It is so easy to be grateful when the sun is shining. When our dreams seem to be coming true. When the world around us feels blissful. But are we grateful when there are clouds in the sky? When our perfect plan goes awry? When all doors seem to be closing on us? When our…
Author: Rita Watson
Gratitude: Befriending the “Alone” Monster
In every home, there is a tiny space waiting to fill our silent need — a time to be alone. However, for many people, being alone often comes too close to lonely – too close to “the monster called alone.” Yet it is in solitude that we can create positive a dialogue within ourselves. The…
Malicious Manchin and Shameful Sinema are Defiant
If we look at decency as “behavior conforming to accepted standards of morality or respectability” than why are two supposedly Democratic senators playing the Republican game? These two oppose democracy. They will fight against voting rights because they seemed to be reporting to their demon sides. Joe Manchin (WV) Krysten Sinema (Az) remind me of…
Living Space Reorganization as an Antidepressant
There was a time when I was an address changer — a serial mover. I loved the thrill of discovery in a new neighborhood, it’s people, shops and special views. Before moving, I would explore a neighborhood to be certain that I had an anchor whether it was a new job, a friendly pub, a…
Pandemic To-Do Lists Still Haunt Me
After some 30 years or more of no television, I was willed a large screen TV last year. By my children’s standards, it’s just a small 30 inch TV. But after hooking it up, I felt as if I could have put it in the window and charged admission for a Drive-In theatre. Sadly my…
Your Downtime Gift
My list of Things to Do far exceeded my ability to do much of anything. And so I stared out a window with a large pine tree. It seemed there were birds fluttering about in shadows behind a gauze half curtain. Carefully, I moved to the window, pushed aside the white filmy shield, and then…
Learning of Our Dad’s Military Life
We had his dog tags, his wings, and many photos of our of dad looking both serious and smiling broadly. We knew he loved the Army and flying and today my sons have his dog tags and wings. But we were never allowed to ask about his World War II experiences. He often…
The Welcome Table: A Pandemic Challenge
With Passover and Easter —holy days and holidays of religious celebration—it is a good time to rekindle love at what my Grandmother called, “the welcome table,” a place for family. She believed that at the table you learned to “read” people— from the expressions on their faces, the questions they asked or did not ask, …
Six Ways to Ward off Toxic Personalities
As the pandemic winds down, we are back into friendships, relationships, and encounters with personalities which upset our sense of peace. Here are some thoughts to keep yourself from getting reeled in. 1.Understand how the person affects you. In many cases, the person is intrusive and annoying and has no problem interrupting when you are speaking to…
Tips to Help You Sleep Like a Baby
There is a sleep struggle each evening for some 70 million Americans. More than exasperating, lack of sleep poses health risks that can include impaired decision making and emotional distress. Additionally, insufficient sleep can contribute to obesity and result in lost work productivity. To underscore the seriousness of sleep issues, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared sleep disorders…