There have been moments this week when I've felt overwhelmed, vulnerable. Mostly those times come when I'm tired, spent from doing too much or not sleeping well. While I make an effort to look at life from a positive point of view, when I'm tired, that all falls apart. That was the case last Tuesday … Continue reading Encourage One Another
thankfulness
Remembering Ms. Pauline
Over the eight years that Mama lived at Parkview Retirement Village, I saw many of my high school classmates when they were visiting their mothers. One of them was my classmate-from-first-grade, Bragg Cox. That friendly guy with the blond hair and easy smile was attracted to another one in our first grade class, my friend, … Continue reading Remembering Ms. Pauline
Choosing Freedom
As we've moved past our July 4th Independence Day in the US, I'm reminded that we're now into the second half of 2025. During the first half of this year, I've found myself learning how to relax in the flow of life. Through most of my years, I've been a planner, goal-setter, and daydreamer about … Continue reading Choosing Freedom
Share Your Story: Cancer Survivor
This Sunday, June 22cnd, it'll be twenty-five years since I heard the words, "You have cancer." I'd gone for a routine mammogram during my lunch break; now, I think there's no such thing as a routine anything. On any given day, what was routine can become something extraordinary -- whether good or bad. I don't … Continue reading Share Your Story: Cancer Survivor
Camino Journey: The Friends We Carry
Lately, I've found myself reminiscing about my Camino journey last August, 2024 and scrolling through the many photos on my phone. Those fourteen days of walking were so full of new sights and the steady demand of covering miles each day to reach my lodging. I'm thankful that I wrote notes every night about the … Continue reading Camino Journey: The Friends We Carry
The Gifts of Reading
This year I've had the joy of reading to my younger grandson, Parks and his Pre-K class. Next week he'll graduate in preparation for entering Kindergarten at the end of August. I've watched him grow over the past year, with increased concentration and ability to sit and listen without interrupting -- waiting to raise his … Continue reading The Gifts of Reading
Mini Solo Journey: The Thing That’s Calling You
This is the time of year when I'm usually planning my upcoming solo journey. I've found that the best guide is my energy and my interest. Finally, I've realized that my body will tell me what's best when it comes to my energy level. When I've pushed against that in the past, insisting that I … Continue reading Mini Solo Journey: The Thing That’s Calling You
Dealing with the Seasons of Life
This has been a season of stark contrast between life and death. During the past month, I spent time with my boyfriend, Chris and his family as they took care of his father during his last days. The atmosphere of that somber time was accentuated by the Erie, Pennsylvania weather -- cold, overcast, blowing rain, … Continue reading Dealing with the Seasons of Life
The Joys of Getting Lost
I often lose my way on my Solo Journeys. Sometimes it's been due to problems with technology while traveling. Last August when I walked the Portuguese Coastal Path of the Camino, I had problems with my apps. Two hours before I completed my 158 mile journey, I discovered that I'd failed to have my internet … Continue reading The Joys of Getting Lost
Invitation to a New Year
This is my Birthday Eve. At 2:10 a.m. I'll roll over into a new year and a new decade of my life. I've been preparing for this, reading and pondering what it means to be seventy. The book that's been most instructive is Ageless Soul: The Lifelong Journey Toward Meaning & Joy by Thomas Moore … Continue reading Invitation to a New Year
Connie Rosser Riddle 