Category Archives: Uncategorized

It dawned on me after the first entry on this topic that we cannot smile outwardly when there is no joy inside us. Smiles cannot be forced, though many try to do so. Genuine smiles, however, just bubble up with little or no effort. As my son and I were posing for pictures a fewContinue reading “Smiling Eyes, Part 2”

The decision to wear or not wear a mask during this pandemic has become a painful point of controversy. The main challenge for me, however, is feeling that others may not know that I am smiling at them. This always reminds me of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s 1896 poem, “We Wear the Mask.” It was laterContinue reading “Smiling Eyes”

Most cell phones provide a warning when the battery is getting low. Some even have the option of going into a power-saving mode. Once the phone is connected to a charger, it indicates the current percentage of power left in the battery. Some chargers show how long it will take until the battery is completelyContinue reading “Recharging”

We encounter them everywhere, and maybe we just don’t notice them. We may have even said they are just doing their jobs. Service workers received a lot more attention than they usually do at the height of the pandemic; but there are service workers everywhere, not just in the medical field. Yet, we sometimes mayContinue reading “Unidentified Caregivers”

The storm came up suddenly as I sped down the highway, and soon the sky let loose sheets of torrential rain. There was no way to pull over, so I slowed down and put on the hazard lights like most other drivers. I found myself behind semi-trucks that added to the limited visibility because ofContinue reading “Who’s Your Cheerleader?”

It doesn’t seem as though we have to be told to do good. But we do have to be told to not get tired of doing good. What starts out as a good idea needs our perseverance to become productive. We learn that from our intended exercise programs or promises to stay in touch.  IContinue reading “Stick With It”

Seriously, can good really come out of tragedy? Am I really supposed to look at a serious problem and find some ray of sunshine? The answer to both questions is actually, yes. Trouble is, the vision you need to see the good is called hindsight. It’s not easy to see anything good at the timeContinue reading “Watching for the Good”

Parents proudly record a child’s height as growth takes place. Children themselves become excited about how much taller they are from one year to the next. But what about our mental, spiritual, or emotional health as adults? How have we changed from year to year? How do we know? Where or how have we recordedContinue reading “Record and Reminisce”

My best friend and colleague sat in my office and gave me an animated review of her morning presentation. But I was distracted by her top which looked like it was on backward. When I asked her if it was; she pulled down the neckline and looked inside. Shrugging her shoulders, she said, “Oh well,Continue reading “Let Your Soul Be Well”

Thanks to the contacts app on my phone, I know very few phone numbers. But not everyone enjoys the convenience of a contact list with the caller’s photo attached. My husband remembers everyone’s phone number, so he answers calls based on number recognition. Granted, that doesn’t always work, but he refuses to use an appContinue reading “Singing with Sinatra”