One of the things about winter in the northeastern United States that brings me down is the monochromatic landscape we live with when the flowers are dead, the tree branches bare naked and the grass dormant, waiting. I love color and spring and summer blooms make my heart happy. What about you? What do you do to keep vividness around you all the time?
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Ah, the stuff we collect over the many years of our lives. Family and friends know how often I’ve moved, so pack-ratting is not a part of my DNA. But I have to admit to being sentimental about certain of my belongings … how about you? When do you keep a thing and when do you move it on?
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Is there something in your house that you have to do and you hate to do and you put off doing it as long as you can? No, I’m not talking about dusting—which is right at the top of things that have to be done that I deplore doing. As a kid, I’d put the brush attachment on the old can vacuum and use it inhale the dust from furniture and suck up cigarette butts from the ashtrays. Until I clogged the machine and mom caught me and made me go back to using a rag.
But I digress…
Older sister Jackie and I agree: Our problems in life are directly related to our parents and the way they brought us up. There was too much humor, fun, and good times — we thought that was reality. We’ve discovered that the world does not operate that way, but the lessons our folks taught us have served us well.
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When I used to teach workshops at a former employer, I would read to myself daily. Just like you have to build up muscles to have strength, you have to build up your vocal chords to make it through six hours of training.
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