Simply Splendid Life

As a child, I looked forward to the first day of school. Part of it was being able to use my new crayons, notebooks and pencils. There were also new clothes, a new teacher and the chance to make new friends. And surely my new shoes would help me run faster than before. I’d go…

Long before it was the name of my business, it was a phrase I’d heard in a Bible study. Those words resonated with me. Three small words that expressed a big longing in my soul. In the busyness and hardships of life, we all need pockets of peace. I began saying it to friends at…

While others hurry to start decorating for Christmas, I’m slowly savoring a month of thanksgiving. A month of noticing little blessings all around me. Listening to scripture reading and prayer while I practice gentle yoga, working out the kinks of body and soul. The scent of cinnamon, cloves and ginger on my oatmeal. All that…

I’m delighted by a blank space on my calendar that allows for a long meander. Heading out after breakfast, with both belly and water bottle filled, I often decide the path I’ll take once I’m on the greenway. Turning left is a route only for days when I’m short on time. Turning right opens up…

I’m not someone who has ever been described as being driven. There aren’t any quarterly, yearly or 5 year goals written on a vision board. No lofty ideas of reaching a level of professional status or net worth. I’m a quietly competent person who pays bills on time, exercises, eats well, drives a 15 year…

After many years of being a flight attendant, as well as taking several subways, I am well acquainted with the above phrase. It has always been a reference to safety, a reminder to be aware of your surroundings. I am all about safety in all situations, but recently these words took on new meaning for…

I’m delighted by the variety of friends who bless my life. Their personalities all have different nuances that make them unique and interesting. Far too often we compare ourselves to others, wanting what someone else has and feeling that we come up short. But how boring life would be if everyone had the same look,…

Knowing and naming what you have to offer – wisdom, resolve, clarity, joy, discernment, humor – is a gift to everyone in the room. And doing so from an awareness and acceptance of your own spiritual personality and personal core values will allow your offering to be completely yours. -Emily P. Freeman In Bob Goff’s…

The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. -Frank Lloyd Wright Since I was a small child I have appreciated the beauty of nature. I remember savoring the smell of sunshine on pine needles, the burble of a stream, and walks in the woods noticing the the warm color of fallen trees with exposed…

For several years now I have kept a gratitude journal. Each day’s entry is one long run-on sentence that always starts with “Father God, thank you for…” I began this practice during a hard period of my life when I needed to focus on all the blessings around me so I wouldn’t get bogged down…

“An artist must have down time, time to do nothing. Defending our right to such time takes courage, conviction, and resiliency. An artist requires the upkeep of creative solitude. An artist requires the healing of time alone.” -Julian Cameron When I retired from flying 3 years ago, I began to think of what I could…

I’m delighted by things that are inexpensive, easy to use and efficient. Baking soda ticks all these boxes and more, and one large bag from Costco will last a long time. Of course it’s used in baking, but it’s also great for cleaning your home. I use it to scour sinks and toilets, occasionally adding…

Snuggled in sweaters Sipping hot drinks The cool morning air on our skin Basking in the beauty Of bright autumn leaves And watching the day begin Dew on the grass Sparkles in sunlight Spiderwebs glisten as well Mushrooms pop out of the ground overnight As if conjured up by a spell This season delights me…

It all started with a smoothie. Although not a spender by nature, I had decided to buy a Vitamix. I was so excited to make my first smoothie in it. The berries, bananas and a variety of sprinkles all spun around, blending into my breakfast. I poured in into an insulated cup and took a…

The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. -Frank Lloyd Wright I’ve always enjoyed celebrating my birthday. When I was a child it was about the fancy cake and getting to choose what I wanted for dinner. Turning 10 was a big deal, to be double digits, and turning 16 came with a driver’s…

One of the things I enjoy about spring is how it arrives slowly and changes often. Even with the mild winters of North Carolina, I’m delighted to notice tiny buds and sprinkles of green as new leaves start to appear. Wildflower blossoms arrive as if scattered like confetti. Birdsong fills the air Spring green leaves,…

