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    Encouragement

    Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside awakens. –Carl Jung

    Thanksgiving exists because the early settlers survived in spite of horrific circumstances. Famine, unknown disease, and fear of the natives were only a few of the obstacles they faced. When the Mayflower anchored at Plymouth Rock there were no hospitals, grocery stores, or hotels. Imagine how thankful they were just to see another day! That […]

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    I have been in love with Fall for as long as I can remember, even though I’m not so excited about the winter chasing its heels. It turns out I’m not alone. Autumn happens to be a favorite season for most people. All those pumpkin spiced lattes and wagon rides are not the only reason […]

    Bookmark

    Every month I have a date set in stone on my calendar. It’s one of those events I WILL NOT MISS. It all started more than five years ago when I meet someone named Janet at a conference three hours away from my home. We discovered, by accident, that we lived seven miles from one […]

    Bookmark

    I have a confession. After dreaming and scheming over what to do with a 10-acre property we purchased last year, we gave up hope of figuring out a decent plan. I even wondered if I should be put out to pasture.   What kind of investment or farming venture could we come up with that […]

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    The dreaded words for so many children and teenagers, BACK TO SCHOOL are everywhere. Advertisements, billboards and notices all over town remind us to prepare. Clinics arm themselves for the stampede of families swarming in for their last-minute physicals, vision exams, and immunizations. And we can’t forget the administrators and educators who are winding up […]

    Bookmark

    Sunday afternoons are usually the time for winding down before the upcoming sprint through another week. But a couple of Sundays ago I broke my routine to stroll around the Aviation Heritage Park and Museum in Bowling Green at the invitation of the Warren County Library.   As a book lover, I’ve always been a […]

    Bookmark

    After a yearlong season of inactivity and extra stress, I needed to return to a regular exercise routine. Weight gain and sluggishness tied me down and frustration only added to my slump. The dreaded “should of” and “could of” piled up as each busy week passed without any consistency on the workout front. Even at […]

    Bookmark

    This five-minute read gives an account of my experiences with the Citizens Police Academy in which I encourage you to explore opportunities in your community to stretch beyond your own expectations.

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    I followed my host, Anka, up concrete steps clasping the steadiest of handrails that reassured my pace upward all the while, propelling a threadbare carry on and bulging backpack. Thankfully, her imposing figure swung my over-the-limit suitcase into the landing of the fourth floor where she fumbled with her keys. The apartment lulled me inside […]

    We all have some motivation or we would never get up in the morning or make it to work or even fix a cup of coffee. When we talk about a lack of motivation, it has more to do with those non-preferred or seemingly less than glamorous activities like sweating, denying ourselves something fun, or […]

    What can we expect for the future of education with a variety of instructional models and the altered formats across our world? A trickle down effect over the coming years may be a possibility. Read on for an explanation of this theory.

    Times are hard and disappointment can overwhelm us. It's important to reach out to your family and friends and check in from time to time. You never know what a simple hello can do for someone. In fact – it’s quite possible your kindness could be even more beneficial to you.

    If you have been a fan of homesteading or curious about the simple existence we can create in nature, read on for four advantages of homesteading.

    Feeling as if we don't quite measure up is more common than you may realize, especially in a competitive society. Read on for a reminder of the trap you can slip into without realizing it.

    How can we move past this historical election during a worldwide pandemic? It sounds like a dark thriller book or movie. Our environment has brought out the best and worst for so many, leaving scars on friendships and our emotional health.

    Zero in on what matters this season. Capturing each moment and soaking in the atmosphere of your smaller world can be every bit as special as your imagination can muster.

    The mysterious notion of extending forgiveness to those who have deeply wounded you can seem impossible. Just when you think you've forgiven someone, the memory of it stings all over again and you feel like you're starting over. Where do you go from here?

    Just as 2020 has been one to remember or possibly better off left in the rearview mirror, renew your spirit and hit restart for a fresh season of what you hold close.

    How are you navigating your health and wellbeing in these first days of the new year? Take some time to refocus on what matters in the scheme of things - you!

