This page is an easy way to find my blog posts that are about life, philosophy, and things that bug me. You know, none of that ranch, pet, and nature stuff.
I’ve Had a Rough Relationship with Love
Oh, who hasn’t had a rough relationship with love? (Not a surprising UU Lent word, is it?) If you haven’t, count yourself as fortunate and give yourself a big hug. Wait, everyone else, also give yourselves big hugs. And now for some brutal honesty. My issue, like so many of us, has been with romantic … Continue reading “I’ve Had a Rough Relationship with Love”
Birds and Bees, and a Weird Morning
It’s not even noon, but it’s already been a weird day. I got to the Hermit Haus for work, and was just making my coffee when the lights went out. Well, most of them did. For some reason, my red lamp and the light over the kitchen sink kept glowing, eerily. So, Kathleen and I … Continue reading “Birds and Bees, and a Weird Morning”
Who Do YOU Trust? Or What?
The cynicism I’m developing from watching national government representatives continue in-fighting and saying really horrifying things (I am now expendable, oh boy!) has just heightened my mistrust of all of them. Let’s work together, everybody. Oh my. When I started thinking about trust, today’s word for UU Lent, my first thought was “trust no one,” … Continue reading “Who Do YOU Trust? Or What?”
FIRE Brings Hope
The UU Lent word for today is fire. It came on a good day, because a fiery ball of light appeared in the sky for the first time in a LONG time, or at least it seems. Seeing the sun this morning made me hopeful. I have read that it’s harder for some viruses to … Continue reading “FIRE Brings Hope”
Who's Struggling?
If you’re not struggling, at least a little bit right now, I salute you! Tell me your secrets, on this Monday of isolation. For once, the UU Lent word of the day, struggle, seems mighty appropriate. I like being at home, and I like being in my little basement office full of cheerful colors and … Continue reading “Who's Struggling?”
I Don't Want to Write about Justice
Nope. Don’t want to write about the next extra-PC concept the UU Lent folks brought forth, justice. My Instagram says it all. I got a rock. I’ve never seen a lot of justice out in the world. Luckily I do see small amounts of mercy, which I find more important, anyway. Creepy people do well. … Continue reading “I Don't Want to Write about Justice”
Remorse Is Complicated and Unhealthy
When I saw that remorse was the UU Lent word to think about today, I got a sinking feeling. There’s something I’m familiar with and that I’ve really had to grapple with a lot. Remorse is a distressing emotion experienced by a person who regrets actions which they deem to be shameful, hurtful, or wrong. … Continue reading “Remorse Is Complicated and Unhealthy”
Music to My Ears
Throw me an easy one, UU Lent! I could blog for hours about music. Luckily I’m visiting relatives and don’t have hours. I keep getting distracted by wildlife, anyway (another post). Music has always been important to me (as for many of us). I sang my whole life, mostly choral music, which I took to … Continue reading “Music to My Ears”
Wisdom: Did We Make a Wise Decision?
The salesperson we dealt with yesterday, the relentlessly flattering Kathy (she kept telling us how smart we were), convinced us to stay an extra day here in Myrtle Beach. So, we pushed our trip out a day. Hmm…that brings me to the UU Lent word of the day, wisdom. There is no doubt in Lee’s … Continue reading “Wisdom: Did We Make a Wise Decision?”
Every Single Day Takes Courage
We have courage for the UU Lent word today. I think we’re all more courageous than we know. Life is challenging. Sometimes we wonder if it’s the most challenging time to be alive, like ever, but no, I think it’s always been hard to be human. It’s always taken courage to face each day. Before … Continue reading “Every Single Day Takes Courage”
Count Me In
Oh goodness. Today is Sunday, so the UU Lent word is extra UU: inclusion. This is, I suppose, to incite us privileged cisgender white womyn to give a pious lecture about including our rainbow of friends in all aspects of society. Politics! The Board room! Your church! Your neighborhood! Okay. So, go do that. Inclusion … Continue reading “Count Me In”
Uncomfortable with Silence
The fascinating UU Lent prompts continue to take me down rabbit holes of thought. Silence is the word of today. I chuckled a bit when I walked into the office this morning to see absolutely no one in my entire area of cubicles. That led to quite a bit of silence, other than the ever-present … Continue reading “Uncomfortable with Silence”
Deep Stuff about Dust?
