What I Am Afraid of Losing
On some days, I find myself begging God to display His mercy in my life so I will not have to suffer greatly. As I grow in maturity and grow in faith and dependence on God, I still worry about pain and suffering in the form of losing loved ones. I’m willing to let God […]
The Best Ten Minutes
My daughter keeps telling me that ten minutes of jumprope is equivalent to running for 30 minutes. Do it, Mom! You’ll love it! I read a fitness blogger’s summary of the research reports that say that ten minutes of jumping rope has the same cardiovascular benefits as: 30 minutes of jogging 2 sets of tennis […]
Take Yourself Out to Lunch
I just took myself out to lunch. I asked myself questions I wanted and needed to answer. I took notes on myself in my journal. I gave myself undivided attention. I didn’t interrupt. My date spot with myself was a tiny little Thai place where servers brought delicious things to my table. My date, unfortunately, lasted less […]
Stamina for Work
I’ve been thinking about stamina today because in the world of writing and grading, one needs a certain ability to keep at it for long periods of time. Imagine grading a stack of 50 five-page essays, for example (and some faculty I know teach twice my load and have 100 five-page essays) that you want […]
“Teaspoons, Not Buckets.”
I read the NYT interview with Eddie Redmayne and Emma Stone, and I loved Stone’s memory of her first acting coach in LA telling her “teaspoons, not buckets.” Redmayne agrees and says, “People can see closer than you think.” Teaspoons, not buckets! It doesn’t have to be so big all the time. You know me: […]
I Love Awkward
My daughters and I love to talk about being ourselves and not changing who we are to fit in. Besides, we know that every community contains folks who love our particular awkwardness. We just have to find them. The Old Norse and Middle English etymology of this word awkward reveal a wonderful meaning. Awkward means “turned the […]
Some Poems I Loved in College
A friend asked me to share with her some of my favorite poems because she is a scientist who never once took a poetry course. I went back to college in my mind, to Rita Dove and Lisa Russ Spaar and all the poetry workshops and poets and coffee and meaning. Where do I begin? […]
Get Up and Go
In winter, I want to hibernate. I find myself turning in on myself. I find myself burrowing into my blankets and closing down. It’s cold. It’s dark. This morning, nobody wants to go to church. We want to stay in bed and snuggle. We don’t want to shovel the driveway, warm the car, and bundle […]
A Line I’d Forgotten from Because of Winn-Dixie
I’m watching Because of Winn-Dixie for family movie night because my youngest daughter just finished the book by the same title (by the wonderful Kate DiCamillo!). I find myself overcome with emotion when a sweet, nearly blind neighbor, Gloria Dump, tells the lonely little girl, Opal, that she can’t see well. She says: “You know, […]
“Daily life is always extraordinary when rendered precisely.” –Bonnie Friedman
I love expressions like this one: “Daily life is always extraordinary when rendered precisely.” In other words, when represented precisely–exactly and particularly–we find extraordinary evidence of beauty, mystery, wonder, and joy. It’s true. I’m encouraged to pay attention, look closely, and see my surroundings like an artist. When I write or communicate, I think about […]