    Trauma. The word itself can tick up your heartrate and have us imagining war-torn countries, natural disasters, or horrendous assaults. It could also bring to mind personal memories connected to pain, shock, humiliation, and images we would rather delete. Or would we?

    Do you feel confused at times about the nature of love in this crazy world? Take 3 minutes to read your Valentine's message from me to you in our cozy corner of encouragement.

      Since 1970, Americans have been recognizing Earth Day along with a growing number of countries. Today, more than 200 countries around the globe celebrate our planet and consider how we can show it some love.   While our beloved planet groans and cries out in the midst of our human presence, we continue to […]

      After the past year, we are pacing ourselves through a period of re-boot. Most people are cautiously optimistic that society will march forward and growth will take root. The definition of growth can mean something different to each of us. Can growth be quantified by our possessions? One mystifying part of our human nature […]

      If you are an adult living in the midst of career and family obligations, you probably dismiss the notion of reviewing your own identity. Wasn’t that step over back in those rocky teenage years? The truth is, a great deal of identity formation likely happened right on through your twenties. Research and respected theorists […]

      There has been a surge of promotion for mindfulness techniques, meditations, and lifestyle changes. That focus makes complete sense in light of the increasingly complex world we live in. We have to have something to help us cope with all the stimulation present in our society and even our homes. Mindfulness offers a natural […]

      As we pass between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day it’s natural to reflect on your own experience as a child and at the same time ponder our own parenting approach. Many of us worry and agonize over the decisions we make for our children and the methods we use to teach them values and […]

      A few weeks after sending out another batch of query materials, I received a bit of feedback. The first of which was a three line form letter that quickly got the point across. My work was not for them. A couple of hours later, my email check gave me another letter with – you […]

      When I was in my early twenties, I accepted a position at a group home for teenagers who were wards of the state. I enjoyed the work and saw promise and potential in the kids immediately. They had been dealt a most rotten hand in life and their behavior only reflected the traumatic early […]

      Now that the grip of the pandemic is loosening, we are getting on with life the way we once did. As with any great interruption in life, we can experience lingering effects of that season. But there is one topic we tend to bury and struggle to resolve on our own. Grief.   Current […]

    Simply put, empathy is being able to feel the experience of another person. If you’ve ever noticed a small child try to comfort a distressed playmate or even a baby closely watch a crying infant, you have seen the early signs of empathy. It appears as if the ability to sense the pain or emotions […]

      Finding the good in people you come across daily is something most of us think little about. The unpleasant fact is that we all tend to judge and even criticize others across our interactions. That spills into negative comments about people, drawing comparisons, and ultimately separation from others. Something fascinating – we would probably […]

    The question we all face at junctures in life is – how do we keep the fires of motivation burning? Everything we ever do requires motivation. To break it down even further we can have multiple sources of motivation for every action throughout our day and lifetime. How can we tap into the well of […]

    There are moments or long stretches of time we’d all prefer to leave in the past. One of the toughest things to do is distance ourselves from painful memories. Our recollections are not selective. In fact, some of the very things we want to forget most are the things that stick around the longest. Some […]

    I have been in love with Fall for as long as I can remember, even though I’m not so excited about the fact that winter is chasing its heels. Fortunately, I’m not alone. Autumn happens to be a favorite season for most people. All those pumpkins spiced lattes and wagon rides are not the only […]

      Several years have passed since I’ve been able to go home. Not the one I sleep in every night with my family. I’m talking about the one I came home from the hospital to, and got on the school bus in front of, and ate my mother’s home cookin’ inside. And yes, it is […]

    A recent trend caught my attention in the headlines as it scrolled past last week.  I rode along the transit options of New York City and learned that optimism is a state of mind connected to longevity, better physical and mental health, and greater happiness.   Sounds fabulous, doesn’t it?   Maybe this topic deserves […]

    With a new season on the way, allow yourself to feel all those mood boosting endorphins that come with Autumn by soaking in the beauty and promise of what's to come.