Oh goodness. What WERE the PC Practitioners over at the Unitarian Universalist Association (world’s most politically correct organization) thinking when they decided that dust was going to be one or the UU Lent words of the day? Were they thinking UU Lint? (And how many people also came up with that question today?) I’m sure … Continue reading “Deep Stuff about Dust?”
What Makes a Professional Editor/Writer Sweat? Unprofessional Editing/Writing
We all make mistakes, right? Well I’m about to admit to making a big mistake. I spent $8.99 on a “book” that is only a book by virtue of having pages, a cover, and some printing. I had good intentions! The work book club is going to read Dare to Lead, by my buddy Brené … Continue reading “What Makes a Professional Editor/Writer Sweat? Unprofessional Editing/Writing”
I’m a Harsh Judge of Creativity, or I Was
The UU Lent word for today is creativity. It didn’t require much creativity for them to think of that word, did it? I hope I can make my thoughts on this not only creative, but interesting, since only eleven people looked at yesterday’s masterpiece on sanctuary. I enjoyed writing it, anyway. First, yes, I think … Continue reading “I’m a Harsh Judge of Creativity, or I Was”
Where Do You Find Sanctuary?
Ah, the word for today is sanctuary on the UU Lent calendar. As I am sitting inside one of my personal sanctuaries as I type this, I didn’t have a hard time coming up with things to photograph for this concept. What I realized soon after starting to think about sanctuaries is that I truly … Continue reading “Where Do You Find Sanctuary?”
Risky Business
The Word of the Day in UU Lent is “risk.” Now, there’s a word I’m familiar and even mostly comfortable with. The photo I put on Instagram was this one, taken from the top of the stairs at the Pope Residence, and looking down, somewhat queasily. Risk can be messy, or create messes. Like all … Continue reading “Risky Business”
Should I Be Committed?
Hmm, I don’t think I’m referring to being institutionalized. I’ll let you know if I get to that point, though I sure hope I don’t. I know that is hard on everyone involved. No, today’s UULent word was “commitment,” and I surprised myself at where my mind went when I read that. At first, I … Continue reading “Should I Be Committed?”
The Darkness Fades: Spring Is Coming, I Think
It’s such a sunny, clear morning that the fog and gloom of the last week or so seems a distant memory. It’s got me thinking. I’m thinking and hoping the glorious sunset that I got to enjoy with the Austin neighbors seems to signal that maybe I and all my associates can start to crawl … Continue reading “The Darkness Fades: Spring Is Coming, I Think”
Why I Am “Too Busy”
You know what’s extra-extra nice? It’s nice that people care. And people do care about me! One way I know is that I am very frequently told I am too busy, or asked why I do so much. This is not new. Sensei Larry, who taught the kids karate, always called me “the Joiner,” because … Continue reading “Why I Am “Too Busy””
Holey, Holey Moley
Cameron, Texas is a town full of holes. Part of its fading small-town charm is that very few things are in tip-top shape, so holes are everywhere. Now, the true banes of my existence are the holes in County Road 140, where the Hermits’ Rest is located. As a matter of fact, I even made … Continue reading “Holey, Holey Moley”
Prejudice and Me
Extreme honesty alert! In any case, things I was reading today about other people’s biases gave me pause to think about my own. As hard as I’ve worked to overcome different kinds of prejudice, some seem almost hard wired. I have no scientific basis to go on, but my gut feeling is that these are … Continue reading “Prejudice and Me”
The Best Shirt EVER
Maybe I’m exaggerating, and maybe I’m not. However, today I am wearing a new shirt I got on Saturday that just gets better and better the more I wear it. I’m not usually this much excited about a shirt, I swear! There is no danger of me morphing into a fashion blogger or an “influencer” … Continue reading “The Best Shirt EVER”
Shopping Spree
One of the reasons I had so much fun yesterday is that I got to order a lot of the things for my new office. I also got a lot of news about the renovation, so that made my day fun to get through. The renovation team has decided that the floors in my future … Continue reading “Shopping Spree”
Book Report: Sunnyside Plaza
I haven’t written a book report in a while. Why? I am reading two long books at the same time, which means neither one of them is finished. But, yippee-dippee, I small but significant little book has appeared, and I got so excited about it, that I got it the day it was published: Sunnyside … Continue reading “Book Report: Sunnyside Plaza”
Whoops, I Hit a Limit
For the past few weeks I knew I had been filling my time with too many things that take away energy and not enough things that build it back up. I know perfectly well what those things are, and usually I am able to keep a good balance, even with all my jobs, volunteer positions, … Continue reading “Whoops, I Hit a Limit”
How to Be a Superhero, or Not
Those of you who are my friends on Facebook may notice that I don’t share very many memes, but when I do, they tend to be from the Tiny Buddha page. Tiny Buddha was founded by Lori Deschene in 2009, and has always been a favorite source of content that is both uplifting and insightful. … Continue reading “How to Be a Superhero, or Not”
Great Little Things in a Little Texas Town
Happy Lunar New Year! Like I was talking about yesterday, I’m trying to take notice of little things that bring joy. I think it’s important, even when you know perfectly well that the bigger things require attention. I just don’t want the scary stuff consuming me, because that would paralyze me and I’d get nothing … Continue reading “Great Little Things in a Little Texas Town”
Why MUST I Blind People with My Brightness?
