Have you ever seen a child throw a temper tantrum? Chances are, yes—more than once! It usually happens over something the child wants but doesn’t get. “But I want it!” the child shrieks, while the parent calmly insists, “You don’t need it.” Children have trouble understanding the difference between a want and a need. To […]

I don’t know about you, but I’m constantly wondering things. Kids do it all the time—and we expect their wondering questions.They ask things like: I get it. I wondered those exact things myself! Then came the teenage years. And the questions kept coming—just deeper, and a little more angsty: As an adult, my wonderings didn’t […]

I love to garden. It definitely grounds me! There’s something about digging in the dirt, pulling weeds, and seeing the fruits of your labor—whether it’s flowers or veggies—that soothes my soul. But this year? My garden isn’t doing so hot. Some years are just like that. Too much rain, too much heat, too much cool […]

Getting out of your comfort zone can help you grow in so many ways—and wow, did I grow recently! Here’s what happened. One of my beloved boxing coaches, a friendly, upbeat guy in his twenties, decided to follow his dream and “go pro.” I was thrilled for him! A few of my boxing buddies and […]

I live in a rural area, and I love it. The trees, the quiet, the pond—it’s my little piece of heaven. But this past week? It was like living in a wildlife documentary, with a very dramatic cast of characters. Let me introduce you to a few of my neighbors: Yes, it’s been a week. […]

Recently, I took a road trip down South—a bittersweet one. We were attending a celebration of life for a beloved aunt who passed away a few months ago. Saying goodbye to her was hard. I’ll miss knowing she’s no longer in this world, showering love on her family and working wonders with her music therapy. […]

I absolutely love summer. Long beach walks, sitting outside by the fire pit, and especially—kayaking. Those are the signs of summer at our house. We’ll be dragging out the kayaks soon, giving them their annual rinse (read: washing out the spiders—ugh!) and preparing for our first launch at the local pond. Pure heaven! Thinking about […]

When it comes to first impressions, I’ve learned something about myself: I’m a terrible judge of character. Take, for example, a gal I met a few months ago. She talked non-stop, was loud, and basically the polar opposite of anyone I’d ever call a friend. Definitely NOT my cup of tea. Or so I thought […]

Change is hard, especially when we think it’s a “bad” change.We get comfortable with our routines, our familiar ways, and sometimes it’s tough to tell whether change is actually good or bad. I guess it all depends on perspective. At my Silver Sneakers exercise class, I got an unexpected life lesson about dealing with change…”Now, […]

I have a dear friend who had a birthday this week—a big one. She turned 75.But you’d never guess it. She’s one of those people who seems completely ageless—physically strong, mentally sharp, and always ready for a hike, a challenge, or a great conversation. She exercises her body and her mind with equal passion. But […]