I like to been seen. So do you. Might be in totally different ways or contexts or audiences, but we all want to be seen, understood. As a kid, I was introverted and socially anxious, good academically, and eager to please. In elementary school, I more or less spoke when spoken to. I remember clearly … Read more
A friend’s father-in-law is in his final hours. I would not text her right now to complain about … anything. Thinking about that led me to realize that perhaps people get situations confused. Or just aren’t able to find out what direction to go in other difficult situations. When I was first diagnosed with cancer, … Read more
The photo was taken in Tempe, Arizona. The building on the left is an old flour mill, built in 1918 and used until 1998. The building on the right is a glass office building. I don’t know when it was built (how do you find that information?), but it’s obviously much newer than 1918. The … Read more
For a long time, peanut brittle was one of my favorites. And it was an infrequent treat, which made it even more delightful. It’s been years, maybe decades, since I had peanut brittle. There was some at work the other day. I took a piece. Or two… And you know what? It wasn’t that delicious. … Read more
It’s so much harder to be kind to yourself when you’re exhausted. Get enough sleep. Make it a priority to keep your emotional load manageable. (Easier said than done—I understand this well.) Be kind to yourself.
I found a good reminder for myself. Something that I was doing that I shared with my online world a few years ago that maybe will help you, too. Here’s the context: I was working part time, teaching band. The schedule was brutal, many of the classes were brutal, and there was very little professional … Read more
A meme crossed my path. All caps, lots of colors — the kind of design I might be into… YOU DID NOT WAKE UP TODAY TO BE AVERAGE I have a couple of thoughts about that. 1. Math. 2. Maybe you did. By definition, we can’t all be above average. If we’re using the math-based … Read more
I was invited to consider volunteering to do remembrance photography. (Invited as part of a photography group. Not personally invited.) I clicked through to see if it was what I thought it was. It was. Volunteer photographers do photo sessions with parents and their deceased infants. The example photos shown were very much like typical … Read more
The best fortune I ever got out of a cookie was over 30 years ago, and while I didn’t keep it, I remember it. “Today is a good day to go moose hunting with a belly dancer.” I haven’t received any that were nearly as entertaining in the intervening decades, though some came close when … Read more
(If you missed the original post/project details, you can find it here.) Kids have been off and on with the sticky notes. I have needed to replenish them a time or two, but most seem to have chosen a couple, stuck them in their music binder, and not messed with them again. Earlier this week, … Read more