The other day when I was swimming laps, I surprised myself when halfway down the lap lane, I stopped. I stopped suddenly and for no apparent reason. As I stopped, I pondered, “Why did you stop, Julie?” I responded to myself, “I wondered that, too.” And, so, I pondered...
It all depends on what you decide to look at, hear, enjoy, and focus on. It was a bumpy ride with delays, bad weather, deplaning, more delays, and more bad weather. Although we had clear skies in Memphis, storms were at full force in Chicago. And, so, we were forced...
Playing old messages in my head makes me sound like a broken record. Negative messages I heard growing up rear their ugly heads when I am facing (mental) stumbling blocks or when I’m on the verge of greatness/accomplishing a goal. These ugly voices (I call gremlins)...
Is happiness a feeling or a knowing? Is it some fleeting feeling we all strive to achieve? According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, happiness is “a state of well-being and contentment.” Can a person be continually happy while also facing struggles or experience pain...
My mom would have been my rock, my support system, my encourager… …If I had more time with her… When I needed her the most, she was dying. Losing your mother A 25-year-old needs her mother. I still need my mom. Why did I get jipped and left motherless? Mothering...
I’ve heard it said that the eyes are the window to the soul. And, I believe—and have experienced—that making eye contact with a stranger or friend creates an instant connection. Lately I’ve been hearing more about disconnecting from technology to connect with...
At a recent family event, my husband’s 7-year-old niece snuggled up to me on the couch and began to laugh and giggle. (It’s our thing…you could say I create a giggle safe zone.) She notices my necklace of a French horn pendant. She asks: “Why do you have a trumpet on...
We’re entering the Holiday Season…It’s a time for joy and being with family and friends. But, what if…You’re anxious about the holidays? For some of us feeling grateful during the holidays may be challenging. There may be a family member who...
Admittedly, I allow too much of my day to be caught up in doing, doing, doing. It seems I am constantly Judging. “What needs to be done?” “What did I do?” “What didn’t I do?” Judging, questioning, and doubting catapults me out of the present moment and into either the...
Pursuing a passion. Learning while having fun. Although I’ve made it my business to share with others the benefits of improv for life, I decided to return to the ‘classroom’ and become an improv student once again. A few months ago, when I was talking with my aunt...