What’s Right (or what’s popular?)
As I sat in the audience of a recent event, the presenter happened to mention that she had travelled out of state recently. She described how she had gone out to dinner and had been required to show her vaccination card in order to be seated inside the establishment.[...]
Exiting the Matrix (or, it’s time to channel your inner Neo)
“You have to understand, most people are not ready to be unplugged.” – Morpheus, The Matrix (1999) A father once explained to his daughter that, as she matured and started dating, she would need to know who to trust. He told her that she could always come to him[...]
Taking Back Our Power (Or, who’s in charge, anyway?)
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” Albert Einstein The moment a human baby is born, it begins the process of relinquishing its power to forces outside itself. That is a pretty bold statement, so let’s unpack it a bit.[...]
Connectedness (or, people are a lot like weeds)
What in the world could humans possibly have in common with an invasive plant that is taking over suburban yards? More than you’d realize at first glance. Let’s connect-the-dots… Over the past three years, to the dismay of many homeowners, Doveweed (Murdannia nudiflora),[...]
Gifts Come in Small Packages (or, can a bug really teach us to live?)
Call me crazy, but to me, Covid is a gift…a blessing in disguise. In spite of the little we know about it, the Coronavirus possesses the uncanny ability to uncover Truth…to reveal things, both individually and collectively, that we would have preferred to keep hidden.[...]
On Things Unseen (or, Dr. Seuss was on to something)
Invisible enemies scare us. Perhaps that is why we are afraid of the dark, of ghosts….and things that go bump in the night. We don’t like what we can’t see. And so it is with the virus. Our human body comes equipped with five senses. They are part[...]
Understanding The Concept of Meditation
Understanding The Concept of Meditation BQH practitioner Dr. Allison Brown is located just outside of Charleston, SC. In this article she shares a channeled message about the importance of quieting the mind. Meditation. We’ve heard that word so often that we must know what it means, right? Well, maybe. Most[...]
Offended (or, trigger is not a horse)
How's this for a tagline? "Offending your mind to get to your heart!" I saw this quote on a promo for JP Sears’ latest podcast episode, an interview with Master Coach Brandon Hawk. Now, if you have not yet discovered JP, you’re missing out (at the very least,[...]
Out of the Closet (and into the Love!)
Yesterday, my husband Bill and I “came out of the closet.” We conducted our very first channeling session in a public venue. Was I scared? Nope…not in the slightest. You see, things have changed so dramatically in our lives over the past few years – even more significantly[...]
The Allure of the Dolphin (or, flipping for Flipper)
It was a glorious Saturday afternoon! We were speeding up the river, Bill and I, headed toward the lock – gateway to Lake Moultrie – when Bill spotted something up ahead and abruptly slowed the boat. “Dolphins!” he shouted, with a touch of surprise in his voice. We’re[...]
5 Healing Modalities to Pay Attention to in 2018
Holistic healing techniques have been used for thousands of years and run the gamut from the common (think chiropractic and yoga), to the more obscure. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), in the United States alone, more than one in three adults[...]
The Power of Love (or, iguanas need love, too!)
I recently came across an incredible piece in the New York Times, written by a Yemeni man who had spent the better part of his life imprisoned at Guantanamo. I would highly suggest that you read it before continuing. Mansoor Adayfi was 19 when he was sent to Gitmo.[...]
Preach It! (or, who IS this guy?)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard that there was a very high profile wedding not too long ago. And by high profile, I don’t mean that the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle held any significance for most folks – just that it[...]
Love With Conviction (or, what can we learn from terrorists?)
Best-selling author Marianne Williamson came to Charleston recently as part of her Love America tour, and I had the opportunity to attend her Friday night talk. What a firecracker! She is an amazing woman, chock full of spunk! Although there were lots of great nuggets peppered throughout her presentation,[...]
What’s In Your Head? (or, the zombie apocalypse is here!)
I’m probably in the minority, but I’ve never watched an episode of The Walking Dead. In fact, I never really bought into the whole Zombie apocalypse thing. But, after listening to the Bad Wolves’ cover of Zombie (originally recorded by the Cranberries), I’m having second thoughts.[...]
The Fear of Risk-Taking (or, mediocrity is bad?)
