It is all in the mind

Originally posted on Another Voice:
I finished reading Mary Oliver’s A Poetry Handbook (1994) a few days back. The book now rests on my desk, with many of its pages dog-eared and multiple lines of text underlined in different colours. (When I want to mark a portion of text that has had a significant impact…

It Is Snowing

Nothing brings birds to the feeders faster than a snow storm. Unfortunately, I must photograph them through the kitchen door. My camera is not weather proof and they will fly away if I open the door, since the feeders are approximately 15 – 20 feet from the house. That is where my yard ends. I…

In The Navy

My niece recently joined the Navy – approximately six months ago. In her late 20’s, with no real direction in life, she enlisted. My father and his brothers all served in the Navy during WWII and the Korean conflict. I don’t know if that is why she chose the Navy, but I suspect it could…

What Are You Doing For the Holidays? Tips For Coping

Many people love this time of year. They happily answer questions about their holiday plans. They start with Halloween and keep the party going until New Year’s Day. Every season of the year brings out themed decorations, but nothing compares to Christmas. I know people who put up at least four Christmas trees in their…

Bird Watching

Growing up, I have many fond memories of watching birds with my grandparents. We often drove to a bird sanctuary near the Jersey shore or watched the bird feeders in their back yard, which backed up to marsh land. My grandfather loved painting Northern Cardinals. They are one of my favorite birds. And they are…

Resilience – Bouncing Back

According to the American Psychological Association: “Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress – such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems or workplace and financial stressors. It means “bouncing back” from difficult experiences. …. In fact, the road to resilience…

Across the World on the Wings of the Wind – A Book Review

First, in case, you only read this paragraph, I thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy. Born out of Martha Kennedy’s interest in her family’s genealogy, this a historical fiction, set in Switzerland and spanning three periods in time – the Crusades, the Reformation and the 18th century immigration to America. The one current that runs throughout the…

Acting From A Place of Fear

I thought I would tell you a story about something that happened to me years ago. At the time, my father’s home was by the side of a river. One day, while I was visiting, I decided to take a walk down his street and after a short while, I came to railroad tracks that…