    For years I’ve made elaborate goals at every turn of the calendar year. Holing myself up with a hot drink, envisioning all the ways I could improve gave me enough spark to send me sprinting toward the dreary January days ahead.   This year was different. I stared at that blank page, rehashing the same […]

    Three out of five employees experience work related stress in recent years and many careers, especially health care and education, suffer from staffing shortages and high turnover. Lately, I've learned a little more about the reality of those stressors.

    The St. Patrick’s Day we all know and love, once looked nothing like what we experience today. Hundreds of years ago it was only a humble celebration to commemorate the life and service of St. Patrick, a man who brought Christianity to Ireland. A special feast took place to remember his service to Ireland that […]

    April is the month devoted to several important causes that are near and dear to my heart. As a school psychologist and former case worker for special needs children, I have found autism to be a challenge for many children and families. Chances are, you have known individuals who have challenges on the autism spectrum. […]

    If you’ve ever driven a long distance for a long-awaited vacation, you easily recognize the stages of your journey. You start out fresh, exhilarated. Once you break free of your hometown, the road unfurls ahead, full of promise for memories and adventures on the other end. Before long, you break the trip into segments. At […]

    Whether you have a lighter workload in the summer, or the pace is frantic, opportunities exist to shake things up this season. Research (and common sense) tells us that time outdoors is beneficial for physical and mental health. Simply taking up the same activity in a different place can boost mood and improve brain function. […]

    When my pastor, Reverend Adam Shourds, asked me to briefly share with our church what community meant to me, I had to give it some serious thought. Although I attend church regularly, I don’t have the opportunity to get to know many people beyond the friendly handshakes week in and week out. And like so […]

    My mother, a quiet and humble lady, visited the Holy Land decades ago. Now that she has gone on, I feel a deep connection with her spiritual journey as I explore the very path of Jesus myself this week. Our church group has come on this trip with reverence and a spirit of adventure. The […]

    Today was a spiritually moving and uplifting day. Despite the upsetting conflict erupting in the West Bank of Israel, the last couple of days have been memories that made a big drop in my bucket list. First, we explored one of the most exciting archeological digs in Israel, the palace-fortress and final resting place of […]

    This five-minute read gives an account of my experiences with the Citizens Police Academy in which I encourage you to explore opportunities in your community to stretch beyond your own expectations.

    After a yearlong season of inactivity and extra stress, I needed to return to a regular exercise routine. Weight gain and sluggishness tied me down and frustration only added to my slump. The dreaded “should of” and “could of” piled up as each busy week passed without any consistency on the workout front. Even at […]

    Sunday afternoons are usually the time for winding down before the upcoming sprint through another week. But a couple of Sundays ago I broke my routine to stroll around the Aviation Heritage Park and Museum in Bowling Green at the invitation of the Warren County Library.   As a book lover, I’ve always been a […]

    The dreaded words for so many children and teenagers, BACK TO SCHOOL are everywhere. Advertisements, billboards and notices all over town remind us to prepare. Clinics arm themselves for the stampede of families swarming in for their last-minute physicals, vision exams, and immunizations. And we can’t forget the administrators and educators who are winding up […]

    I have a confession. After dreaming and scheming over what to do with a 10-acre property we purchased last year, we gave up hope of figuring out a decent plan. I even wondered if I should be put out to pasture.   What kind of investment or farming venture could we come up with that […]

    Every month I have a date set in stone on my calendar. It’s one of those events I WILL NOT MISS. It all started more than five years ago when I meet someone named Janet at a conference three hours away from my home. We discovered, by accident, that we lived seven miles from one […]

    I have been in love with Fall for as long as I can remember, even though I’m not so excited about the winter chasing its heels. It turns out I’m not alone. Autumn happens to be a favorite season for most people. All those pumpkin spiced lattes and wagon rides are not the only reason […]

    Thanksgiving exists because the early settlers survived in spite of horrific circumstances. Famine, unknown disease, and fear of the natives were only a few of the obstacles they faced. When the Mayflower anchored at Plymouth Rock there were no hospitals, grocery stores, or hotels. Imagine how thankful they were just to see another day! That […]

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