Maria Shriver strikes a chord yet again …

If you follow my blog or regularly read my posts on my social media you know I’m a fan of Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper. She always blows me away because she consistently writes about issues that are on my mind. But just as important, if not more so, she also talks about matters that should be on my radar and should concern me — this past Sunday’s essay being a perfect case in point.

In it she talks about reactions to medication, women’s health in general and the gender gap in medicine —  and then she segues to the allergic reactions we also have to people, what those reactions tell us and how we should handle them. All of it very important, so here’s a link. While you’re there, take a minute and subscribe.

I know to some degree we all suffer from information overload, but trust me when I tell you that the

Time for some introspection and reflection …

Every so often I take stock of where I am in my life, take a look at what I’m up to and think about whether or not it’s still working for me. I check in with myself to see how I’m doing. I assume that I’ve pretty much been on the right track because this has never resulted in my changing course dramatically. But, from time to time, I have taken some detours along the way as a result of these explorations.

I’m only mentioning it because, in her most recent Sunday Paper, Maria Shriver wrote about the importance of knowing our “why” — understanding why we do what we do, what brings meaning to our lives.

Despite it being a long weekend in Canada, I was chained to my computer the whole time, working on a

Glass half full …

Read this article over the weekend in Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper. The author is talking to parents about how to raise optimistic children in pessimistic times, but I think it’s a great message for all of us to keep in mind as we navigate our way through life.

Happy Days — http://time.com/5370788/raising-optimistic-kids-pessimistic-times/

 

 

Words to live by …

I’m taking a rest today. I like this better than anything I would have written. Came across it on Sunday in, you guessed it, Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper. I hope you get as much out of it as I have, we’ve all been there. Cleo Wade is a poet, artist and speaker, with a new book out, “Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom For a Better Life.”

 

the way out and the way forward

***

I loved myself

through what I had

been through

this is how

I stayed afloat

even when

life’s waters

raised above my head

and when I needed

someone to trust

this is how I knew

which hands

were helping hands

and which

were hurting hands

***

Cleo Wade

 

 

 

 

 

Feeling inspired and hopeful

The world is horribly messed up. But amid all the darkness and misery I am beginning to see some positive signs.

Strange as it might sound, I started to feel this way after last week’s tragic shootings at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. It was the reaction of the students who survived.

Because despite their shock, their fear, their anger, their

My true calling

I’ve mentioned several times that I subscribe to Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper and really enjoy it. She seems to always write about the issues and topics that are on my mind.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, she really nailed it when she wrote about the importance of figuring out the things that break our hearts, and how that can lead us to our life’s purpose. It sure did resonate with me, because I’ve been thinking about that an awful lot lately. My purpose, that is.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that for me, it’s injustice.

Whether it’s against humans, animals or the environment. Whether it’s physical, emotional, sexual, financial, political or religious. Whether it’s

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but …

… there’s a part of me that feels sorry for Donald Trump. Wait … wait … hear me out before you have me committed or banish me.

First and foremost, I am NOT a fan of his, never was, never will be — and the sooner he’s out of the White House, the better — for his own good, the good of his country and the entire world. But …

Donald Trump is sick. Really and truly, seriously and dangerously mentally ill; and, I believe, he is also a desperately unhappy man. I’m no psychiatrist, but I don’t think you just suddenly wake up one day this crazy. I’ll bet he showed signs as a child and, for whatever reason, he
never got the professional help he so sorely needs.

He is so hideous, in every way, that it’s very easy to be

Nice to hear “good” news for a change

The world was in crisis mode long before the orange blob of toxic waste moved to Washington. There’s been plenty of poverty, hunger, disease, displacement, fear, uncertainty and misery to go around, both globally and in our own back yards.

And there have always been those who have consistently risen to the challenge, raised their hands and helped. By volunteering, speaking out, challenging the status quo and giving financial aid. Private citizens, celebrities and the mega wealthy, like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates

Hmmmm …

I’m having trouble focusing lately. My mind is very busy, wandering here, there and everywhere. I’m not particularly troubled by it, there’s a lot going on in the world in general, not to mention everything that’s going on in my own, little world, so I guess it’s to be expected.

This is a time of introspection and change, that I know, and I’m good with that. What I don’t know is where it will all net out; and I guess