kindness

November 30, 2025

Everyone Has Something to Give ❤️

Time, energy, money, positivity… I believe everyone has the capacity to make a difference and the originators of “Giving Tuesday“, a tradition started in 2012, say it best: “Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we Continue reading

Family, kindness

advocacy, charitable donations, disability, giving, Giving Tuesday, gratitude, kindness, love, vulnerability
November 16, 2025

Embrace the Detour

I love a fabulously well-timed quote. Inspiration arriving in my in-box as I’m editing and working my way to the finish line with my novel. Have you heard this one? “The backstory isn’t a detour – it’s the past pressing in.” -Joyvity Joyvity is a site offering writing tips, one I’d never heard of but Continue reading

kindness, writing

advice, creativity, encouragement, gratitude, nature, storytelling, wildlife photos, writing, writing tips
September 7, 2025

Returning the Favors

“Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you someone who had real positive influences in his or her life. I don’t care what you do for a living — if you do it well I’m sure there was someone cheering you on or showing the way. A mentor.” – Denzel Washington I was a Continue reading

kindness, Surviving Sue

author, back-to-school, books, courage, found family, kindness, mentoring, Surviving Sue
July 13, 2025

Message Received

A few months ago, I wrote about musical memories and car songs. As I re-read the post this morning I smiled. Sometimes it’s good to revisit our own words and reel in the comforting reminders. Let me catch you up…here’s a bit from the that post: Headed home after dropping Lisa off, I settled in Continue reading

Family, kindness

author, disability, Family, gratitude, inclusion, love, music, philanthropy, prayers, service, songs, Surviving Sue
July 6, 2025

Peace, Love & Bunnies

Last August I shared a post, “Books, Bunnies and Forgiveness” and included a few snaps of a baby bun-bun. A welcome visitor on our deck. I can’t say for sure, but I think the little dude (or dudette) is now a teenager and decided to visit again. Same spot. Same ambition. Figuring out where the Continue reading

kindness

advocacy, books, kindness, love, peace, self-care, writer
June 16, 2025

Hello New Friends

We were delighted and relieved to see this adorable twosome last week. When we moved here, our neighbors told us the tiny glen in our backyard’s been a safe haven for generations of deer but every spring I find myself lurking and looking – anxiously awaiting the arrival of nature’s newest. I know the deer Continue reading

kindness

calm, compassion, deer, Family, gratitude, love, nature
June 12, 2025

Change Your Mind

Where did the time go? The band, Sister Hazel released “Change Your Mind” twenty-five years ago this month?!? When I looked it up, I was in disbelief. So, I checked and checked again, feeling windburn from the emotional rush. I bet you – or someone you hold dear – got a lift, a motivational boost Continue reading

kindness, Wellness

Change Your Mind, empowerment, Inspiration, kindness, love, melancholy, motivation, music, selfcare, Sister Hazel
April 13, 2025

Signs of Heart

The Faces of Deer by Mary Oliver When for too long I don’t go deep enoughinto the woods to see them, they begin toenter my dreams. Yes, there they are, in thepinewoods of my inner life. I want to live a lifefull of modesty and praise. Each hoof of eachanimal makes the sign of a Continue reading

kindness

deer, gratitude, kindness, Mary Oliver, nature, poetry, reflection, wonder
April 3, 2025

Your Astonishing Light

I couldn’t resist reposting a story (“Lean Into the Light“) from December 2023. It’s about a former student, *Jeanine*, and moments that matter. Jeanine reached out last week just to say hello and re-connecting with her was a delight. Sometime soon I’ll take the time to share more about her on-going accomplishments as a single Continue reading

kindness

affirmations, connections, friendship, love, psychology, quotes, self-care, Wellness
February 10, 2025

Empathy. Do It. ❤

“One doesn’t have to operate with great malice to do great harm. The absence of empathy and understanding are sufficient.”-Charles M. Blow Have you heard? Author and journalist Charles Blow is leaving the New York Times as he steps into a fellowship at Harvard. Even if you haven’t followed him at the Times, you might Continue reading

kindness, Wellness

career advice, Charles M. Bow, compassion, counseling, empathy, Inspiration, love, psychology
January 29, 2025

Don’t Look Away

I write often about my dad and one post in particular from over two years ago is still a conversation starter with readers – White Shirt, Helping Heart – Victoria Ponders. I think the resonance of that piece comes from the fact that my dad looked like a contradiction; an imposing looking privileged man – Continue reading

kindness

gratitude, helping, inclusion, kindness, privilege, safety, vulnerability
January 19, 2025