A beginning is ultimately an invitation to open towards the gifts and growth that are stored up for us. -John O’Donohue I’m delighted by the first day of each month. A new page of the calendar, with boxes yet unfilled. I soon write in my regular weekly activities of church, work and volunteering. Being a…

The rain has been scarce The sun blazing hot I sway to and fro in the breeze I dig my roots deeper Then go deeper still To soak up the moisture I need Nestled in rocks Alongside the path Yet far from the shade of the trees I give the bees pollen The birds, faded…

My first reaction when I opened the party invitation was to say no. Although I love people, my preference is for one on one connection, not a crowded room with many conversations around me. Fortunately, I try to pause and pray before making decisions, and my friend had sent out the invitation early enough so…

Are you someone who makes New Year’s resolutions, or do you choose to focus on a word for the year? For 2024 my word chose me. There was no praying and pondering over what it should be. In fact, I hadn’t actually given it any thought. Instead there was just an echo of this word…

The unexamined life is not worth living. -Socrates We do not learn from our experience. We learn from reflecting on experience. -John Dewey The theme for last month’s yoga retreat was reflection. We spent four days looking back over this year, considering where we are in life and how we got there. On the first…

Posted on October 18, 2023 Sometimes a small, simple action can grow into something we never imagined. For me, that has been sharing beauty. I was not a person who used a camera on a regular basis, but shortly after getting my first iPhone I realized how easy it was to take and share pictures.…

Posted on July 12, 2023 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24 What is the best compliment you’ve ever received? I’ve asked several people this question over the years. Some people make a joke about getting so many compliments that it’s hard to choose just one.…

Posted on June 1, 2023 I’ve recently started writing out my prayers every morning. It starts with a long list of gratitude as I reflect on the blessings of the previous day: the cool morning air and birdsong coming through my open window while I practice yoga, breakfast in the garden, library books, lunch with…

Posted May 20,2023 What is the kindest thing a stranger has done for you? Someone who doesn’t expect anything in return, who has no emotional connection to you, but just because of who they are they reach out in kindness. I hope you can quickly thing of small things done on a regular basis. Maybe…

Posted on May 20, 2023 When your heart has been tuned to God, your joy has an effect on those around you. -Tim Keller Would you stand in line to shake someone’s hand? I remember a colleague saying there were few people that he would stand in line for to shake their hand, then he…

Posted on April 19,2023 To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles. -Mary Davis I’m a firm believer in the importance of finding out what nourishes your soul then doing it often. What form that takes can be many things for many people, but for me, a walk in nature is at the…

For my greatest skill has been to want but little. -Thoreau What three things couldn’t you live without? To be clear, I don’t mean food, water and shelter. Also removed from acceptable answers is anything with a pulse. What are three things that give you an inordinate amount of pleasure, that can make an ick…

Posted on April 4, 2023 According to Dictionary.com, luxury is a material object, service, etc., conductive to sumptuous living, usually a delicacy, elegance, or refinement of living rather than a necessity. I must say that I like the idea of elegance and refinement of living. Although I choose to and delight in living a simple…

Posted on December 28, 2022 A few years ago I read Gretchen Rubin’s book entitled Happier at Home. Although she was already a happy person, she decided to give thought to things she could do to make her even happier. I was reminded of this book recently as I started thinking about how I could…

Posted December 14, 2022 As Christmas approaches, there’s a buzz in the air as people decorate their homes, attend parties, shop for gifts, write out cards, etc. For some this is a happy buzz, for others it can be stressful and overwhelming, actually leading to a dread of Christmas. As a self proclaimed introvert, I…

I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet simple things of life which are the real ones after all. Laura Ingalls Wilder As much as I enjoy teaching yoga, the 1 hour time frame often seems a bit rushed to me. There’s this beautiful stillness at the end of class as people slowly…