“The most powerful threat to greatness isn't evil. It's mediocrity.” Mediocre: Of only ordinary or moderate quality; neither good nor bad; barely adequate (dictionary.com). There seems to be a trend towards mediocrity these days. We see it in education, sports, business, and politics. We even succumb to the status[...]
Healing Outside the Box (or, how many pushups can YOU do?)
Have you ever noticed that God has a sense of humor? When She endowed me with a rebellious streak, She probably thought it would be comical to watch the many predicaments I would get myself into. For example, I dropped out of college after my sophomore year and joined[...]
Happy Anniversary! (or, what does a stovetop have to do with blogging?)
When I started blogging, my goal was one post a week for one year – 52 blog posts. At the time, that sounded like a lot! Fifty-two essays…how would I find that many things to write about? What if I came up empty…lost my source of inspiration? Needless to[...]
Can Mindfulness Save Us? (or, my tribe is better than yours)
As I mentioned in a previous post, I started an 8-week mindfulness meditation program on New Year’s Day. You could say that mindfulness has been on my mind lately. One of the major benefits of a mindfulness practice is that it helps us understand that we are not our[...]
The Guest Post That Wasn’t (or, 3 books and 3 blogs)
The following blog post was written as a potential guest post for a fellow blogger, Lorna, over at Gin & Lemonade. She had a segment called “3 books and 3 blogs,” that highlighted, well, books and blogs – guest bloggers could share some of their favorites. As it turns[...]
College in the 21st Century (or, is it too late to change my major?)
“College is where liberal professors teach ‘ridiculous’ classes and indoctrinate students who hang out and protest all day long and cry on our dime. They’ve become elitist, politically correct institutions that often fail to provide practical skills for the job market” (Washington Post, 2017). Wow! That’s quite an indictment[...]
The Prodigal Son Revisited (or, please unlock the pearly gates!)
We’re all familiar with the story of the prodigal son, right? The parable can be found in the Bible, Luke 15:11-12, but here’s a refresher: A father had two sons, the younger of whom asked for and received an early inheritance. He quickly left home and squandered the money.[...]
Obstacles (or, life is like an oyster)
Funny thing about obstacles – even though we view them as temporary roadblocks on the highway of life, very often they lead us on a completely different journey. You’ve no doubt read the inspiring stories of “average” people who suffer an unthinkable tragedy and use it to create a[...]
Living a Meaningful Life (or, survive and thrive!)
Viktor Frankel, psychiatrist and concentration camp survivor, is the author of one of the most spiritually significant books of all time – Man’s Search for Meaning. In it, Frankel describes how human beings derive meaning from the events in our lives, particularly through our suffering. His inspirational words comfort[...]
Snow Day Statistics (or, snowpocalypse in the south!)
I had big plans for today. Ok, maybe not big, as in flying-to-Hawaii big or meeting-Bill-Murray big (Bill Murray is the shit!) but bigger than sitting-home-watching-my-deck-turn-from-brown-to-white big. You see, here in Charleston (South Carolina), the mere mention of snow, ice, freezing rain, wintery mix, or any synonym thereof, results[...]
Attention! (or, where is your flashlight pointed?)
Attention is valuable commodity. If you had any doubt, you need only watch your children fight for it. The reason attention is so valuable is that it shines a spotlight on the things we hold dear. In other words, in spite of what we SAY is important to us,[...]
The Ghosts of Christmas Past (or, Jesus rides a camel)
For this special blog post, special because it falls on Christmas Eve, I thought I’d take a trip down memory lane. I’ve scoured my journals to bring you some of the most memorable highlights of Christmas’s past. Christmas 1998: Evan was 6 months old, and I was already 3[...]
How Do We Define Success? (or, which way to the playground?)
Have you noticed that things happen in threes? Well, the other day I saw three articles – one in the news, one on Facebook, and another on Twitter – all talking about the same thing! Naturally, I took that as a sign….there’s a there there. What’s more, I need[...]
Grounding (or, granny ditched her wheelchair!)
On the subject of aging, which of these two quotes would you be most likely to utter? “Take all those candles out of the cake and nobody gets hurt!” “Just 'cause there's snow on the roof doesn't mean there's not a fire inside!” If you tend to approach aging[...]
