Mental health is complex because it runs the gamut of one to ten, with ten being not good and one being the bottom of the dark hole. Topics on how to improve mental health are on the entire spectrum. But one thing that flows through it all is balance. If we can think, plan, and live with balance as a goal, most of the time, we have better odds of creating a life above a five—a … [Read more...]
Laugh; it’s a no-brainer
Thinking about the value of laughter is far overdue. I’ve always laughed easily, but the older I get, the more critical laughter becomes. Humor and laughter truly set humans apart from animals. I don’t notice Lucy laughing as I do, but she does wriggle and squirm like an escape artist and wags her tail so fast she could take off like a helicopter. Maybe that is her form of … [Read more...]
Laughter is survival
Woody Alan said, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” Although I’ve always believed life is a combination of effort, skill, and events out of my control, I forget. I wake up in the morning thinking the day is mine to create, and then, wham, something unexpected hits me in the side of the head. Don’t get me wrong, I have ultimate gratefulness for my … [Read more...]
How do YOU enjoy life?
Scrounging is part of my DNA. Growing up, the most fun activity my sisters and I did with our dad was going to the dump, the day before the scheduled burn, to tromp through the trash, and look for treasures. We each tried to uncover the best find. To steal Barbara Mandrel’s lyrics, I was thrifting when thrifting wasn’t cool. When I lived in the country, farm … [Read more...]
Voices of Rural Women across American Heartland-8
I only spoke briefly to one rural woman all day - but great stories are often short... Gail in S Central Ohio We saw a sign directing us to apples and peaches, and turned onto a road with the beautiful Ohio setting of lush green everywhere. We pulled into a farm orchard where a red barn with a horse weather vane greeted us. Upon entrance two women cheerfully said … [Read more...]
Sunday Gecko
Sunday GeckoMy husband, Cal, quietly called me out of my office. “There’s another one,” he whispered. I looked where he was pointing, and sure enough there was a little brown and orange, four legged critter. He would be the forth gecko visiting us during the last six months.The first one, sorry to say, met his end under my husband’s boot. Sorry! The second and third one I … [Read more...]