Category: Soulful reflections

Six reasons why I will continue to call my dog a fur baby.

Taking a scroll through my Facebook news feed – the equivalent of a cigarette break, if I smoked – I stopped short.  Swiping back up the page, it was confirmed that the words I read were correct.

The article was titled Some Moms Are Urging People to Stop Calling Their Pets “Fur Babies”.  And let it be known that it was written well, I enjoyed it and it did not bash dog moms.  It was an interesting read with thoughtful perspective.

My initial reaction wasn’t based on the fact that my family and I refer to my beloved Vivienne as a fur-baby.  Because we do.  That along with Dog Mom, Crazy Dog Lady and some other fun labels from time to time. Continue reading “Six reasons why I will continue to call my dog a fur baby.”

Welcome April.

It’s always been said that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.  It’s also been said that April showers bring May flowers.

Given today’s New England temperatures and tomorrow’s forecasted rain, it’s safe to say there’s truth in both statements.

As we embark on this new month, may we contemplate the many opportunities that lie ahead.  May we reflect upon our winter days and be reminded of all spring offers to us.

The skies stay light longer and the grass turns greener.  The birds sing and the flowers bloom.  It’s a lovely time of the year.

What Mother Nature took away, she brings back to life.  May we be reminded that like the seasons, we, too, can be born again.

Each morning is a chance to start anew.  So on April 1st, don’t be a fool.  Awake with hope. Cherish the gift of life. And seize the day.

 

Home is where the heart is.

As a mentor for The Elephant Academy writing course, I crafted this based on the ask for their first assignment.  My contribution focuses on home and what it means to me. 

There are houses, and there are homes.  A house provides shelter to meet our fundamental needs, but a home is so much more.

A home should be one’s refuge.  It may be filled with the things that bring us joy and comfort, like heirlooms and photos.  It may be sparse, an open space with a minimalist approach that gives us a sense of freedom.  We create a home that meets our needs, displays our own sense of personal style and reflects our soul. Continue reading “Home is where the heart is.”

A start to the new season.

As I rolled over at the crack of dawn, the sound of waves crashing on the rocks was music to my ears. Loud and powerful. Soothing and tranquil. The perfect melody to kick start any day.

But today isn’t just any day. Today marks the start of a new season, one of birth and new life. The darkness of winter begins to lift as shades of green will subtly appear, covering the landscape in preparation for the flowers that will bloom.

The morning was cold yet in typical March fashion, the temperature increased as the hours passed. The bright and brilliant sun made herself known, her heat beating down on our faces. Birds chirped and seagulls lazed on the sands of the shore while the sea buzzed in all her strength.

As we shed the layers no longer needed in the warmth of the day, I was reminded of the many things I want to rid myself of this season and the new life I want to breathe in.

Like the change in season, we, too, get the chance to start anew. It’s a time to leave behind the things that no longer serve us well and welcome – or rather, create – those that do.

So today, plant the seeds of your future. Then tend to them in the days to come so that you can bloom and grow in the months ahead.

Because yesterday is gone, tomorrow isn’t promised and that leaves us with the present – the gift of today.

Happy Spring.

Four reminders to connect or reconnect with your body.

Rolling from left to right on the reformer, crossing one bent leg over the other straightened leg as my upper body stretched in the opposite direction, my mind wandered and I tried to recall exactly when my physical decline began.

At what point in time did I either consciously or unconsciously decrease my activity level?  Was it a slow, insidious creep over several months, or was it a sudden stop on one particular day?  When did ingesting comfort food replace the act of challenging my body?  And who is this out of shape, winded woman struggling to move her body fluidly? Continue reading “Four reminders to connect or reconnect with your body.”

Men are not from Mars. Women are not from Venus.

“What do you expect? I’m a man.”

“You women all love to shop.”

“Women are more nurturing than men.”

“Men don’t go to the doctor.”  

These are just some examples of what I hear people say when in conversations about men and women.

Continue reading “Men are not from Mars. Women are not from Venus.”

On being a woman.

In honor of International Women’s Day.

Being a woman is not easy – but neither is being human.

Familial and societal imposed expectations. Perceived limitations of self and fear of not being enough – or doing enough, or loving enough, or caring enough, or anything – enough!

Continue reading “On being a woman.”

10 Fun Facts about the Irish in America

It has been said that America is the most Irish country in the world and as a Boston girl, I would know. 

At the age of five, I had a brogue.  It was ever so slight, the faintest lilt of a melody rolling off my tongue.  My pronunciation of ‘bathin suit’ and ‘vawlume’ left no doubt that there was a twinge of green coursing through my veins.  But that’s what happens when you spend five days a week being taught by a nun from County Laois (pronounced leash) in parochial school. Continue reading “10 Fun Facts about the Irish in America”

Pandemic relief for those who let themselves go.

What was I forced to give up and what did I choose to? How did COVID-19 impact my life?

These were questions that arose as I conducted my year-at-a-glance review. 

When COVID-19 crept into our world, it was a slow, insidious process for many.  We listened to scientific experts and watched the news, yet I’m not certain if we fully grasped the impact it would have on our lives.

Then in what seemed like the blink of an eye, the pandemic hit hard. Fast and furious replaced the slow and insidious.  There was conflicting information and data.  Non-essential workers went home with their must-have business tools to conduct their professional lives.  What we thought would be a week or maybe a month transformed into what we now refer to as ‘the new normal’ – twelve plus months later. Continue reading “Pandemic relief for those who let themselves go.”