Here in Southwest Missouri, where I live, it’s been an unusual summer, unpredictable: lots of rain, cooler temperatures than usual, the flowers still beautiful and grass green. I began to reflect on other things that I can’t predict besides weather. I don’t know what each day will bring. I can plan and try to stay with my normal routines and even schedule other activities to fit in among the usual things I do, but something ...
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Some call August the dog days of summer. The term came from Greek and Roman astrology as the period following the rise of the star system Sirius, which was thought to cause heat, drought, lethargy, mad dogs and back luck. I wrote a poem titled “August” that is in my book Just Show Up, that describes this hot, humid month: August The morning breezes floating through open windows billow sheer, ruffled curtains into rooms catching ...
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Summer is really here now, and I guess it’s time. Everything is still in bloom and beautiful where I am, because of adequate rain and sunshine, but hot and dry may soon appear. What do you do in the summer? My gardening friends are constantly working in their yards, people are going on vacations, to the beach or lake or mountains. It’s a great time to be doing something. We celebrate the independence of our ...
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Since I gave mothers some blog space in May, I guess I will write about fathers in June. The 16th is Father’s Day, a day to contemplate and/or celebrate fathers. My dad died 10 years ago after a long illness. He worked hard at living those last three years, and, I think, had some good days. I was at his side with my mother when he died. I remember she was baking cookies and had ...
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May includes a special day to celebrate mothers. It can be a joyous day or one of sadness or anger or a whole range of emotions. Nevertheless, Mother’s Day arrives on May 12th this year, and it gives us a chance to pause and think about Mom. I am a mother, but only in memory, since my son died twelve years ago. Some years since then have been difficult, others full of happy memories of ...
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It is April, and signs of spring are beginning to show: buds popping out all over promising flowers and leaves, many by the end of the month; gardeners will be champing at the bit to get outside to clean out the flower beds and get them ready for the planting to come; and the air will feel different, soft and fresh. I am not a gardener, so my mind turns to spring cleaning and flushing ...
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March is a month of transitions. March 10th is the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, which is a misnomer, because no daylight is actually saved. It is just taken off the morning and tacked onto the evening. I’m one who thinks we should just set one system and stick with it. Then, March 20th is the first day of Spring, a season many people look forward to, especially if the winter has been harsh. Often ...
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Let’s talk about—and write about—Love. There are so many variations of Love: romantic, friendly, ecological (love of the natural world with a desire to protect it), parental, animal (pets, especially), children, and on and on. Then there is the use of love for things such as food, clothing, hair and other physical attributes, colors, seasons, and everything else that doesn’t have its own word for our admiration of it. But I’d like to concentrate on ...
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Happy New Year! Even though the daylight hours are increasing at this time of year, there is still more dark than light. Sometimes all this darkness affects our moods and motivation to do anything. This poem by Jan Richardson spoke to me about the light that is on its way, but also how we can think about its coming in its many forms. I hope the writing prompts at the end will give you a ...
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December can be a busy, hectic month with various holidays falling throughout. Some people may be looking forward to a particular holiday, while others dread the emotional ups and downs that sometimes accompany days that are set aside for joy and happiness. However you approach a holiday, it can be tiring and way too busy. So, what can we do to slow things down? Journaling every, or most, days can get your thoughts and concerns ...
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