Gratefulness
Unexpected Gifts in My Closet
I love gifts. Especially unexpected ones. Photo by Andre P. Meyer-Vitali For as long as I can remember, I have put artifacts and mementos from my life in shoe boxes. In the early years, a shoe box became the keeper of handwritten letters, ticket stubs, and theater programs. In the middle years, I stored birth…
Read MoreMother’s Day 2015: A Seismic Shift in Small Moments
Twenty plus years ago, I was imprinted with the label, MOTHER, when my first child was born. A couple of years later, my second child was born. Two sons. Photo by Clever Cupcakes. Chip and I took on the role of parents with enthusiasm. After a 7-month maternity leave, I arranged with my employer to…
Read MoreBlessings From Burning Out
Three years ago, I hit a low point in my life. I was on a self-imposed sabbatical, hoping to reverse the effects of working on a losing proposition. For two years, I had poured 90% of my time and energy into a start up that provided career development programs to universities (aka My Alumni Link).…
Read MoreHow a Presence Turns into Genuine Love
I never expected to be a cat owner. Several years ago, I remember going to an office supply store, getting out of the car, looking over at an adjacent pet store, and thinking, “That’s the last store you’ll ever find me in.” It was as if I was referring to a tattoo parlor or…
Read MoreGifts Unnoticed
As Thanksgiving approaches, I am reminded of the gifts that arrive in my life daily, that go unnoticed. Here’s a run down: The gift of sleep. In my inbox this morning was a note from a friend who has had a series of health problems throughout this year, leading to multiple surgeries and trips to the…
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