Light in the Trees
When You Stop Worrying About Talent and Just Get to Work
I’ll never forget the day a mentor in my PhD program took me to lunch. We sat in a room surrounded by prestigious professors who talked about important things. I felt small in my seat and so young. I felt like I didn’t belong. And then he said this: “Now that you’re here, just remember […]
Everywhere You Look
I’m finally in a place in my life where I find beauty everywhere I look. Even in the gutters, beauty. Autumn sends down a confetti of color today. It’s a celebration, and I accept the invitation.
Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should
Today I remember that just because I can meet people on Zoom doesn’t mean I should. In this new world of online, immediate accessibility, you might find yourself overwhelmed with Zoom (or other platform) get togethers. You might find yourself exhausted when you imagined you might feel refreshed or even happy about all these new […]
Asking for a Steadfast and Willing Spirit
I love David’s prayer in Psalm 51:10, 12. These words echo in my mind from my college days when I prayed this for myself over and over again. David cries, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. . . Restore to me the joy of your salvation […]
The Week Ahead for You
I do love the pause of Sunday. I love praying over the week ahead. Think of the days stretching out ahead of you. What will each day bring? What makes you worried, nervous, or exhausted already? Pray for your sleeping, your working, and your eating. Pray for your walking, your talking, and your thinking. Pray […]
A Little Something You Didn’t Know You Needed: Dorat Frozen Ginger Cubes
The other day at Trader Joe’s I wondered where to find the ginger I needed for a Veggie Lo Mein recipe I wanted to try. The sales associate brought me to the freezer aisle and handed me a little square tray of frozen crushed ginger from Dorat Gardens. Each little cube equals 1 teaspoon of […]
The Week I Discovered Nanaimo Bars
I’ve been alive nearly 45 years, and I’d never before tried a Canadian Nanaimo Bar. Our Canadian neighbors delivered a container of these delights as a thank you to my husband for watching their dog, and I can honestly say they are one of the best desserts I have ever had. Ever. Ever! My daughter […]
Autumn in Pennsylvania
Thoughtful Listening
Today, everyone in class agreed that nobody really listened to each other during the first presidential debate. We all agreed, for once, that we miss civility and civic discourse. We miss kindness and thoughtful listening. My students tell me that nobody won the debate; we all lost. Ironically, we all feel more united because of […]