"People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."   Abraham Lincoln  When I read that quote, I imagine I can hear Mr. Lincoln saying those words in a down-to-earth, folksy manner.  Simple, matter-of-fact, this is how it is.  My heart really warms to it, even though it seems TOO simple.  I [...]

Over the last six months, three of my dear friends have lost their spouses.  Each time, I've been shaken by it, but I guess this third one has felt like a real wake up call.  All the cliches apply:  Life is short; Life is precious; Don't take life for granted; etc.  I want to throw [...]

Yesterday, I received a "you've got to see this" email from a friend.  She was absolutely right, even though at first glance, I was thinking "Oh, brother!  What is THIS?"    Here is the link to an amazing video: http://www.maniacworld.com/Phone-Salesman-Amazes-Crowd.html  I'm not an opera fan and I don't have much appreciation for these talent shows, [...]

I've been fortunate enough to get to spend the last week with my son, Tre, and his family…wife Shelly, 4 year old Serenity, and 2 year old Connor.  Being around the little ones, especially, has been such a treat, reminding me of the joy and enthusiasm I want to continue to maintain.  They are bundles [...]

Over the last several months, I’ve been enchanted by the idea and experience of “sparkle.”  It sends me back to being about four or five, when I just loved being myself.  I hadn’t had teachers reprimand me for always wanting to do show and tell.  I hadn’t yet gotten my first (humiliating) birthday spanking in [...]

I love being enthusiastic!  Most days since I've returned from Wizard Camp have been pretty exciting.  At least partially because I'm consciously putting to use a number of the great things I learned/had reinforced – which, frankly, I'm not always very successful at doing.  But having completed Wizard, I notice I am wanting to do [...]

"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross This light from within is what I am working to kindle for myself.  Sometimes this light is a roaring [...]

There really is something to be said for getting older!  For most of my 50+ years, I've tried to hide just how quirky I am and have been pretty much miserable.  Quirks, in my terminology, are those behaviors that may seem "out of the mainstream" but are somewhat precious to you, and are really a [...]

Why not?  What have we got to lose?  I think this, too, is part of my Freedom Challenge- to go ahead and sparkle, be feisty!  Why not go ahead and sparkle?   I've a class coming up – Reawakening Your Inner Sparkle.  For some reason, I've not shared it with as many people as I would [...]