authentic
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Story of the Ages
Along the rows of fading tomes and crumbling pages, amid the musty libraries of time, there is a story that recurs. From cool Arabian desert tents to colonnades of Grecian cities, from hamlet fairy tales of the Middle Ages to fields of New World pioneers, the prince or princess disguised as a pauper who rises…
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Spinning Away
Not spinning thread or wool, but like an unknown planet pulled by gravity, spinning out into space. About a year ago I made a video talking about transitions. I sat outside under a summer-green tree, reading little bits from a wonderful book by William Bridges titled Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes. I had recently…
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The Long View
It’s been busy, as they say. A season of things happening, some trials and difficult roads, doing Mom Stuff for my kids, less regular days. My schedule isn’t even beside the computer anymore; it must be under a pile or on the floor. I’ll find it. For now, it’s alright. Fridays for Creating “will resume…
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Go With the Thief As Far as the Door
A friend mentioned this quote the other day, and it has stayed in my mind as a compelling metaphor. Go with the thief as far as the door. What does it mean? Who is the “thief”? Translated from another language, the saying needs a bit of nuance and explanation for English speakers. The thief is…
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People Change
Up with the dawn. There’s something sweet about the subtle change of the sky from night to day. From coal black darkness behind the bedroom blinds, to a muted wash of paleness that transforms the silhouettes of trees and houses to intricate black paper cutouts, then, a blue-ish hue backlit by gold stealthily grows from…
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Slow Living
I am having the best day. Sure, there are tasks waiting, but they aren’t pressing into me, demanding to be done. There’s a phone call I should get back to, but it’s not urgent. Snow lies melting like pure white fondant, asking politely to be shoveled, but it’s asking more out of obligation than real…
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The Process Fraught
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”― Ernest Hemingway The behind-the-scenes process of creating is – somewhat famously – painful, arduous and soul-destroying work. Monet used to discard much of his painting. Kafka wrote in his journal: “Another ten days and I have achieved nothing. It doesn’t…
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Fridays are for Creating
I love to be left alone. Time to process. To think without interruption. These are precious gifts. I love my family and friends, and I’m always inspired by how beautifully unique people can be with their varied personalities and idiosyncrasies, hair colour, skin tones, eyes of every shade, Myers-Briggs profiles, embarrassing moments, fraught relationships, life…
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But What Will I Wear?!
I haven’t been able to write lately; I’ve lost my momentum. Today I will just write – something – off the cuff, stream of consciousness. The title is a quote from the Grinch in one of my favorite scenes. When I first saw the movie I laughed out loud not so much because it was…
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A Simple Ritual
In the blue-grey silence of morning We fold the blankets backFluff the pillowsWash our facesListen to the coffee brewingWarm caffeine scent wafting Stare out frosty windows and wonderPeel an orangeThe light across the wood is warmer nowTime imperceptibly movesA cat wanting not to be seenBehind the door all is stillSun bursts over porcelain snowStrawflower gold…
Stories for Humans 