Since I hit the big 6-0 with a splat in 2018, I’ve gotten brighter and shinier. My hair has been flaming red, orange, pink, and all colors in between. I have quite a collection of sparkly shoes. I have shiny nails, shiny jewelry, bling-y tops, and some pretty interesting glasses. In some photos, I stick … Continue reading “Why MUST I Blind People with My Brightness?”
Why Did I Post Some Long Liberal Snowflake Thing on Facebook Today?
I’ve been quiet (for me) about political leanings since before the last US Presidential election. I find that people who call other people names don’t convince anyone to change their views. And I find that, depending on where you get your information, the same events can be interpreted in astonishingly different ways (Roshomon, anyone? Look … Continue reading “Why Did I Post Some Long Liberal Snowflake Thing on Facebook Today?”
Love, Peace, Happiness. The Big Letdown
Many times, I write about how the passage of time and the learning opportunities I’ve taken advantage of have led me to be more content. And it’s true. I’m handling life’s ups and downs fairly well right now. That doesn’t mean I don’t notice what’s wrong in the world, though. All day today, I’ve been … Continue reading “Love, Peace, Happiness. The Big Letdown”
Why This Non-gambler Gambled Last Night (Introverts, Harken!)
My dear spouse is the incoming president of the Cameron Rotary Club. Thus, it was sort of his duty to attend their big yearly fund-raiser, a casino night. We never went before due to a strong dislike of crowds and an equally strong dis-interest in gambling. Heck, we never gambled when we had to go … Continue reading “Why This Non-gambler Gambled Last Night (Introverts, Harken!)”
Passive Aggressive Facebook Posts Are for Doofuses and Doofi
Gee, Suna, what are you going to rant about today? Maybe you can complain about something, and by doing so, do the thing you are complaining about. We used to have a word for that in linguistics, but never mind. At least you are presenting both alternative pluralizations of doofus, to please your friends. You … Continue reading “Passive Aggressive Facebook Posts Are for Doofuses and Doofi”
Do I Have a Right to Say Anything on This Subject?
Hey, Suna, what subject might that be, I hear the chorus asking. Well, that subject is sort of two things, but both ways of thinking about the world that sadden me, because they eliminate so much potential people AND they are self perpetuating: the poverty mindset and entitlement. My friend Mandi has loads of personal … Continue reading “Do I Have a Right to Say Anything on This Subject?”
Name Calling Is for Doofuses
Look at that. I called people doofuses. Shame on me. That’s about the worst thing I like to fling around, though. In our current troubled times, I see (and read) a lot of nasty name-calling going on. I know it’s not new, because I’ve read some doozies in old letters to the editor, which were … Continue reading “Name Calling Is for Doofuses”
Just Look at the Light
When the world seems to be falling apart even more than usual, when your efforts at doing good fall short, when you’re floundering around other people’s schedules…take a break. Sit in the sun. Watch the light change. Pet each dog who jumps on your lap in turn. Watch the dogs be goofy and play. Watch … Continue reading “Just Look at the Light”
Some New Pages
Hey readers! If any of you happen to visit the website for this blog, you will see a few new pages on the top menu. I saw a feature on someone else’s blog that I decided to imitate (especially since someone actually ASKED for this). You can now see a list of blog posts on … Continue reading “Some New Pages”
Do We NEED to Be Goal Oriented?
