Wearing a stylish blazer, a pair of black pumps, and an innocent smile that said “Hire me, I’m nice,” I walked into a local coffee shop to inquire about a barista position. I worked as a barista at a university coffeehouse for three of my
We are always getting ready to live but never living.--Ralph Waldo Emerson When’s the last time you thought, “Once I get that job I’ll be happy” or “Once I meet that guy I’ll be happy” or “ Once I fill-in-the-blank I’ll be happy?” In his book “Happier,”
When we step into the unfamiliar, our eyes widen. When experiencing a new culture or environment we engage, absorb, learn and discover. For many, this process is satisfying enough, but for a few, it also lights the fuse for change. Anna Owusu is one of
One year ago today, where were you? What were you thinking, desiring, or asking for? How were you hurting? Rejoicing? Or just living? Very rarely do I think about these insightful questions. Whether it’s a time of pure joy or a time of deep sorrow,
What do you think about as you fall asleep? For most of us, the thoughts galloping across our mental landscape are nothing remarkable. We plan tomorrow’s schedule, rehash what didn’t get done today, or dream up weekend activities. What we don’t do is dwell on the
The highway was clear and breezy with my hair whipping back from my face. The radio kept me company on a windy, spring drive. I stopped at a gas station for my favorite sparkling water and was greeted by an amiable cop with a sweet
“You don’t stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing.” -Michael Pritchard Something really sad happens to us as we grow up. Somewhere along the way from footie pajamas to adulthood, we lose not only our baby fat, but also our
I love looking through old photographs. They carry such wonderful stories and memories. It’s ironic, I think, that the faded colors of old photographs often speak of a life that seemed much more colorful than it is today. Maybe it’s just me, but there is
Living life on our own terms; it sounds so simple. As Shakespeare said, “to thine own self be true.” But in reality, it’s a lot more difficult to get where we think we should be. After all, many of us didn’t get the jobs we
Mother Teresa said: "I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask, 'How many good things have you done in your life?' rather he
Love is an action, a decision, a choice. Love does not require that we like the person on the receiving end, and in fact the most powerful forms of love occur when the one we love is an enemy or someone who has wronged us. Love
Compassion can be defined as a sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. Or, in simpler terms, compassion is kindness that is moved to action. That kind of character is what I see when I think of Pam Cope, a woman
There is this perpetual saying that all girls seem to know, so deep in code that we question whether guys will ever catch on. Hang around a group of girls for--oh, let’s say 15 seconds--when yummy food has just been served, and you’ll hear this
There I was at the top of the mountain. Skis on my feet, poles in my hands and a fluffy ear warmer secured perfectly into place. With the first swish of the snow beneath my skis I felt exhilarated and completely free. The second swish
During the Christmas season, we're encouraged to be generous, to think of those less fortunate. Soup kitchens have to turn away volunteers for serving holiday meals and charity is at the forefront of the common rhetoric. Once we shift our thoughts toward the new year,
Age twelve. I sit in front of the mirror in the locker room after gym, watching my friend put on her mascara. “We don’t like her.” She whispers to me with a cruel smile, eyeing a girl walking past us. “Why?” I ask. “Because she’s pretty.” This dusty little
If you listen to popular ‘wisdom’ you will hear a very subtle refrain, almost too quiet to hear: Take care of yourself first, others next. It seems worthy--I mean, the "others" part is in there, right? I can’t put an oxygen mask on someone else before
Write a note to yourself and stash it away for next year. Make a list of things you are thankful for this year, and important lessons you have learned. Or perhaps write down a quote or scripture from the Bible that was especially significant to
I have been sitting in the coffee shop for several hours, a chai latte on my left and a stack of books on my right. This is a charming little shop, with wrought-iron chairs and big windows welcoming the sunlight. The room is full and
We’ve all met that woman--the one who is so radiant we can’t take our eyes off of her. She’s beautiful, but we can’t quite figure out why. Is it her hair? Her figure? Her clothes? After speaking with her for a few moments, we know
When my husband and I realized we were up to $10,000 in debt on our credit cards, we freaked. Why we hadn’t been upset at three or five thousand, I don’t know. Regardless, we felt like we were drowning. We owed. Lots. So we took
Personality is design in spirit form. Design is our personality in tangible form. The way we present our personality to the world creates a certain predictability that makes people say, “oh that is so you.” Style is set apart from time. It permeates not only the
Me, Myself and I. My guess is that most of us spend most of our lives thinking mostly about ourselves, which is not altogether inappropriate. It is our responsibility to take care of ourselves, after all. No one else is going to do it for us.
I grew up in Iowa
Sometimes in life we just need a fresh start, a new perspective. A good starting point is to draw, collage, or paint your new "life motto." All you need is old magazines, scissors, a glue stick, a piece of white paper, and an art pen. Begin by
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. -Saint Augustine Where are you traveling to next?