Sunday Inspiration: Words Have Power

“Your words have power and energy — causing a ripple effect in your body and the world around you. Speak with kindness and generosity.” -GratitudeHabitat.com I’ve learned as an author how important words are in our lives. Not only in books, but in everything we say and write there is a power and energy that…

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Sunday Inspiration: Finding Happiness

“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness — it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” – Brene Brown Lately I’ve found these words to be so true. As we travel from our home in Chautauqua, New York, to our home in Sarasota, Florida, we’re visiting all…

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Hiking Through Life: What’s Your Style?

I just returned from Southern Utah where Proman and I spent ten days hiking in the five spectacular national parks there. We started with an overnight in Las Vegas–what a great place to people watch–and then set off to hike in Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands parks, before returning to Las Vegas early…

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Sunday Inspiration: The Forest Man

Are you frustrated and depressed with all the terrible news and suffering in the world? Are you ready for hope and inspiration? I certainly am. I’m desperate for good news about kindness and generosity — which I try to share with you as often here as possible. Recently I found this story about the Forest…

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Gone Hiking

I’m writing this before I discover what Hurricane Irma has in store for Florida, which is clearly going to be life-changing for many people in my home state–and possibly Proman and me. In the meantime we’re taking a long-planned hiking trip to the Utah parks to celebrate Proman’s recent birthday, and I’m practicing what I…

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Sunday Inspiration: Coping With Tragedy

“When you go through tragedy, you can either let it destroy you and you become bitter and never let it go, or you can let it make you stronger and let it make you grow…” -Evanescence There has been far too much suffering in our nation these past few weeks with fires raging in the…

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Six Ways to Nurture Your Creativity

Are you working on a book? A quilt? A new recipe? Do you paint, compose, crochet or knit? If you do, you know that some mornings you wake up and nothing’s there. No ideas, visions, plans, and most of all no energy. It’s time to find ways to nurture your creativity. All creative people (and…

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Sunday Inspiration: Harvey’s Heroes

Witnessing the devastation and suffering in Texas has been difficult. The tragic consequences of Hurricane Harvey have reminded me of the terrible destruction of Hurricane Katrina where so many of our friends lived — and where we lived before the storm. I have cried tears for all the many victims of this historic flood, but…

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Aspiring Authors Wanted

Chautauqua Institution, where I spend my summers, is famous for porches nestled together, usually just feet from the road. For the most part it’s also a pedestrian community, so put all that together and you have. . . A distinct lack of privacy. It’s not unusual for me to run for the phone in my…

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Sunday Inspiration: Vote With Your Fork

Eat food Not too much Mostly plants — Michael Pollan The theme of last week — the last of the  Chautauqua season — was one of my favorite subjects: food. “At the Table: Our Changing Relationship With Food” had fascinating lectures, a food festival every day, and inspiring revelations about how to eat better. Here…

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