Not Oscar, but he’s gold and handsome! As “Oscar Night” is again fast approaching (Sunday, February 26), I’ve been thinking about awards and recognition. It’s a very human need, to desire validation and recognition for the work we do, the talents we possess, or the roles we perform. Each one of us wants, and needs, … Continue reading
Filed under Inspiration …
What if…?
“What if…?” It’s a question posed by those engaged in scientific pursuits and by those who create science fiction. A query for the curious and the imaginative, wondering “What if…?” provokes thought, motivates investigation, and inspires invention. It invites us to consider possibilities and to see (in our minds, at least) beyond our horizon. It … Continue reading
Warm Fuzzies: The Power of Kind Words
When I hear the term “warm fuzzy”, I instantly think “soft”, “nurturing”, and “comforting”. It’s that freshly washed blanket, straight from the dryer that you wrap yourself up in. Its gentle embrace is the feeling of security and assurance and care. And it can be found in the simple gift of a kind word. During … Continue reading
Happy At Home
“To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition, the end to which every enterprise and labour tends.” — Samuel Johnson I can’t tell you how true these words ring for me. As an introvert who would be happier working alone on a quiet project at home, I need to push myself … Continue reading
One of My Simple Pleasures: Quick Sticky Buns
The great thing about simple pleasures… is that they’re, well, simple, of course! While the all-time simple pleasure that tops my list is a freshly brewed cup of coffee accompanied by a crossword puzzle or a good book, another really simple pleasure I enjoy comes from the November 2007 issue of Real Simple magazine: a … Continue reading
Birds of Worry
That the birds of worry and care fly over your head, this you cannot change, but that they build nests in your hair, this you can prevent. Chinese Proverb I really like this quote. It evokes a bold image that so vividly, and, in a way, comically expresses a truth about being human: we are, … Continue reading
The Simple Pleasure of Observation
My cat, Charcoal, often joins me in the kitchen when I am tidying up after dinner. Sometimes he sits on the dishwasher door as I’m loading the dishes, looking up at me, affectionately, licking his chops in his subliminal way to suggest that I should pour him a spot of milk. Sometimes I give in; … Continue reading
Simply Stated
I want to take the opportunity to introduce a new page on Simple Pleasures. Simply Stated is a collection of some of my favorite quotations and poems, accompanied by beautiful photographs reflecting the sentiments expressed. Since many of the quotations or poems have been featured in my blog posts, I’ve included a link with each … Continue reading
Listening To Our Children
A while back during one of my visits to the recycling center, I came across a sweet little book. Always Kiss Me Good Night: Instructions on Raising the Perfect Parent by 147 Kids Who Knowis a compilation of elementary school-aged children’s answers to the question: “If I could tell my parents how to raise me, … Continue reading
Growing Older, Living Better
Youth is not a time of life—it is a state of mind Last weekend my husband and I attended a birthday party for a friend who was turning 60. A milestone year, most would agree, although I’m not sure if any one year is more significant than another. As we wished Brad “happy birthday”, our … Continue reading
Simple Pleasures 