My Turn to Stay
By the time we’d wrapped the Jordan almonds in circles of tulle tied with pink ribbon, the smile on my mom’s face had faded into the blank emptiness I knew so well; that scared me and made my stomach hurt. The lights were on but the room felt dark. No more joking around ~ putting tulle […]
5 Tips for the Keeper of the Family Treasures
I watched my in-laws’ tidy bedroom closets fill with suitcases and clothes after each of their parents died. Add to this the odd table, chairs, hutches, and antique Victrola that migrated to the basement family room, which transformed into a maze you’d see in an episode of Hoarders – the couch piled with boxes, the […]
Life on Life’s Terms
“All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy. Because what we leave behind is part of us. One must grieve for what has gone, before starting something new” ~ Anatole France What day is it? I ask myself each morning. I’m serious. And I have to think carefully before answering. I’m not always right, […]
A Meditation ~ to ease fear
On March 1st, I had the pleasure of speaking at Body Bliss Yoga Studio in Camus WA as part of the Ripple Wellness Sunday Meditation Series. I spoke about the importance of releasing fear, lessening our anxiety, and living with a heart-centered focus in times fraught with uncertainty and stress. Introducing an approach I call […]
How Travel Can Help You Become the Woman You Want to Be
“I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.” ~ Lillian Smith Travel saved my life. Or to be less dramatic, travel opened my eyes. Then I made changes to save my life. My mother was an […]
The Meaning of Legacy
(Hint: It’s Not a Resume) As a stay-at-home mom, I used to dread meeting new people at social events. After initial pleasantries, so often the exchange would come to an awkward, grinding halt when they asked me “…and what do you do?” Though I loved raising my children at home I found this occupation to […]
Write Your Memoir in Ireland
Leading tours to Ireland with my husband came as a result of a happy coincidence. I’ve organized, led, co-led, and facilitated retreats, tours, conferences and seminars along the West Coast, and many in the West of Ireland. In my practice as a transition/life coach, I love the transformations that magically come forward on retreats when […]
In the Shape of a Heart
“There must be always remaining in every life, some place for the singing of angels, some place for that which in itself is breathless and beautiful.” ~ Howard Thurman If I chose one earthly thing that I’ve delighted in my entire life it would be window boxes filled with flowers. I hope they exist wherever […]
Air Water Fire & Earth
“They both listened silently to the water, which to them was not just water, but the voice of life, the voice of Being, the voice of perpetual Becoming.” ~ Hermann Hesse These days I seek what comforts me; today, I didn’t have to ~ the rain came to me. Waking to the splashing sound of tires […]
Trust Your Heart
“We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.” ~ May Sarton After spending three months in Ireland and two months finding and settling into our new home in Mill Creek, WA, I’m back at my desk again. My “desk” is a comfy down chair with an ottoman. […]