I'm back from China, and #SummerReset is back on track with 3 happy place questions I think are vital for discarding the unnecessary baggage from the past seasons and resetting our frame of mind and perspective. When I think of my happy place, several things come to mind...family gatherings, music, books and good conversation. I feel most at home with a full house, plenty of good food and lots of chatter. But I need time to pull away, relax and recharge. What stops me is usually my own clutter. Lists unchecked. Mistakes unresolved. Dreams unmet. Unlike some, my timeline begins with the school year. It's always been that way. All of my pouring out and expending of energy takes place from August through May. By the time June arrives, my brain needs as much decluttering as my Continue Reading
Your Happily Ever After Marriage?
I’ve been writing in this quiet space for a few years now, and one of the topics I rarely write about is marriage. Although I am a huge advocate of marriage and believe marriage matters, I never feel qualified. Because quite frankly, I’ve never been really good at marriage. Partly because my expectations of all that would come after “I do” have not matched up with reality. Don’t get me wrong, there have been plenty of beautiful, magnificent moments, three amazing kids and too many furry critters to count. But there have also been hurdles and struggles sharper and more jagged than I ever imagined having the strength or will to navigate. And these have challenged my commitment and staying power so deeply, that sometimes the only thread holding this sacred union together was my/our Continue Reading