Transition Perspectives

Transition Perspectives September 12, 2021 Relationship Enrichment was my intended series planned for fall but comments and emails urged me to expand on Bridging Transitions. I’m sharing several. Cool perspective Ruth... A gem, chock full of information to tuck away and haul out to reflect on when unexpected transitions…

Bridging Transitions

This last week I became acutely aware of all the different transitions I’ve been experiencing since Jim’s passing a year and a half ago, especially as I am frequently and painfully correcting “we” to “I”.  I was well into jotting notes when brother John called and I inquired…

Unpacking Expectations

We’re moving from last week’s Distractions like ants, to Expectations like bugs. Certain expectations are healthy and beneficial just like some bugs are harmless and good, like the lady-bug in gardens, but others we want no part of.  You’d be astounded what a huge role expectation of…

Distractions—Time Chompers

A counseling phrase that I latched on to years ago--‘Life is a series of crises’--came to mind this week after participating in an outdoor wedding service where several components of crises were active: interruptions, distractions and disruptions.  All three reek with hidden stressors but the only controllable happening…

Wistful Waiting

Wistful: full of melancholy yearning; longing pensively; wishful. Emotions from waiting range from agony, distress, miserable, disquieting, cheerless, uneasiness, to excitedly, anticipatory or wait worthy. Take a few minutes to recount your stored memories regarding exceedingly long periods of waiting. No one likes to wait. In fact, most people despise…

Sowing Seeds of Encouragement

“You can do it; try it again”, a mother’s soft voice encouraged her small daughter learning how to put shapes in the matching box lid. Before children can talk, they need consistent encouragement as they practice hand/eye coordination. Seeing smiling faces, being gently bathed and dressed, hearing books…

Our friend, Anger

Has anyone ever said to you “I never get angry?” Don’t believe them.  If people are normal, they’ll experience some form of anger. After several conversations this week where anger was the main topic,   I realized it was time to re-visit our friend, anger. One gal said she…

Personal Protective Pruning

Like my total amazement after being away for a week with great-granddaughter’s running-fast skills, I was totally dismayed to discover that our humongous clematis vine was covered with powdery mildew fungus looking brownish as it hung limply over the trellis rather than looking healthy and full of buds for…