May Intentions Update: Late Bloom

It turns out, May wasn’t the full bloom I expected. Instead of a realizing of potential and an unfolding of energy, the month became more of a frustrated attempt to progress. The blocked sun made me hide my head rather than fully flower. Yet like so many things, it ended in a late bloom. As Read More

Weekend Book Review: An Unlasting Home

In an effort to reflect and share the new passions I found once I ditched alcohol, I’m starting a weekend book review, featuring some of my favorite books. This weekly feature will share my insights and recommendations on literary and historical fiction and well as non-fiction quit-lit, memoirs, nature, Christian and self-help. My hope is Read More

Covered in Love

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

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

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

Three Years Sober: Going Places

“Step into the fire of self-discovery. This fire will not burn you, it will only burn what you are not.“ Mooji Here I sit, in the blessedly warm, quiet house, reflecting on three years of sobriety. Doves cooing soothingly through the chimney, hot coffee and small dogs, my loyal companions. Never mind that I’m seized Read More

March’s Word of the Month: Cultivate

Spring is early in our area; last week contained several 70+degree days and this morning brings a cool, light drizzle. March marks the beginning of the growing season, a time to prepare and cultivate. I chose the word cultivate to focus on this month because it is the time of year I get intentional about Read More

February Intentions Update: Filling Time

The last day of the month brings an update on my intentions for mind, body and spirit. This bite of wisdom by James Clear caught my eye because all that I’m trying to do by setting intentions and following them is better organize my day so that I’m filling it with good habits that produce Read More

What is left

In my last post, I mentioned our trip to the coast and eating at my favorite restaurant. We also spent a morning at the beach; my happy place. I was delighted to try my new passion, nature photography, in the sand and surf. The experience did not disappoint, and I captured many creatures: big, small, Read More