Ooh, this is a controversial topic in my family right now. When I first started this blog, I wrote that my main goal was to live in the moment. I’m basically sticking with that one, along with: Keep learning Be kind Like myself just as I am There. I’m done. My yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly, … Continue reading “Do We NEED to Be Goal Oriented?”
Top Posts of 2019
A blogger I enjoy (V, of Millennial Life Crisis), posted her top posts of 2019. I wondered what mine were, so I checked. Here ya go. What were these about? I’ll share in a bit. But what really interests me is that they aren’t necessarily my most fascinating posts; instead at least the first few … Continue reading “Top Posts of 2019”
Another Skill I Must Work On
Yep. I’ve found another gap in the skill set needed on my path to serenity. I have got to learn to go with the flow Today I was supposed to stay at the ranch so we could work on the chicken coop. It’s nearly sunset. I got in a whole day of Planview work. I … Continue reading “Another Skill I Must Work On”
Angsty Holiday Introspection: Christmas Eve with the Hermits
Here I sit, alone with my fellow Hermit, each of us typing on our separate keyboards, listening to a dog bark in the distance. Ah, Christmas Eve. More than one of my friends, and one family member in particular, has asked why I’ve gone out of town for the past three Christmases. So, I’ll answer … Continue reading “Angsty Holiday Introspection: Christmas Eve with the Hermits”
These Eyes…See Weird Things
Time for a ramble! The things my eyes have been seeing…and not seeing. First off, my eyes are on my mind. Yesterday was my annual eye doctor appointment, which I generally view as all those annoying things I have to look at so that I can later have lots of fun looking at frames. I … Continue reading “These Eyes…See Weird Things”
Gut Feelings, Not the Indigestion Kind
Okay, am I the only one who occasionally wakes up with a feeling that something isn’t right, but you don’t know what it is? That’s me today. I woke up with some kind of dread in the pit of my stomach, like something had gone wrong, somewhere, with someone I care about. My innards are … Continue reading “Gut Feelings, Not the Indigestion Kind”
The Introvert Party Girl
Fact about Suna: I’m what they call a “well socialized introvert.” That means my system functions as an introvert, with all that need for alone time and recharging, but people perceive me as an extrovert. In fact, I’ve been laughed at many times when I reveal what I score on personality tests. Hmph. Right now, … Continue reading “The Introvert Party Girl”
Classism Today: Keeping the Good Folks Down
Caveat time: I am aware that classism is a fact all over the world. Today I focus on small towns and use Cameron as a specific example. This doesn’t mean I think less of its citizens. It’s a great place full of many kind, caring friends and with much warmth. Yesterday I talked about how … Continue reading “Classism Today: Keeping the Good Folks Down”
Thinking about Classism: My Roots
This got long, so it’s going to be a two-parter. Here, I explain why classism offends me so much. I think I’ve dealt with as much classism in my life as racism. Both of those practices get me all riled up. It has occurred to me (this morning!) that classism in the US, especially in … Continue reading “Thinking about Classism: My Roots”
Why I’m Not Going to Tell You How to Rite
Oh, lulz, that was a joke, there. I’m not going to tell you how to perform rites, either, but I just wanted to remind you all that your Facebook posts, texts, emails, and blog comments are a safe space for you to express yourself however you want to. I’m not going to correct your grammar … Continue reading “Why I’m Not Going to Tell You How to Rite”
A Tribute to My Verbosity
I hit an unexpected milestone today. WordPress congratulated me for posting my 500th post on this blog. I feel like I just started it! However, it’s been 21 months. That’s an average of 24 posts a month. Verbose? Maybe…some of the posts are mostly photos. A few. Okay. Wordy is me. But, I do like … Continue reading “A Tribute to My Verbosity”
Don’t Let Them Squish Your Happiness
After reading the Happier Now book, I’ve been carefully observing what brings happiness into my life. What has also become clear for the past week or so is how easy it is to have your happiness squished. Now, intellectually, I’ve known this a long time. Haven’t you read somewhere that it takes some large number … Continue reading “Don’t Let Them Squish Your Happiness”
Texas Weather Weirdness AND Trouble in Kindness Land