Follow your bliss (or, perhaps it’s time for a nose ring)
We’ve all heard of the midlife crisis, right? Some of us are hit hard, as in the “get-a-divorce-and-buy-a-sports-car” kind of crisis. Others can get away with just a nose ring or tattoo, or maybe even a boob job. The thing is, the root of the crisis is the same[...]
AWOL Educators (or, teachers are people, too)
Last week, I ran into an educator-friend at the grocery store: “Did you see that news article last night?” she asked. “Now, they’re bashing teachers for taking too many days off!” This teacher, by the way, is not a complainer. She is respected by her peers, contributes to the[...]
Appreciation (or, Bill Murry is the shit!)
Today, in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, I’m going to take a few minutes to wallow in pure, unadulterated appreciation. Today’s blog is my version of Oprah’s gratitude journal. If you follow Abraham-Hicks, you know that being in a state of gratitude is one of the quickest ways to[...]
Tackling the Mental Health Crisis (or, there really are no words)
As you know, my blog (and my life’s purpose) is about operating from a place of Love rather than Fear. I try not to get caught up in the downward spiral of current events unless I can offer an educated opinion without succumbing to fear-based rhetoric. That being said, I[...]
The Power of Perspective (or, if the shoe fits, wear it!)
“A shoe factory sends two marketing scouts to a region of Africa to study the prospects for expanding business. One sends back a telegram saying: ‘SITUATION HOPELESS STOP NO ONE WEARS SHOES.’ The other writes back triumphantly, ‘GLORIOUS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY STOP THEY HAVE NO SHOES’” (excerpted from The Art[...]
Everything I Need to Know I Learned From My Goats (or, head butts can be useful)
This week, I'm going to regale you with tales from the Brown Family Farm - specifically, goat stories presented in pictures. Buddy, our tan and white goat is a polled (naturally non-horned), neutered male, and Lily, is a tri-color, horned female. They are Myotonic goats, otherwise known as fainters.[...]
More Educational Surprises (or, subs are not sandwiches)
Here we go again. Remember the teacher shortage I wrote about a few weeks ago? Well, apparently it caught up with Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, TN. According to USA Today, this school – a school at which President Obama gave the 2011 commencement speech due to[...]
Learning to Love Ourselves (or, playing to a fickle audience)
I recently read a quote from Abraham-Hicks that has huge implications for just about all aspects of life, not the least of which is our prison system. You cannot restore someone to their Connection with Source by belittling them or by punishing them or by being disgusted with them.[...]
Creativity Revisited (or, it’s a matter of life and death!)
A few weeks ago, I wrote about our recent tour of the Mauthausen concentration camp (if you missed it, you can find it here). In the visitor’s center at the end of the tour, a particular exhibit caught my eye. It described a baby named Hana, who was –[...]
The US of A (or, welcome to the grand illusion)
It’s no longer breaking news that the tension in our country (and arguably, our world) is reaching a boiling point. In fact, many folks believe “the powers that be” are intentionally trying to create a Civil War in the US. Divide and conquer. Just today, I was reading a[...]
The Purpose of Education (or, where the hell is my sushi?)
I think we’d all agree that schools are educational institutions. Teachers instruct, and students learn. At least that’s what’s supposed to happen, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Remember the old saying, “What gets measured, gets done”? There are plenty of examples of this in education. For instance,[...]
Diversity (or, do you want fries with that?)
DIVERSITY - Why are we so afraid of this word? Why does this one little word cause so much anger and opposition? Why are we uncomfortable even discussing diversity? It will probably come as no surprise….human beings find comfort in sameness. We thrive on commonalities. In fact, where romantic[...]
The Case for Education (or, teachers as panhandlers?)
Guess what? There is a nationwide teacher shortage. Surprised? I’m not. I’m not the least bit surprised, because I AM an educator. But all those non-educator types – you know, the politicians, the reporters, the educational philanthropists – they seem quite surprised. They even write articles about teacher shortages,[...]
The Big Picture (or, does the Universe hate me?)
Years ago, I wrote a devotional for the Christian magazine, Our Daily Bread. It was titled “Our Limited Understanding.” (don't look for it; sadly, it wasn't picked up for publication). In reality, it was about The Big Picture. I wrote: “As a mom, God often speaks to me through[...]
