Sunday Inspiration: Twenty Second Meditations

Twenty second meditations. Can we accomplish anything important in such a short time? We’ve all heard what we should do to keep from catching and/or passing along the coronavirus: Stay away from others, especially if they’re sick, Avoid large gatherings Wash our hands on a regular basis Not only wash them but WASH them, thoroughly…

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Salvador Dali Visits Selby Gardens

This past weekend, Proman and I visited one of our favorite artists, Salvador Dali, along with one of our favorite places, Selby Gardens, photos of which I’ve shared with you in years past on my Facebook Page. I always enjoy wandering the gorgeous grounds with their wide variety of lush plants and spacious greenhouse filled with  exquisitely…

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Sunday Inspiration: Happiness is…

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony“. -Mahatma Gandhi Are you a happy person? That’s a hard question to answer, isn’t it? Happiness is elusive for many people, and when it’s most elusive,  it’s usually because we assume it’s someone else’s responsibility to make us happy.…

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What Sparks Joy?

So what sparks joy in your life? OK, let’s start in your closet. That’s where Marie Kondo begins her tantalizing revolution, tangled up with the socks and undies. Marie Kondo is of course the author of the tidying up books that have become amazingly popular. She teaches us how to organize our closets using a…

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Sunday Inspiration: Words from Reinhold Niebuhr

“Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must he saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we are saved…

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Writing With Others: A Conversation Turned Blog

While the title today is writing with others, let me first talk about reading with others instead. As many of you probably remember, I’ve mentioned my book discussion group, which has been in existence for more than twenty years. It began as an offshoot of a small group of writers in the Cleveland, OH area.…

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Sunday Inspiration: Mardi Gras in New Orleans

“New Orleans is unlike any city in America. Its cultural diversity is woven into the food, the music, the architecture — even the local superstitions. It’s a sensory experience on all levels and there’s a story lurking around every corner.” — Ruta Sepetys I miss New Orleans most of all this time of year when…

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Romance Scams: When Love Really Isn’t

Today, after we’ve just celebrated real romance on Valentine’s Day, I’m sharing information I found in today’s Sarasota Herald-Tribune about romance scams. Since these suggestions come straight from the FBI, I’m sure they want this information to be read by any and all who might be affected. The Herald-Tribune article concerned internet scams on the…

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Sunday Inspiration: All That We Share

“Sometimes it’s difficult to find the things that we, as human beings, have in common. We live in times when the ‘Us vs Them’ narrative has become mainstream. We get caught up in minutiae and risk losing sight of what binds us, rather than divides us. This Danish television station ad, entitled “All that we…

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The Academy Awards: What We Didn’t See

In 2019 I saw seven of the eight films nominated for an Oscar as Best Picture by the  Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. For me, 2019 was a great year at the cinema. Looking back at that list, I realize I even saw one of the Oscar nominees, Black Panther, twice, as well…

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