There is absolutely no way to sugar coat this. Whether it be with a parent, a child, a spouse, a boss, a friend, a doctor, a sales person, the mail man... Relationships ARE HARD!   Really hard. "Working on myself, by myself, for myself." ~Unknown This would be a piece of cake if it wasn't for the fact that we...

Our 180 Stars Our 180 Stars. A couple of years ago, my sister and her boyfriend of almost 15 years, decided to get married. They didn't want a traditional wedding, but, rather, a simple back yard surprise wedding. My sister found some pictures of some beautiful backyard weddings and she pieced together what she wanted. One of the things she...

Our Monthly Trek Up the Mountain Our Monthly Trek Up the Mountain. In an effort to not contribute anymore plastic to our earth, we signed up for water delivery to our home several years ago. We enjoyed it so much that even when we would go to Florida in the winter, we would set up water delivery service to the...

Authenticity Authenticity Genuine. That is how I see authenticity. Fake. That is the opposite of authenticity. We are all genuine at times and fake at times. Why? I think it is a head and heart thing. When we come from the heart, we are authentic. When we come from the head, not so much. Our head (mind) works to keep...

A Money Tree A Money Tree. It does grow on trees, you just have to make it happen! Damn. There is always a catch, isn't there? Stories of instant fame, fortune, success...usually aren't all that instant. What we fail to see at that moment is all the hard work and effort that went into getting there. Even a lottery winner...

"We Are All One" ~ The Feel Good BS Statement I get it, I get it. Spiritual leaders and various aware, awake and enlightened groups of people are quick to tell us that the answer we are searching for is that we are all one and I believe that, to some extent. What I call bull shit on is that...

When Helping Isn't Helpful I have often struggled with even being able to ask for help. I used to think that it was a flaw in me. Something I needed to work on and get better at doing. I don't think that way anymore. Too often when we ask for help from someone, support, assistance and guidance are not typically...

Knowledge and Memories "Memories light the corners of my mind. Misty water-colored memories of the way we were."  ~Barbara Streisand Memory is related to, but distinct from learning. Learning depends on memory to some extent. I have often questioned my memory about an event but rarely do I question what I have learned. Should I be questioning what I have learned?...

Uh oh...deep waters ahead. Grab a life vest and proceed cautiously. Nothing like taking on indoctrinated, emotional and socially acceptable, inherited long held beliefs. Do You have beliefs protected from the scrutiny of sound thought? I started out to write about this quote: "You can't reason someone out of something that they weren't reasoned into in the first place." ~Jonathan...

"You always had the power, my dear. You just had to learn it for yourself." ~Glinda This quote is used A LOT and it should be. On the surface it appears empowering and in a world full of disempowering ideals, anything that empowers us, can always be useful. However here is My Beef with Glinda the Good Witch: What I have...

A Week of Being a Messy Human Have you considered the experience of A Week of Being a Messy Human recently? I am 83,865 words into writing a book. A memoir to be exact. I don't know how I will publish it (look for an agent or self publish) and that really doesn't matter to me because I am not...

"Like drawing a rainbow with one crayon." ~ Deb L. We all feel inadequate at some point in time. We think we are not smart enough. Not tall enough. Not strong enough. Too fat. Over sensitive. Too loud. On and on and on. We cope. We deal with these perceived inadequacies in one way or another. Healthy and not so healthy...

"The most damaging phrase in the language is: We have always done it this way." ~ Grace Hopper We have all heard some version of being condemned to repeat history or without a knowing of history we are doomed to repeat it. I found countless images on Google showing old men parting this wisdom to us, mostly in dark colors...

Empirical or Practical Empirical - depending on experience or observation alone without using scientific method or theory Practical - mindful of the results, usefulness, advantages or disadvantages of action or procedure Practical I know. Empirical I feel. Unfortunately, we live in a day and time when knowing overrides feeling. Tough for someone that is very sensitive and highly empathic. How...

"There's no secret to Balance our lives. You just have to feel the waves." ~Frank Herbert Balance - An even distribution; a condition where different elements are equal; to keep or put in a steady position so that it does not fall. I am not sure how life and balance ever got linked together. Life is not a steady position....