This holiday weekend has had some rough weather all over the US, and I am grateful to have had nothing worse than fog and light rain. But still, I got quite a weather surprise last night. All day it had been damp, a bit chilly, and breezy. I was glad to have my coat on … Continue reading “Texas Weather Weirdness AND Trouble in Kindness Land”
MUST We Always Be Correct? The Conversation Killer
This morning, Anita and I were talking about how some of our circle participate in conversations. There are some issues where a couple of the folks really like to be correct and make sure everyone knows their version of the facts. Other people are sensitive about being “corrected” in public. During these conversations, I am … Continue reading “MUST We Always Be Correct? The Conversation Killer”
Friendship Is HARD
Hey, kind readers, thanks for all of your feedback on yesterday’s post about friendship and jealousy. You all gave me a lot to think about, and the BEST part was finding out I’m not alone in having difficulty becoming a member of a group of friends. It’s important to think about it, and I realize … Continue reading “Friendship Is HARD”
Jealousy and Friendship
Here’s a fact about me (I know you were dying to read one): I’ve never had many close friends. Let me explain. I always have a few people I can talk to and do stuff with. But I think I always wanted to have a group of close friends who could get together and talk, … Continue reading “Jealousy and Friendship”
What to Do When You’re Triggered?
Earlier in the week, a series of events unfolded in a group, the details of which are irrelevant. The outcome is where I’m focusing today. As people interacted, the scene became more and more like ones I went through very frequently when the organization I was working for was undergoing a crisis. And it was … Continue reading “What to Do When You’re Triggered?”
Why Be So Open?
I was rather surprised at how many people looked at my post about changing my medication and food patterns yesterday. If I were out to make money, I know what kind of stuff would work and what would not work (hint: self examination wins, plant pictures and book reports lose, unless an author tweets about … Continue reading “Why Be So Open?”
Overcommitted? Me? Maybe Not!
I read a lovely article today about a woman who was overwhelmed and realized the work she was doing had nothing to do with her actual talents or things she enjoyed doing. She got therapy, pondered a while, and POOF, she’s now living on a goat farm in a yurt, perfectly happy to enjoy a … Continue reading “Overcommitted? Me? Maybe Not!”
Fire Hair
Most of you know that I’ve been playing with hair color for the past few years. It has been blue, maroon, pink, purple, and white. Why? Who knows? It was fun. Especially since I started using this Overtime stuff. It doesn’t hurt my hair and fades fast enough that I don’t get sick of any … Continue reading “Fire Hair”
Moments of Zen
This is one of the most interesting times in my life, at least as far as my mental state goes. Why so interesting? Oddly enough, it’s because I’m not in a tizzy about anything. It’s not because my life has suddenly turned out to be like I imagined adulthood would be as a child, where … Continue reading “Moments of Zen”
Why I Had a Happy Childhood
Things just hit you sometimes. Yesterday I was walking toward Rowdy the Rental Audi in the work parking garage, and I got a flashback of being a kid. I’d talked about missing my parents earlier in the day, which probably prompted the experience. I suddenly felt the heavy weight of the humidity at my house … Continue reading “Why I Had a Happy Childhood”
Smiles. Yes!
I suck at wallowing in self pity these days. After a day or two I hug my inner child and set my sadness on a mental shelf. That works until I start dreaming about whatever the issue is, which shows my subconscious is processing away. So I’m bruised and battered by the last few days, … Continue reading “Smiles. Yes!”
Thanks to Everyone Who Ever Sent Me Flowers
Sad times come to everyone. It’s part of life. When you’re sad and feeling unloved, nothing beats having the people who do love and care about you remind you that you aren’t alone. Today, my therapist and friend listened to me, affirmed my experience, and gave me flowers. That’s about all you can do, but … Continue reading “Thanks to Everyone Who Ever Sent Me Flowers”
The Good Folks
The Good Folks The Good Folks — Read on millenniallifecrisis.org/2019/09/09/the-good-folks/ Please read this. I really appreciate this fellow blogger. And I truly am grateful for all the truly good people who have filled my life. Truly. (Repetition is not always bad.)
