The Twenty-Minute Lesson
This essay was originally published in the 2017 Chicken Soup for the Soul book, Inspiration for Teachers, although it was…
Life Lessons
Get the Funk Out of February
Snow blankets the winter landscape. Crows perch on peaked rooftops and naked tree branches, cawing at one another across the…
Warning Lights: Lessons from the Dashboard of a ’79 Datsun Hatchback
Her name was Dottie. Dottie Datsun. She was a very used, very troubled sky-blue Datsun 210 Hatchback, and she was…
Discovering Joy Through Simple Practices
Simple practices keep us sane in complicated times. Sometimes they help us find solutions, as well.
Don’t Let the Door Hit You (On Your Rush To 2021)
My 7th grade math teacher was named Mr. Jerkovich. Yes, that’s true. And although he wasn’t a jerk, he did…
Wild Things Don’t Wait: Lessons Learned by Picking Wild Berries
Travel back to childhood and savor some simplicity. Connect to the life lessons learned through an annual event: picking wild berries.
That Tough Little 5 Letter Word: Trust
A difficult mother-daughter conversation opens the door for a tough 5-letter word: TRUST. What does it really mean to trust the process?
Autumn and Lessons on Seeing the Unseen
The transition of seasons often reflects transitions in our own lives. Are we aware of what isn’t obvious in our lives? Is there magic in the present moment that we only need to open our eyes and see?
Rearview Mirrors, Trails and Tunnels: How Looking Back Propels Us Forward
We pedaled up to the yawning, misty opening. Giant wooden doors stood like sentries on either side. Everything looked far…
Love and the Art of Building Cathedrals
At a bend in the wooded path, old growth oaks give way to acres of towering Spruce. Their vaulting trunks…