Treasures from Past Generations Lifting the dusty-covered lid of the bulky gray Rubbermaid storage container, the musty smell of old paper caught me by surprise. I recognized the scent of years gone by and lives recorded on the photographs my mother packed away decades ago. My eyes caught sight of the gold-edged brown cardboard frame peeking out from beneath a manila folder bulging with loose black and white snapshots. I pulled it out. My heart raced as I realized what I had uncovered—my mother’s family pictures, five generations of images buried in that box. Reverently, I eased out the manila folder of loose photos out and placed it on the…
-
-
3 Ways to Add Adventure to Your Life
Life is Re-Opening As we begin to see small, yet significant lifting of the Covid restrictions and life begins opening up, travel planning is top of my list. I can’t wait to experience a sense of adventure. If you’re feeling what I am, here are some ideas to warm you up to life’s possibilities beyond your area code! Maybe out of the country too. From Overwhelming to Invigorating Several years ago, as we landed after our long flight, I was jet-lagged and overwhelmed by everything. Bags in tow, and not understanding the signs or the language, I struggled to find ground transportation and exchange money. Slowly we sorted it out…
-
#MicroblogMonday–25: Three Powerful Ways to Move Through Overwhelm
Overwhelmed? I have three powerful tools I use to get through it. 1. Focus on my breath. 2. Make a list. 3. Schedule it on my calendar. The first thing I do is slow down my breathing. When we are feeling overwhelmed or anxious, our natural response is rapid, shallow breathing. By consciously focusing on the breath flowing in and out, we naturally lengthen and deepen each breath, bringing more oxygen into the lungs and slowing the heart rate. Second, I write out everything that’s rattling around in my mind onto a blank sheet of paper. I put down everything that feels overwhelming, big or small. The act of getting…
