While the political candidates seem to have left this summer’s heat wave in the dust, I’m still troubled by what it portends about the planet’s health. And this preoccupation is popping up in everything from what bedtime stories I choose for the kids, to the sketches of dried up flower stalks and brittle leaves appearing … More Drought and LOVE: The Kindergarten Solution to Climate Change
It’s that time of year again when things get a little crazy. Strike that, a lot crazy. So I thought it was high time for the Peace Bird to fly our way. This little guy—imagined and drawn by my six-year-old—hangs above my desk, reminding me daily to “choose peace.” Choosing peace is not the most … More The Peace Bird
As tempting as getting trampled in a Black Friday stampede sounds, we opted instead to stay home and do almost nothing this Thanksgiving holiday. Of course we managed to cook and stuff ourselves on Thanksgiving day, but after that we mostly stayed in our pajamas, lazing around on the couch and watching that game where … More Time to Read
“It’s all set,” our yoga teacher announced with a big smile at the beginning of class. “Everything has come together, and I will be moving next week.” Wha? No! I’d only discovered this neighborhood class one month ago, but already I was smitten with this warm, talented yogi with the beautiful, lilting voice. She was … More Lessons in Impermanence
It’s been a tough time for us Mac folks. Losing Steve Jobs feels personal, it hurts. It hurts because he was a visionary who left us too soon. It hurts because the happy Mac icon has been our friend and constant companion through the years. And it hurts because of how bravely Jobs faced cancer, … More Are Your Dots Connecting?
“A place where there isn’t any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It’s not a place you can get to by a boat or a train. It’s far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain.” — Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz For the past few years, I … More Behind the Moon, Beyond the Rain
It was a typical morning. I awoke at the usual time, but found that I was already behind schedule. There were dishes to wash from the night before, kid lunches to pack, a writing deadline, and a ton of office work. Just an ordinary Mom/Freelancer kind of day. But when I tried to start my … More Embrace the Cloud
My three-year-old son rests his head on my shoulder while I pore over the weather forecast. “Oh look,” I deadpan. “More rain.” Engrossed in my gloom over the cloudiest, rainiest spring in memory, he startles me with a sudden shout: “Oh Mommy, my friends are coming! My friends are coming today!” I look at him … More Conquering Fear, One “Friend” at a Time
I know of no other species on Earth that is as brutally self-critical as that of Mother. Although, the related species of Father, Perfectionist, and Artist come pretty close. As a perfectionist-in-recovery, artist mom, I’ve got a triple whammy. So I had a bit of a surprise recently in meditation class (yes, I’m still going!) … More Don’t Be All Bass-Ackward, Go Easy on Yourself!
When I read the contradictory line “bullied to attend religion classes” in the blurb for a documentary film screening, I knew it was a must-see. Slinging my purse over one shoulder, I hoisted my additional baggage from growing up Unitarian in a predominantly Christian community, and headed straight to the Talking Pictures Festival. The documentary, … More Under and Over God: Separating Church and State
The Harmony of Opposites 