Family Stuff and Coping
Tell you what, it’s been a whirlwind around here the past couple of days. Lots of it’s been fun, but there has also been challenging stuff. Kathleen, Lee, and I have made a kind of unspoken pact to just go with the flow as our plans constantly shift due to weird circumstances. We’ve just been … Continue reading “Family Stuff and Coping”
In Which I Try Poop Coffee*
*We were only calling it poop coffee or butt coffee as we laughed our way through our beverages… The thing is, I always tell people I’m willing to try any food, at least once. So, when my colleague Chriztine decided she was interested in trying the coffee pictured at right, I (and two other coworkers) … Continue reading “In Which I Try Poop Coffee*”
How Do You Form and Maintain Community?
Monday evening we expanded our usual guest list to include some new people, in honor of Labor Day. We invited our cabin tenant, Tyler, along with his wife, Yanelly, who just moved to town. We also invited our new friends, Kayla and Matt, who recently bought a house from us and now live next to … Continue reading “How Do You Form and Maintain Community?”
Crisis of Faith…or Denomination
FIRST: To all my long-time church friends. Don’t panic. You are still my friends and will always be. And to the current and former ministers at the church I’ve been a member of, it’s not you. You have my deepest respect and admiration. That said, in the back of my mind, I’ve been thinking about … Continue reading “Crisis of Faith…or Denomination”
Educating the Old F…olks
Yesterday I went on just a bit about how certain types of “educational” efforts directed at the older generation may not work as well as they could (unless the aim really IS to shame people and make yourself look “woke” or whatever the current term for that is). Today, I want to remind myself, and … Continue reading “Educating the Old F…olks”
Shame and Call-out Culture
FIRST: I freely admit to being over 60 and that I became a feminist in the 70s. There are many reasons for people to be unhappy about those facts, but there they are. I did not grow up in a culture where it was considered a good idea to make sure that everyone in your … Continue reading “Shame and Call-out Culture”
More Gentle Memories, Why?
Surprisingly, at least to me, I had a really had time dealing with the flood of memories that came up when I opened that box of letters Monday night. I had a huge reaction where all the things I used to feel about myself and other people whomped me but good. I really had boxed … Continue reading “More Gentle Memories, Why?”
Boxes of Tears: I Found the 80s
Why do people keep their old love letters, breakup letters, heartbreaking letters…? Heck if I know. To be honest, I didn’t realize I was one of those letter-saving people until tonight. Anita and I were doing our weekly box opening, when we found a box of a variety of personal treasures. I found Lee’s first … Continue reading “Boxes of Tears: I Found the 80s”
People and Dogs: Doing Some Reading
I’m very thankful that I have some brilliant people among my Facebook friends and that many of them share what they’ve been reading. In the past couple of days, I’ve read and shared a few articles that I want to talk about today. You might like them, too. Dogs One article was on how we … Continue reading “People and Dogs: Doing Some Reading”
Whew. I’m Irrational.
I’m really having a harder than usual time listening to people lumping me in with some group of tantrum-prone babies because I have differing opinions from them. I’m not using my best words, either, which doesn’t help. I can work on me, though, after listening to my friends’ criticisms of me. It is so hard … Continue reading “Whew. I’m Irrational.”
Thrifting for Dollars: My Why
It’s really been a hard time in the country where I live, and it seems like we are heading more and more to divisiveness and violence. My goal is to do what I can to encourage us all to remember that we are also capable of love and caring, even for people different from ourselves. … Continue reading “Thrifting for Dollars: My Why”
Confessions of a Reluctant Unpacker
I’ve shared some of my “issues” before, but here’s the one I feel worst about. I truly hate unpacking. From trips to big moves, I hate it all. The reasons are not clear to me. But I have only a certain amount of unpacking energy that has to be used quickly before it goes away … Continue reading “Confessions of a Reluctant Unpacker”
You’re TOO Sensitive
My gosh, have I heard that little put-down way too many times in my life. It mostly came from my father. Sometimes it came from my mother or my brother or my sister, or especially my grandmother. Whoever said it got me even more huffy. Soon I’d cry and ALSO be a crybaby. Being sensitive … Continue reading “You’re TOO Sensitive”
Ghosts from the Past (good ones)
I’m not sure why this is the case, but when I was younger, I never looked back. When I left a place or an institution, I was really bad at maintaining ties. For example, I didn’t remain in touch with any friends from high school (other than my boyfriend, since he was with me in … Continue reading “Ghosts from the Past (good ones)”
Hate. What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing.
