I’ve been searching for a new word for the new year. One little word which will capture how I am moving in the world right now. I used to move with youthful confidence, quick to react as if my feet were on fire.
Category: Writing
The Light Still Shines
When December comes, the light in the sky dwindles; days are shorter and night is longer. We walk in the dark now with the cold settling deep in our bones. It is dark by 4 o’clock, and we still feel like we have the whole day ahead of us, but the light is gone and with it our energy.
Hungry for Joy
hese bring momentary solace, but still, I yearn for something more, something less ephemeral. I guess that’s a tall order to ask for – permanent joy. I don’t expect permanency, but maybe just little more moments, more moments of unexpected joy. That would be nice.
Jingle, Jingle, Gingerbread
I enjoy three things: children, cooking, and holidays. Last week, I was able to put all three together. Nothing says “HOLIDAY” like gingerbread, so I decided to make gingerbread houses with our 1st grade classes, twenty little girls in all. Nothing could bring more joy than that! Of course, the motto, “Divide and conquer,” came … Continue reading Jingle, Jingle, Gingerbread
A Measure of Success
Since I was a child, I’ve measured my success by all the small moments I’ve had connecting to people through personal interactions and poetry. Connection to me equaled success. Oh sure, I had thoughts of fame and money but that all fell away as I matured. It’s not that I lost my ambition, it’s just … Continue reading A Measure of Success
Pumpkin Time Celebrations
I love October in the Northeast. Green turns to gold and orange, and deep plum. The outside world is burnished a tawny brown. The smell of pumpkins and apples is in the air. Fall is a time to celebrate the harvest and the bounty it brings. The leaves blow off the trees heralding the coming of winter and the anticipation of snow.
Overcoming Writer’s Block
I usually have no trouble writing. I just sit down and let my fingers do the thinking either on a keyword or with a pen in hand. I love writing. It is like breathing to me. It makes possible my thoughts in print. Only then do they become real and remembered.
Reading Aloud: Creating Connection & Joy
I’m a reader. But it wasn’t always that way. Learning to read was difficult for me. I sounded out all the letters like I was taught to do, and I’d blend the sounds into words as best I could. Reading was very slow and hard work. I didn’t read fluently and beautifully for a long … Continue reading Reading Aloud: Creating Connection & Joy
Summer’s End
This weekend we had classic summer thunderstorms that blew the yellow leaves of the trees and created rivers from tiny streams. The power of nature is breathtaking and awesome. It reminds me of how small we truly are.
Start with Hope
Lately, I worry more and more about our children. They're growing up in a world that is increasingly violent & divided. Children have more worries & much more anxiety. That is why it's so important to offer hope and joy in small things.
Word Dancer: Literature, the Arts, & Education 