Its that time again. Here is my Happy Things list for May 2024. I’ve started keeping a running list, much like the one in the book that inspired me, 14,000 Things to Be Happy About, by Barbara Ann Kipfer. I’m not as faithful with it as I aspire to be, but am getting better. I’ve … [Read more…]
One of the lessons I am learning as an adult student of both composition and voice is humility. This humility is necessary in order to set aside any excess pride or superiority that can interfere with my learning. That isn’t always comfortable. Some definitions of humility include. While I believe all of these definitions are … [Read more…]
The New Oxford American Dictionary defines responsibility in several ways. The two most relevant to this post include: 1. the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone 2. a moral obligation to behave correctly toward or in respect of: individuals have a responsibility to control … [Read more…]
Things are rarely one and done. Sometimes we have to repeat the work. I don’t know about you, but I find that fact really annoying. This is true for me whether we are talking about reps at the gym or playing the piano. It is also true about cleaning the house, doing the dishes, or … [Read more…]
“When the world doesn’t live up to our expectations, we rebel against its unfairness by turning to food.” – Jessica Ortner “When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are.” – Donald Miller “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in … [Read more…]
I was introduced to this Italian idiom through the book Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I digress just to say that there are many hidden gems in that book. Although a search of the internet suggest some dispute about the actual meaning, both Ms. Gilbert and www.wordsense.eu offer that parla come mangi means speak … [Read more…]
Showing Up is one of those expressions that seems to be used more now than ever before. Frankly, I’m not a fan. When I ask people what they mean when they say they want to “show up” they usually can’t really explain it. Labels and expressions such as this one seem to interfere with self … [Read more…]
Where is home? It seems like this would be a pretty easy question to answer, but it turns out to be more complicated than I had initially thought. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/home offers multiple definitions of home, including: The above list of definitions adds very little clarity about what home is. Consider these quotes: “The ache for home … [Read more…]
Hi everyone. I’m back. I know I’ve said this many times. I always mean it too. Then life gets busy and I fall off the path. That sounds like life has been a struggle, but in many ways I’m living my dream. While I’m still working a full time job, and a part-time job, the … [Read more…]
“No is a full sentence.” ~ Jessica Ortner Most people I know struggle with saying no. We often feel that we must give an explanation, particularly if we are giving what seems to be an answer that might upset or disappoint someone. The reality is that NO is a full sentence. It is ok to … [Read more…]