Hate seems to be cropping up all over the place. It’s not just “those other people I don’t like” that seem to be full of hate, but people close to me. I’ve been paying more attention lately to how people use the word “hate” in conversation, and I’ve also been thinking hard about my own … Continue reading “Hate. What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing.”
Life Is Complicated: Fiber Arts Department
I can see why so many people I know are staying away from online communities, even though they provide such great ways to stay in touch, make new friends, and feel less isolated. It just seems IMPOSSIBLE to create a community where people treat each other with respect and dignity. Name calling and blaming seem … Continue reading “Life Is Complicated: Fiber Arts Department”
Leave Me Alone, Nighttime Patriarchy!
You know how your childhood issues, fears, and old patterns haunt you no matter how hard you try to move past them? (If you don’t, wow, you’re one exceptional human.) That’s certainly a struggle I’ve dealt with my whole life, or at least since I’ve realized you actually might be able to move past such … Continue reading “Leave Me Alone, Nighttime Patriarchy!”
A Perspective on Anxiety
Hi, friends. I interrupt this period of “hermiting” to share a little bit of what I’ve learned about myself and how I handle stress and anxiety now as opposed to how I used to. I’m hoping it might help someone else to at least realize they aren’t the only ones with these confounding symptoms. I’m … Continue reading “A Perspective on Anxiety”
What Gives a Person Nightmares (and more Gainesville Stuff)
Here’s more on our adventures in Gainesville, Florida. My hometown! One more stop We had plenty of time, so we visited a small museum that highlighted Gainesville history, the Matheson Museum. There was an exhibit on modern buildings of Gainesville, which featured many places familiar to me from the 1960s. We also found postcards of … Continue reading “What Gives a Person Nightmares (and more Gainesville Stuff)”
A Strong Sense of Place
Prior to finding the Hermits’ Rest, I knew it was possible to have a physical attachment to a specific location. I may have written before about how my body feels better when I’m in the place where I grew up, in Florida. Is it magnetism? Pleasant memories? A placebo effect? I don’t know, but I’ve … Continue reading “A Strong Sense of Place”
Blessings/Prayers: A New Understanding
I have been thinking a lot about the idea of being blessed, praying for others, and sending out prayers. That’s kind of a weird thing for me to be thinking about, to be honest, since I have been an agnostic for most of my life, and not someone who “believes in” a particular deity.* Organized … Continue reading “Blessings/Prayers: A New Understanding”
Grateful for Insights
I was feeling pretty crummy today. I guess grief hit me hard. I asked my Facebook community friends to share things that brought them joy recently, thinking it might help. I was smart. It did help. I highly recommend reaching out and asking for help when you need it. It will remind you that people … Continue reading “Grateful for Insights”
Is This Thing On?
At work, we got access to new video hosting platform, and I saw that they have a free extension for Chrome that lets you record short videos, with your webcam embedded, so you can talk to people and show them things on your computer. It’s called Vidyard GoVideo, and it’s Canadian! I had some fun … Continue reading “Is This Thing On?”
The Problem with Pink (My Feminist Prejudices)
As of last night, my hair is a no longer blue. It’s a rather vibrant shade of pink, or fuschia as Anita prefers. I am currently still startling myself when I see my reflection in the mirror, so this one’s going to take a bit of getting used to. I chose pink because I ran … Continue reading “The Problem with Pink (My Feminist Prejudices)”
What’s Your Favorite Word?
A couple of days ago, as thoughts were passing through my consciousness, it just popped up, “My favorite word is ‘friend.’” Friend You’ve got a …. making friends for the world to see … one is silver and the other gold Huh. I wondered where the heck that thought came from, and the first thing … Continue reading “What’s Your Favorite Word?”