Authenticity is Everything

Three simple words of advice. Straightforward and mantra-like across many decades, thanks to my dear friend and mentor, Dr. John Muchmore: “Authenticity is everything…” Today I ‘m resharing a post I wrote about John in November 2023 – in tribute (see below). The lifeforce that was John Muchmore passed away last week. He was beloved Continue reading

kindness, Surviving Sue

gratitude, Inspiration, love, memories, mentor, relationships, survivingsue, teachers, tribute
January 16, 2025

Feeling Fortunate

No, this post isn’t a substitute for a thank you note to a few fantastic gift-givers in my life. It’s just an extra, extra shoutout of gratitude. I don’t know how I got so very lucky, but I have dear ones around me who seem to crawl in and know exactly what makes me smile. Continue reading

kindness, Surviving Sue

birthdays, friendship, gifts, gratitude, kindness, love, Surviving Sue
November 21, 2024

Loving Lisa & Supporting Her Team

I adore my intellectually disabled sister, Lisa, and many long-time readers know how grateful I am for the caring team which surrounds Lisa in her CILA (community integrated living arrangement). Her loving group home, staffed by dear ones who’ve become extensions of our family over the years. Staff members who work for the Clearbrook organization Continue reading

Family, kindness, Surviving Sue

#GivingTuesday, author, Clearbrook, disabilities, Family, gratitude, inclusion, mental health, writer
November 10, 2024

Love, Most of All…

“The sun will rise and set regardless. What we choose to do with the light while it’s here is up to us. Journey wisely.” — Alexandra Elle Journey wisely. I like that advice. Perhaps it’s the byproduct of the past week and the culminating factors of the time change, resulting in less light – literally Continue reading

kindness

author, girlpower, Inspiration, kindness, love, resilience, self-care, womens rights
October 31, 2024

Squirrels Gone Wild

Simple things delight me. Especially in the morning. Alone with my cup of tea, the BEST entertainment EVER came scampering in yesterday…a couple of squirrely bruisers stopping by for breakfast. I know some folks are irked by the squirrels who eat their way through the pumpkins this time of year, but we love them. Their Continue reading

kindness

autumn, gratitude, humor, nature, squirrels, wildlife
September 30, 2024

Seattle Surprises

“Friendships between women, as any woman will tell you, are built of a thousand small kindnesses… swapped back and forth and over again.” -Michelle Obama How much fun is this? Our daughter Delaney had a business trip recently…in Seattle…and knowing how much we adore Wynne…and Miss O and Mr. D, this fabulous foursome (plus Delaney’s Continue reading

kindness

authors, connection, friendship, gratitude, kindness, love, writers
September 28, 2024

Hello and Goodbye?

This photo – snipped in above of a dear deer peeking at me is not my own, but a darn good substitute given that it’s just a stock photo from Google images. Normally I take my own pics, but I had a good reason for restraint. I’ll explain… I’ve written about the deer that frequent Continue reading

kindness

gratitude, love, magical moments, nature, wildlife
September 19, 2024

Hand in Hand

I’ve returned to Yeats. William Butler Yeats, that is, because of “The Celtic Twilight” – first published in 1893 yet resonant for me today. A volume that’s comprised of Yeats’ early morning reveries. They speak to me, especially as autumn approaches. Stoking my sense of wonder, my belief in possibilities… Hand in hand. I love Continue reading

kindness, writing

creativity, Inspiration, kindness, love, poetry, William Butler Yeats, writer
August 26, 2024

Thinking About Joy

Children seem to have a knack for seeing the obvious and pointing it out to we, the elders, who lose our glimmer and perspective as we do all of the “adult” things. The responsible things. The things that are part and parcel of building a life, sustaining relationships, doing our best to nurture both family Continue reading

kindness

author, civility, joy, kindness, love, purpose, unity
July 21, 2024

Backyard Buddies

I know, I know. The deer are a menace. We have several neighbors and friends who decry the horrors of deer this time of year because of their infernal appetites. The nerve, the nerve. I get it…but I figure our landscaping effort, in the end, is for our visual enjoyment. It’s not our source of Continue reading

kindness

animals, gratitude, lifestyle, love, nature
July 14, 2024

Bringing the Light

Dr. Stein posted a thought-provoking essay today about friendship. I highly recommend it! I love learning new things from him and in this piece, he offers insight about the nature of friendships, the nuances and varieties. There’s so much to worry about in the world at the moment but the one thing that sustains me Continue reading

kindness, Uncategorized

friendship, gratitude, kindness, lifestyle, nature, self-care
May 1, 2024

Don’t Waste the Moments

I had a wonderful, unexpected encounter the other day. I’m in search mode for athletic shoes that won’t bother my Achilles tendon and Haglund’s Deformity. (How’s that for disclosure right off the bat?) If you don’t know what a Haglund’s issue is, I invite you…err caution you…to Dr. Google it. I resent the oft-applied label Continue reading

kindness

connection, gratitude, kindness, love, magical moments, mindfulness

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