Long before the end of 2018, I knew what my One Little Word for 2019 would be: Balance. Publishing two books in one year took a toll on me, and I knew I had to do things differently from now on. Elizabeth Gilbert would call me a “jackhammer” because I drill down on my passion for writing to the exclusion of everything else. I get so caught up in my writing, or editing, or revising that I can’t believe it’s bedtime and I haven’t moved from my desk all day. When I’m writing, I set a timer so I’ll get Read More
Tag: “One Little Word”
My “One Little Word” for 2018: BALANCE
In a Super Soul Session, Elizabeth Gilbert talks about hummingbirds and jackhammers. My friend Lisa is a hummingbird. I so admire her curiosity and willingness to try new things. Conversations with Lisa are like a feast as she tells me about the books she’s reading and the myriad activities she’s involved in. She, like a hummingbird, samples many of life’s rich experiences. Elizabeth Gilbert says hummingbirds are “cross-pollenating the world with their creativity and openness to new ideas.” A lovely image. I am a jackhammer. I drill down, laser-focused on my passion—writing. Elizabeth Gilbert says the gift of the jackhammer Read More
“One Little Word” for Maui: Unencumbered
I’m the kind of person who carries my iPhone with me everywhere…yes, everywhere. On the rare occasion that I drive off leaving my device on the kitchen table, I feel an overwhelming anxiety, and I ask myself, “How did we live without our cell phones?’ Then I chastise myself for drinking the Kool-Aid of technology. We recently spent a week in Maui. #bucketlist I pledged that I would spend the week enjoying time with my husband, Rich, and the beauty of Hawaii and leave all else behind. Not easy to do when I am connected to technology via my computer, phone, Read More
My “One Little Word” for 2017
When I first discovered the “One Little Word” challenge, I chose “Embracing” as my one little word for 2015. Last year, my word was “Passion” partly inspired by my Passion Planner, a gift from my son, Matt, and daughter-in-law, Rachel. For 2017, I have chosen “Perspective” …or should I say it has chosen me. In art, “Perspective” means depicting objects so their spatial relationship to each other and the viewer is clear by diminishing the size of objects in the distance. In writing, as in life, it is a point of view. Recently, I have come to realize that not everyone Read More
Recognizing Passion in the Pokémon Go Craze
Our daughter and grandkids just left after a five-day visit. It was Grandma heaven. We spent one afternoon at the beach on Lake Michigan. The waves were perfect—high whitecaps that never ended. Molly and Papa Rich were in the water for almost two hours. Tommy joined them occasionally, but was more interested in following Pokémon Go along the beach and pier. I accompanied him once so he could venture out to the end of the pier in search of Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle. As I followed along behind him, I had to steer him out of the path of Read More