One of the small delights of spring is watching the arrival of baby birds and the devoted care they receive from their mothers. At the lake I saw a killdeer huddled up on the shore and I thought it strange because they usually skitter along the water’s edge, busily feeding. She finally popped up and Read More
Author: gr8ful_collette
May’s Word of the Month: Bloom
I like words that are both nouns and verbs. The trees and flowers are in full bloom. My life, since I quit drinking, is blooming. When I think of the word bloom, I picture delicate buds opening, patience rewarded, and beauty released. This month, I want to live in full bloom. I changed the tagline Read More
April Intentions Update: Action and Avoidance
April, rather than being “the cruelest month,” as T.S. Eliot proclaimed, was a pendulum of action and avoidance. In some areas of my life, I made great progress and growth. In others, I found myself the cork bobbing on the wave of a week, as described in my last post. Sometimes intentions guide the day, Read More
Like Waves
Overall, life has a rhythm. A series of days that become weeks, months, and years. Each year, like a set of waves; fifty-two waves that rise, crest and fall. When you ride the wave of a week, it may seem small and uneventful, like you can float on your back and be rocked by the Read More
Not given but taken away
My daughter climbs into bed with me at 4:30 am, after awakening from a nightmare. She cuddles up against me and I stroke her hair, telling her to go back to sleep. Not minding that I am now up for the day. Glad I can be, in this moment, a comforter and a protector. A Read More
Too Much of a Good Thing
In my post March’s Word of the Month: Cultivate, I revealed my endeavor to give up sweets for Lent. Now that I’m wrapping up this season, I can reflect on this period of abstinence and evaluate the place of sugary food in my life. I also want to give an update on my overall healthy Read More
April’s Word of the Month: Escapes
As part of my continuing monthly series, my word for April is Escapes. I feel like I need to preface this post with the acknowledgement that there are millions of people in the world who are living the reality of physical escape, and thousands more who are not able to. I know that, sitting across Read More
March Intentions Update: Learning to Play Again
The month of March felt both short and long, containing setbacks and spurts forward, much like the overall journey of life. Some of my intentions for mind, body and spirit fell by the wayside this month, and I’m still unsure whether I will pick them up again. Maybe consistently not doing something is a sign Read More
How Self Care Changes When You’re Sober
Yesterday, I was sick enough to take a day off work. My daughter and I both have a rather nasty cough (but not Covid). I texted my dad that I was home and he didn’t need to come let our dogs out, something he does for us since we work and he’s retired and loves Read More
Begin at the End
Endings are often beginnings. Saying goodbye opens a door. Walking away means walking toward An over-due death yields a life reborn. Why do we cling to what needs releasing? Grasping tightly with blind might When we know that it is darkness, and what we deserve is light. Why do we fall into the wrong patterns Read More