When the shadows grow deep and long, I scramble for the light. For the pocket of sunshine hitting the deck at 1 o'clock, the sun-soaked front step, or curled up cat-like on the window seat. For a brief moment, the blazing maple casts its own glow. Hungrily, I soak it in. The cicadas sleep or … Continue reading October
The kids needed a break about three miles into our family bike adventure. We found a resting spot off of the trail and climbed off of our bikes. We were chatting and drinking water when I noticed that the trail was empty in both directions. We were miles from any roads. "Hey, People. Stop talking. … Continue reading The Search for a Quiet Life
Something has been off between me and a person I love. I don't know that the feeling is mutual. It could be all me. But sometimes I feel my heart hardening, and I don't know why. The other day, I sat down to spend some time in quiet. Unease toward this loved one surfaced. "What … Continue reading Changing the Rhythm of Seeing Another
"Be where your feet are." A few years ago, a yoga instructor suggested using this phrase as an intention for our practice that evening. "Be where your feet are" shot straight to my heart and hasn't left --the thought, not, unfortunately, the practice of that thought. Maybe the instructor was talking about being present, paying attention … Continue reading Belonging in my Feet
The other day, my boys were discussing world peace, an unusually weighty topic for the two of them. "I wish there were no wars," my 6-year-old lamented. "Yeah, me too," the 9-year-old added. "Why do people have to fight?" "You know, we could start by start practicing world peace at home." I suggested. The boys rolled … Continue reading Practicing Peace
Image from The Gift of Writing Sharing my words is hard sometimes. I don’t always like the emotions that crop up after I share. Sometimes I’ve wondered if I even should be sharing. What if I just can’t handle the aftermath? But the good things in life rarely come easily, do they? Just because being … Continue reading When You Realize You are Enough
Image from The Gift of Writing According to Thomas Merton, a vocation, like writing, is a gift we are given in order to give it back. He says, In religious terms, this is simply a matter of accepting life, and everything in life as a gift, and clinging to none of it, as far as … Continue reading Why Do You Write?
“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it." --Brene Brown Do you ever stop to look at your life and ask, "How did I get here?" Sometimes, a small moment or conversation sets you on a course that changes everything. Sometimes these small moments require … Continue reading It All Started When I Owned My Doubt
For the last few years, a chalk-board sign above my kitchen sink reminded me to "Love people. Cook them tasty food." (Thank you Penzey's.) Unfortunately, my idea of tasty food differs drastically from my family's idea of tasty food. The idea of loving people by making them tasty food only made me cranky: I am … Continue reading May the Light of Your Soul Bless Your Work
I burned a pot of rice the other day. The rice smelled like cigarettes. The pan took about an hour and a whole lot of Bar Keeper's Friend to clean. (Bar Keeper's Friend is a good friend of mine.) Burning food is one of my wake-up calls--a pretty obvious sign that I need to start paying … Continue reading Distractible Me
Jessica Sanborn 