20 hours agoMember-onlyThe Art of Arranging Spaces in Our Hearts and HomesA friend was recently certified in feng shui, the ancient Chinese art of arranging spaces to bring about harmony and balance and increase peace and prosperity. For more than a year now, my friend has been offering me tips to improve the spaces in my home, and it’s shocking how…Feng Shui3 min read
Aug 8Is Art Ever Annoying?I’ve had two songs stuck in my head for weeks now and it’s driving me crazy: “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” by Tina Turner and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Seriously, brain? Why that song? I don’t even like baseball. When I was a teenager, I babysat…Art2 min read
Aug 2Member-onlyDoes Art Keep Us CompanyLast week, I wrote about how art saves us. A reader e-mailed to share how listening to music every day kept her company during the isolation of COVID. …Art3 min read
Published in data-driven fiction·Jul 31Member-onlyIs It True That Art Saves Us?In the past year, I’ve had seven diagnostic tests (three routine), three blood tests, and my first dental filling. I’ve gone from one prescription to four, and I’ve changed vitamins, diet, and supplements so many times, I’ve lost track. All of this led to my first ever bout with anxiety…Health3 min read
Published in data-driven fiction·Jul 27Member-onlyA Better Question Than “Are You Happy?”So often I’ve said, “All I want is for my kids to be happy.” What mother wouldn’t? We humans ask each other all the time, “Are you happy?” The assumption is if you answer no, you’re doing something wrong. You need to get back on the happiness track. …Happiness2 min read
Jul 22Member-onlyYour True Self Was Right There All AlongI had a weird thought this week . . . with all the talk about “finding your true self” and all the books and methods that teach you how to do that, what if finding your true self is as simple as setting aside a few days to be totally…Pandemic3 min read
Jul 19You Are NotI’ve been reading a book called Real: The Inside-Out Guide to Being Yourself by Clare Diamond. In Part One, Diamond deconstructs “self” by telling us all the things we are not. We are not our thoughts, emotions, beliefs, or even our past. It’s quite the liberating feeling to realize all…Identity4 min read
Jul 15Member-onlyStop, PleaseWhen my kids were little, I taught them to say the words “Stop, please” if anyone in the family was doing something that bothered or upset them. I made it clear they had to say the exact words in the exact order. They couldn’t just yell, “Stop it.” …Social Change2 min read
Jul 13Member-onlySpace for All to GrowA couple of my friends had some of their titles go out of print this year. That’s such a hard thing for a writer, to see a book you loved into existence simply go away. …Publishing3 min read
Jul 5Member-onlyIt’s So Much Work Just Being AliveMy husband laughed last night when I said, “It’s so much work just being alive.” …Life Lessons3 min read