Today I placed a piece of dark chocolate in my mouth, and its smooth sweetness transported me to envision my sister, chocolate and a treasured memory of a secret middle-of-the-night adventure. I am back in my parent’s kitchen in the early 1960’s, and the smell of warm chocolate melting as I stand over the…
Nothing presents us with comfort-zone busting challenges like standing on the edge of a psychological cliff with the intent of leaping into life’s unknowns. Taking risks and having courage in the face of growth-producing challenges can bring us face-to-face with inner terror. Life places us all on that cliff at one time or another….
I’ll never forget my experience in parenting my resistant son, Ethan, when he was 12 years old. He must have felt especially stubborn that day when he asked me if he could go somewhere with his friend. “Sure, go ahead,” I said, “as soon as you’ve completed your half hour of violin practice.” Ethan…
My muscles clenched in fight mode as I glanced over at my husband, Steve, sitting in the driver’s seat. As we drove to Flagstaff, I could feel the burning hot anger as it tore through my insides. I felt shocked at how our seemingly innocent conversation, with lightning speed, had flared up. How do…
Because it’s summer and I just had a birthday, I’m sharing with you my reflections on an event which occurred two years ago — my 70th birthday. I faced the challenge of welcoming 70 and reflecting on the aging process. The new decade announced itself with a sternness I didn’t experience with my other…
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” My bud-to-blossom story, a fear-to-courage journey, began with the first man in my life. The Pain “Who the hell do you think you are?” My father’s voice rose loudly, interrupting my…
With each attempt at writing this blog, I ran into inner roadblocks. In all my attempts to put words on paper, I couldn’t make anything work. Nothing felt right. I can usually get into a flow that serves the writing, and this wasn’t flowing! Then I received an email from my son, Ethan. “Mom,”…