Social Commentary
-
The Lost Art of Letter Writing
There is a charm to letters and cards that emails and smses can’t ever replicate, you cannot inhale them, drawing the fragrance of where they have been mailed from, the feel of paper in your hand bearing the weight of the words they contain within. Kiran Manral A friend was telling me about a book…
-
The Serenity of Santa Fe
Be careful when speaking. You create the world around you with your words. Navajo Quote During our trip to Santa Fe, I noticed a captivating painting at the La Fonda Hotel where we stayed. The Navajo artist infuses the artwork with a meaningful cultural significance, particularly in this region steeped in rich traditions. I’m drawn…
-
Selective Memory
Chihuly Garden and Glass, Denver Botanic Gardens Memory is so selective; wishful thinking presses it into service all the time. Fay Weldon I have the unfortunate habit of seeing what should be there instead of what is there when I proofread my writing. Thankfully, AI has made my life much easier in this regard by…
-
Life’s Journeys
Santa Fe, New Mexico The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected. Robert Frost Life has taken another turn. My husband’s retirement marks a significant milestone in our lives, and we’re excited to embark on a trip to Santa Fe to celebrate. He worked several years beyond my own retirement, and I knew he would…
-
Gardening and Housekeeping
A household has to be tended to flourish and grow. Housework is never ‘done’ in the same sense that gardening is never done or that God’s providential involvement in the world is never done. Margaret Kim Peterson A couple of weeks ago I wrote about my aversion to cooking in, The Joy of Cooking or Not.…
-
Happiness Amid Chaos
Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude. Denis Waitley Happiness, an elusive emotion, seems to be slipping away from me in a country plagued by petty and hateful behavior. The constant turmoil that surrounds me makes it increasingly…
-
The Invisible Aging Woman
Botanica Chair, Olga and Aleksey Ivanov (“Idea for a ghost story: a woman gets old and falls out of time and realizes she’s invisible.)” Emily St. John Mandel As women age, do they become invisible in society, particularly in America, where youth is often prioritized? As we age, we are perceived as less valuable and…
-
Moving Forward
I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then. Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland Life presents moments that I yearn to relive, while others leave me longing for their conclusion. I must admit that I’m not unhappy with this phase of my life. Contrary to popular belief, aging isn’t a relentless…
-
Influence
I believe that, more than anything else, the grief of constantly having to face down our own inadequacies is what keeps us from being writers. Forgiveness, therefore, is key. I can’t write the book I want to write, but I can and will write the book I am capable of writing. Again and again throughout…
Aging with Grace 