Flowers Have Power
For some reason I was thinking about “flower power,” which those of us who were young a long dang time ago used to embroider on our jeans. If we had VW Beetles, we’d put happy flower stickers all over them, too. I was really into peace symbols, but I was always cheered up when I … Continue reading “Flowers Have Power”
We’re a YEAR Old!
This is the first post I accidentally posted as a page, not a blog post. Hooray! Our little blog is a year old! I’m happy to have over a hundred followers, since so much of what I write is so I’ll remember stuff that happened. It’s been great sharing my nature observations, rants, and thoughts … Continue reading “We’re a YEAR Old!”
Ups and Downs
We all have them. There are just some times when the difficulties, negative surroundings, and struggles to get things done just overwhelm us. Today I feel that way. My hip hurts. Things break at work. Friends and family are sick or injured. I miss my kids. I know I’ll feel better soon, because I have … Continue reading “Ups and Downs”
A Bubbly Question
So, I know there are a lot of words for fizzy beverages that many people drink (my favorite is sparkling water, so don’t lecture me). But I just thought it was redundant to label this occasional treat beverage as “sparkling flavored soda.” Isn’t all soda sparkling? The word “sparkling” is hard to read. Do the … Continue reading “A Bubbly Question”
Why Is Facebook So Happy? Or Is It?
I have a Facebook friend (I’ll call her MR, since those are her initials) whose wisdom I admire very much. I’d like to share some of her thoughts and add my own. She recently posted: As I scroll the feed and see endless perfection and happiness, I reflect on my childhood, youth, teens, to adulthood … Continue reading “Why Is Facebook So Happy? Or Is It?”
What’s Wrong with My Age?
Sometimes an article floats by on Facebook that really makes me think. Yesterday, this article on the perks of aging that no one talks about did that. The article talks about a woman named Ashton Applewhite, who has been writing about aging and ageism for a while. She spends a lot of time blogging, writing … Continue reading “What’s Wrong with My Age?”
Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream
I think the James Taylor concert I went to gave me strange vibes. I got home a bit late, thanks to having to retrieve my tiny purse from a locker (only clear bags at concerts!), so that probably helped. So I dreamed that my husband, Lee, and I were going to a conference or something … Continue reading “Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream”
A Digression on Working in Austin
Resumes are on my mind, since I looked at dozens yesterday. Today, I need to digress from posting about nature and my endless “deep thoughts” to share some observations I’ve had about people in my field (broadly, technical writing and instructional design). There’s a job opening on my team where I work in Austin. It’s … Continue reading “A Digression on Working in Austin”
Universal Needs
The past few days, I’ve been fixated on what all of us human beings have in common. I guess a lot of this has been because I’ve been reading Barbara Kingsolver’s book on the Congo, The Poisonwood Bible, for the neighborhood book club. I’ve also been learning about life in the 1930s for members of … Continue reading “Universal Needs”
The Long Way to Fearlessness: Meditation
[By the way, if your personal tradition doesn’t like the word “meditation,” you can substitute “prayer” or something else that works.] Believe it or not, the habit I have cultivated for the longest time is meditation. I probably came to it for self defense; I had a very, very busy brain as a young person. … Continue reading “The Long Way to Fearlessness: Meditation”
What Is a “Joiner?”
Many years ago, my friend Sensei Larry took a look at how many committees at the church we were members of, and he said, “Wow, you’re really a joiner, aren’t you?” I was quite indignant. I am NOT a joiner. I’m a hermit, dang it! I hate joining things. Ugh! Groups! People! Conflict! I started … Continue reading “What Is a “Joiner?””
Fearless. Am I? Are You?
Get ready for some heavy introspection! In the past couple of years, a big change has come over me. I’ve been spending some time reflecting on how the way I interact with people and the world in general has changed for the better. I’ve been wondering what the heck sparked the welcome change, and whether … Continue reading “Fearless. Am I? Are You?”
It’s Time to Thrive
A couple of days ago, I was talking to my younger son and his partner about how our family has been able to overcome a lot of challenges lately and seems to be pulling out of our ruts, doing what needs to be done, and beginning to thrive. We spent a few moments marveling at … Continue reading “It’s Time to Thrive”
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