Reboot, Rejuvenate, Resurrect

UNLIKELY ADDICTIONS What are you addicted to? Many, including me, would quickly reply, “nothing.” The word usually conjures up drugs, alcohol, porn, and other obvious dependencies. But what if addiction also hides in more acceptable places? May I suggest some possibilities: negative thinking, risk aversion, approval seeking, perfectionism, judgment, fear, unhealthy relationships, food, guilt, gossip, cellphones, the internet, and social media. The list could go on. These are

BOUNDARIES People who do not know how to set them will often make a habit of crossing yours. Those without boundaries may not see the need or value in creating them for themselves, and what is deemed valueless is rarely respected. If allowed, they will disrupt your routine, distract your focus, and disturb your environment. TRUTH: Their lack of boundaries is not their problem to solve. It becomes my problem when I allow it to invade my peace. Therefore, if it is to be solved,

ROOTED I marvel at the trees we planted five years ago in our backyard. They have endured sizzling summers and freezing winters. Each fall, they release their colorful leaves; each spring, without fanfare, they announce life again. We give little thought to their needs, yet they thrive in grass and soil layered over limestone bedrock—hard ground for anything trying to dig deep. Still, they have learned to live, grow, and flourish right where they are. Where do the roots fin

When Words Become a Course of Action Do you make a distinction between sharing your opinion, giving advice, and advising? I do! I began randomly gathering other opinions on July 1st. I did not know my research would be assessed on July 5th. I have developed a fondness for the phrase “in my opinion.” It feels like safe space. One’s opinion is theirs… period. The listeners can agree or disagree, but they can’t—or shouldn’t—deem it wrong. When an opinion is shared that I don’t a

ICE CREAM The gaggle of youngsters who run through my house know there are treats in the freezer. They ask for what they want, which may or may not be there. When it isn’t, they ask, “What kind of ice cream do you have?” Which got me thinking: What do I know about ice cream? Turns out, more than I thought—and somewhere between the freezer door and those eager little faces, God stirred up buried memories. Ice cream can be loved and desired yet not tolerated. Some prefer plai

BUCKING HORSE In a previous blog post, “The Habit of Not,” I asked myself this question: Had I developed a habit of not seeing or listening to my heart when it whispered personal truths? The example I shared then was my lack of acknowledgment that hospitality, hosting, and entertaining others often tied me into a knot. That question lingered. I describe myself as accomplished, with a healthy dose of ego and self-esteem built from the inside out. When a crack appears in my

POP QUIZ Love is never theoretical; love is a practice, and life has a way of giving pop quizzes that reveal how faithfully I am practicing it. I am a work in progress. I know this to be true, but occasionally I unconsciously begin to think that I have arrived. Arrived where? I don’t know, but I slip into a mindset of satisfaction with self. Experience is the best teacher, and it has taught me that this mindset requires self-assessment. Sometimes, however, self-examination

Lessons from Pothos I believe much of what we need to know about sustaining healthy relationships can be gleaned from the intentional observation of nature. You are not required to subscribe to my belief, but I invite you to consider what a thriving plant can teach us about restoration, renewal, and growth. The Gift of a Cutting My Sistah-friend in Florida cares for a magnificent pot of pothos. It is the centerpiece of her lanai—her screened porch, for those of us who live ou

Watching the Battle Against Rest My family of three was asked to watch the two girls from next door—two energetic, somewhat demanding children. Their father left promising he would return and insisting they would not need to spend the night. Still, he brought their pajamas just in case. After a full evening of activities, dinner, and snacks, the girls were finally dressed for bed. The younger one quickly gave in to sleep and drifted off in my son’s lap. Her older sister, howe