do we do? We understand that being in the throes of adjusting our lives is a central theme of life. When we look at nature adjusting is a central theme. Clouds adjust to the weather, temperature adjusts to the position of the sun, birds…..
By the time you’re 2 years old, your environment has already influenced your developing brain. The message that both early stress and loving tactile interaction affects a child’s brain is nothing new (DiscoverMagazine.com5/2018). When you feed your precious newborn hold them and look into their eyes – don’t lay them on the couch and prop up the bottle with a baby blanket, it’s important! Developmental research shows that having one or more caring adults in a child’s life increases the…..
Co-hosting with James Kelly the syndicated radio talk show “Aspects of Writing” that is devoted to showcasing writers, authors, illustrators, visual arts, and creative composition gives me an opportunity to meet professionals in these fields. Recently we were privileged to host 4 distinguished guests who offered an exciting glimpse into the arena of creative writing and graphic design. These award winning creators share their unique talents with not only the general public but individual children. You may often spot them…..
Can leaders, ingrained in the digital age, acquire the appropriate social graces? Social graces, according to (Artful Thinkers, 8/2017) current articles is a collection of skills that we use to politely interact in social situations. These graces congeal into etiquette that is universally accepted as proper protocol within our culture. In other words, it’s hearing what isn’t said. Using these intangible skills are invaluable in building long-term, profitable relationships. So important are these social graces that they intermingle with the…..
As an RN with 35 years of hands-on experience, I publish with a focus on health and wellness. This posting will have a slightly different twist. I will talk about IPV: intimate partner violence. This describes anyone who experiences violence at the hands of a spouse or partner. An article in American Nurse Today (March 2017) describes this issue as having serious health consequences. Since IPV is physical or sexual violence or stalking and psychological aggression, including coercive acts, by…..
IMPRESSIONS, FIRST Entering a room with an expectant audience or speaking in a public forum presents an opportunity. Walking to the middle of the stage focuses attention. People often form a lasting impression within the first 3 seconds of viewing the presenter or person entering their field of vision. Our eyes, our mind, our past experience, our attitudes, our prejudices form an opinion -instantly. Before we have heard the subject matter or met the person being introduced our entire physical…..
Civility is described as: a polite act or expression (Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus). In today’s society this idea seems to have taken on a character of it’s own. Wouldn’t it be nice if courtesy and civility were interchangeable. It could be our calling card. We could be kind to people that we meet and be sociable at the same time. Each person who met us would believe that we valued their opinion and truly wanted to spend time with them……
Ripples of information float through health and medicine today like waves in a still pond. Each brings with it a new bit of news heralding some discovery which will give us a longer life or a brighter future. The key for a health-conscious consumer is to decided what is fact and what is opinion. According to the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus – fact: is the quality of being actual; something that exists. That is very different from – an…..
Attending the authors showcase at a local library yesterday was an exciting event. Friends of the Library, writers groups, local arts councils, big box retails and over 70 local authors were all present to make the day a roaring success. The project was partially funded by the Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. This means that “all hands were in” to sponsor this celebration of local acknowledgement of writing talent. This brings up the question. Does anyone…..
The choice was easy, just tell the truth. She was a good person – didn’t lie or steal. The truth was known to her. She even knew all of the details. There was no mystery to the story. Everything was in plain sight. It would be a good thing. Her conscious fell heavy. Bearing her soul meant that her lifelong, best friend would be convicted of a horrible crime and probably be sentenced to death. No one had actually confronted her…..
The concept of truth is something that causes me to pause. It is an idea that permeates every aspect of society. Whether we talk about advertising, friendships, legal issues, promises, or just everyday discussions, truth seems to be a precious commodity. The issue resembles the tap root of a great oak. When the root system of a healthy tree is based is solid, firm soil its’ branches reach forth toward the warm sun and send out new growth which, in turn…..