“Many of us plan for our future wealth and health. Few prepare for an equally essential aspect of retirement: how to continue to feel seen and valued.” – Jennifer Breheny Wallace This quote opens a great article in the Wall Street Journal titled The Retirement Crisis: No One Warns You About: Mattering. Mattering is described … Continue reading The Overlooked Side of Retirement: Mattering
Tag: writing
Book Review: On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft
"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”— Stephen King, On Writing Photo by Ed Ortiz I have seen many movie adaptations of Stephen King’s books over the years—The Shining, Carrie, IT, Pet Sematary, just to name a few—but the only … Continue reading Book Review: On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft
A Year of Reading with Community and Purpose
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your family, loved ones, and friends. Mine was peaceful and quiet, and I did a lot of reading, but I also found 12 hours to watch the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) documentary The American Revolution by Ken Burns. If you are in the United States and … Continue reading A Year of Reading with Community and Purpose
When a Story Finally Finds Its Moment
I read an article this weekend in The Wall Street Journal and immediately thought about all my writer friends in my WordPress community. It’s a story of never giving up and of writing without worrying where your words will land. Maybe one day your book will be discovered and become a hit—but the writing journey … Continue reading When a Story Finally Finds Its Moment
Book Review: Jade’s Broken Bridge
Jade’s Broken Bridge, my notes, and a steaming cup of coffee. I’ve been following Michele Lee Sefton for a while, and her writing has always captivated me. There is depth behind her words, and her growth as a writer shines through in every blog post. Reading her poems and novellas, Her Coastal Cottage and Honeysuckle … Continue reading Book Review: Jade’s Broken Bridge
An Hour with Surviving Sue
Early this year, I read a wonderful book written by Dr. Vicki Atkinson titled Surviving Sue, and you can read what I wrote about her book here. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend an event sponsored by the Cultural and Performing Arts Department of Harper College in Chicago’s northwest area. I spent a little … Continue reading An Hour with Surviving Sue
The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 12
When I first read Dr. Stein’s post and scanned all the questions he laid out for us, I thought about how great of an exercise answering them would be. One question, in particular, caught my attention right away—one that invited deep personal reflection. That question was: What have you learned about life that you didn’t … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 12
A Life Remembered, A Lesson for Parents Everywhere
I have been debating for a few days now whether to write a reflection on a recent loss in our family. I was thinking about just writing it in my journal, but then I thought that putting my thoughts on this medium could help someone out there, and if I can help even one person, … Continue reading A Life Remembered, A Lesson for Parents Everywhere
The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 11
I can’t believe I’ve already worked my way through ten questions. Some of them took me back decades, reminding me of both the good and the bad in my life. It’s been a great exercise to reflect on where I was and where I am now, and the transformation is incredible. As I pondered this … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 11
The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 10
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” — Leo Tolstoy Ten years ago, I was a 42-year-old, overworked, stressed-out man and about 20 pounds over my desired weight of 165, something I felt every time I went for a run. I worked in a place where I couldn’t see … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 10
