Today I returned from my writing retreat at the Ft. Caswell Coastal Retreat and Conference Center in Oak Island, North Carolina. I appreciated that even though I'm not of the Baptist denomination, the facility is open to folks, like me, who are not. What a gorgeous setting on the 250 acres that was part of … Continue reading Artist’s Retreat: Ft. Caswell
imagination
Keeping Our Dreams Alive
Last Saturday, I attended a birthday lunch for my brother-in-law, Winslow who was celebrating his 75th. Reference was made to it being his "3/4th of a Century Birthday."; that really put it all in perspective. I'm about four years behind him and have had many conversations with my peers about life passing by so quickly. … Continue reading Keeping Our Dreams Alive
Artist’s Residency: 14 Days in a Farmhouse
Nine years ago, in the summer before my retirement as a school nurse in March 2017, I decided my journey would be to an artist residency at Artcroft in Paris, Kentucky. I'd read about their community for artists of different genres. It was located about an hour east of Lexington on sixty-six acres of farmland. … Continue reading Artist’s Residency: 14 Days in a Farmhouse
Change Your Location, Change Your View
When I started taking fiction writing classes, one of the books that was recommended as a classic, must-read was Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. One of the book's take-aways was the value of writing in coffee shops -- like she did in Santa Fe. It helped the sometimes lonely work of a writer … Continue reading Change Your Location, Change Your View
2025: One Big Goal
Last week I ushered in 2025 with the post Intentional New Year. I described my use of a new inventory to evaluate 2024 that I'd found on the Mel Robbin's podcast. Reviewing my answers to that tool, I started thinking about what I wanted to accomplish this year. I realized that completing the Camino journey … Continue reading 2025: One Big Goal
People in My Path: Portugal to Spain
By this point on my Camino journey, I will be on my sixth day of walking. I'm writing and scheduling this post before I leave, anticipating what my experience will be like. On Thursday August 15th, I'll have a 5-mile walk to the dock of the Xacobeo Transfer Ferry and Taxi Boat service in Caminha. … Continue reading People in My Path: Portugal to Spain
Funicular: Fear or Fun?
For the next three Sundays, while I'm traveling on the Camino, my posts have been written ahead of time based on where I'll be. I've found on previous journeys, that to anticipate a new place and then to actually experience it offers many surprises. In my video posts on my author Facebook page, I plan … Continue reading Funicular: Fear or Fun?
Internal Pilgrimage: Plunging into Mystery
In the last two posts, I've explored aspects of the internal pilgrimage that we're all walking using Christine Walter's Paintner's gifts of embracing doubt. ( p112, Ch. 7, "The Practice of Embracing the Unknown" The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within ) When thinking about mystery, I considered why it is … Continue reading Internal Pilgrimage: Plunging into Mystery
Wait on the Lead
Throughout my life, I've found it hard to wait. And now, our world is going at such a fast pace that we find our environment is not conducive to waiting. Growing up in the country, when I was a young girl living on a farm, the pace of life was much slower and there was … Continue reading Wait on the Lead
Celebrate Your Life!
Today, I'm still basking in the glow of my birthday that was Friday, March 22. How grateful I have been during my "birthday season" that began with celebrations the week before--and will continue into next week. I have the philosophy that the older you become the longer you should celebrate. At this rate, I think … Continue reading Celebrate Your Life!
Connie Rosser Riddle 