If I Say Yes, What Am I Saying NO To? I said yes to old, loving Pete — the horse, not the pseudo blonde. This meant I said no to money (hay- burners, you know), hay-free bra, clean shirt and pretty fingernails. Best decision ever! Not the pseudo-blonde thing I…

I have tears as I’m writing this. That’s okay. They’re healing. Tears sparkle. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to remember someone we deeply loved. Feel the feelings. The anniversary of my husband’s death is this month. We were deeply in love. We planned, in our 40’s, to move to…

When life gives you excrement “For one to fly, one needs only to take the reins.” Melissa James You know the tale (tail?) of the optimistic child who saw lots of horse excrement in the barn and was so excited he started shoveling because: “There’s a pony in there somewhere!”…

Sometimes our absence says more than being with someone. More than words, arguing, defensiveness, persuading. Sometimes the situation and person just need to be and let God and life handle the person that is dumping all over you, or you think is dumping on you. This is really true with…

I am a widow. I became an alcoholic because of the pain. Loneliness. Fear. Isolation. Actually, my drinking career started in earnest when my husband was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. I was 58 years and my husband 64 years. He died at age 66. The heartache, financial difficulties, unpredictability…

Blame! Anger! Division! Neighbor hating neighbor! My heart is sick. My brain is overloaded. My motivation/inspiration is weak. I am powerless to effect change. Then… I read this. This is true power. Wisdom. This is something I can do today. Whether a believer or not. Conservative or Progressive. This is wisdom. Lord, make me an instrument…

The more I participate on Medium, the more I learn. And realize I’m at a much slower pace than the superstars. My goals are not to make the most money, receive honors, become the most viewed and clapped (please feel free to do so, though). At this stage in my…

Except for the grieving. Maybe it’s because I’m one of the older members on Medium or I’m sensitive to this because I am a widow, but please remember those that have lost loved ones this time of year. It can be the loneliest and most painful time for those grieving. …