Relationships

My husband and I are remodeling an older home, and so far we’re still talking.

It’s not the first time we’ve taken on this type of project.

About 15 years ago, we renovated a handful of tired, weary houses into beautiful welcoming homes for new families to enjoy. My husband’s background in construction and my knack for creating and designing interior spaces seemed like a good match — one that would give us the opportunity to spend more time together and strengthen our bond.

So we jumped in with both feet, a positive attitude, and crossed fingers.

While we had a reasonable degree of knowledge about construction — and were willing and able to do most of the work ourselves — there were a lot…

Education

“Is this on the test?” — Seth Godin, Author/Blogger/Podcaster

One of my favorite podcasts is Akimbo with host, Seth Godin. An intellectual explorer in the pursuit of excellence, success, and personal responsibility, Seth uses the query to effectively demonstrate the faults and shortcomings in our current educational system.

And his observation is a disturbingly valid one.

It seems in the current culture, most students concentrate on what they need to remember to pass the exam — stretching their minds only as far as necessary to receive a passing grade. …

According to an article by Annie Wright in Evergreen Counseling, dreams have messages for us:

“While different schools of thought believe that dreams exist for varied reasons, I personally believe that dreams are portals and entryways to our psyches and that some of the richest, most valuable information we need about situations in our waking lives can be found by exploring the content of your dreams.”

Last night, I had one of those dreams.

Complete with color and sound, the setting and surrounding details seemed normal, even realistic. There were no wispy edges or cloudy, shadowy figures. …

It’s usually on the list of most people’s dream occupation — being a writer. There seems to be something mystical, even esoteric about the profession.

Why?

Maybe it’s the fantasized notion of creating unique masterpieces, or being able to write on an independent schedule — without a boss or supervisor — and having the freedom to take a day off whenever the mood strikes.

And while writing is a noble and rewarding endeavor, the truth is many may not have a true calling. Or patience.

It takes more than a naive interest to sit down and express your thoughts to…

Mindset

“The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surrounding.” — Kakuzo Okakura (The Book of Tea)

How often do we rely on our memories of the past to make a decision?

Almost every day. And in most cases, things work out okay and our expectations are met. For example, the chicken salad we order for lunch every Tuesday, the shortcut we take to work, and the selection of organic veggies at the local market offer no surprises. Because they’re a given — and something we take for granted from past experience.

But how do we deal with…

Mindset

Our evolving culture demands transformation, and at a much quicker pace than in the past.

Most of the time, when faced with adjustments in our lives, the results turn out okay — even good or great. And occasionally, the hurdles placed in our path seem more like a test with open-ended, rhetorical questions, often leaving us with a sense of confusion or lack of direction.

So how do we guide ourselves through the inevitable transitions affecting our focus and goals — with as little discomfort as possible?

The answer may lie in your perspective of the situations and people around you. Because we all have a choice in determining how to interpret the circumstances in our lives.

And with this personal control…

Responsibility

“Keep all your promises, don’t take what doesn’t belong to you, and always look after those less fortunate than yourself, and you’ll do well in the world.” — Rebecca Rupp

When it comes to expiration dates, interpretation is the key.

Most everything has a date of expiration — packaged foods, medications, 2-for-1 special offers, car warranties, even our bodies — but that’s a subject for another story.

So what does that have to do with keeping promises?

An article in Exploring Your Mind explains it this way:

“Some people break promises time and again. They chip away at your trust, little by little, and leave you nothing but empty words…

Mindset

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” — Anais Nin

Toxic thoughts.

You don’t even know they exist. Because they’ve found a way to sneak into your subconscious without you noticing — taking up residence and eager to slip into your daily thought patterns.

Negative stealth bombs, waiting to explode.

And without recognizing their influence, these destructive intruders have found a way to adjust your attitude and behavior. And it’s time for them to pack their bags and hit the road.

In an article by Henrik Edberg in The Positivity Blog, the author says:

“Negativity that wells up inside of…