Choose Love (or, Mike Rowe is a hottie!)
I love Mike Rowe! You know, the Dirty Jobs guy? And, not just because he’s hot….I love him because he has common sense, and he’s not afraid to use it. In today’s world, where common sense seems to take a back seat to political correctness, I admire the fact[...]
Reconciliation (or, the Beatles are the bomb!)
It’s a beautiful Saturday night in downtown Charleston. I’m sitting at a piano bar with my husband and some friends from work, having a blast, my voice almost hoarse from singing and yelling. At some point, I sneak a glance at Bill, who is not prone to overt displays[...]
Ghosting (or, drop it like it’s hot!)
Benjamin Corey is a theological scholar and author, read by millions each year, who unabashedly speaks out about the types of topics I’ve been wrestling with for years, as a (no longer) conservative Christian. Corey’s beliefs fall, in his words, primarily within the tenets of the Anabaptist network. One[...]
Overcoming Fear (or, life is like a rollercoaster)
In my last blog post, I let you in on a little secret. I admitted that I am often afraid. Wait, what? Yes, I realize that my tagline is “Living Your Life’s Purpose Through Love, Not Fear.” But, actually, I’m on this journey right along with you. My goal[...]
The Rebel, Part III (or, my life as a guinea pig)
If you’ve been following my blog, you may have noticed a bit of a theme. Two weeks ago, I wrote about my penchant for asking “why” and how this sometimes leads me to (respectfully) challenge authority – or at least the status quo. Last week, I took this theme[...]
Civil disobedience (or, channeling our inner rebel)
My family and I recently returned from an amazing overseas visit to Frankfurt – to attend the wedding of one of our (host) daughters – and Vienna – to visit with another. During our time in Austria, we took a day trip to the Mauthausen concentration camp, two hours[...]
Why? (or, rebelliousness as a virtue)
One of my favorite questions is “Why?” Unfortunately, people don’t really like that question. Educators are not supposed to ask “why”…they are just supposed to DO. Bosses don’t like, “why,” either. Believe it or not, they find it confrontational. Husbands are frequently annoyed by “why.” Especially when there is[...]
Creativity, Part II (or, the sandbox is not just for kids)
Remember last week, when I wrote that ideas start to flow as we tap into our innate creativity? Well, there’s a reason for that. Carl Jung, the famous psychologist known for his theory of the Collective Unconscious, believed that not only does each human being have an individual psyche,[...]
Creativity, Part I (or, where are those damn knitting needles?)
I used to think there were only two kinds of people in the world – those who were creative and those who were not. Until recently, I would have told anyone who asked that I fell squarely into the second camp. I can’t draw, I’m not particularly crafty, I[...]
Making Sense of the Universe (or, musings of a lunatic)
My son is a big fan of Neil Degrasse Tyson, American astrophysicist, author, and science communicator. For a school project, Evan created some laminated bookmarks, on which were written various quotes from famous scientists, like Tyson. Of course, being an avid reader, I absconded with the bookmarks as soon[...]
On Life After Death (or, calling all Psyc majors!)
Ok all you fellow Psyc majors, I know you’ve heard of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, MD, and her book, On Death and Dying. As any good Psychology major knows, Kubler-Ross is famous for identifying the five stages of grief (death): denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Truth be told, Kubler-Ross didn’t[...]
Love is the Point (or, baby goats are so darn cute!)
I just watched an insanely adorable video about Leanne Lauricella and her Goats of Anarchy. Leanne rescues and rehabs baby goats who have injuries or birth defects, many of whom would otherwise be euthanized. When Leanne quit a good job in New York City to pursue her passion, people[...]
What’s New? (or, Look! A Squirrel!)
Guess what? I am a neophiliac! I just realized there is a word for those of us who constantly crave new or novel experiences. Traditionally, novelty-seeking has been thought of as a negative trait, due to its correlation with impulsiveness, extravagance, and substance abuse (we are easily bored and[...]
The Psychology of Confession (or, a cure for the blues)
The other day, a colleague and I were having a philosophical discussion (in other words, we were talking about religion). As we contemplated various religious practices, wondering about their purpose and benefit, we of course, hit upon the practice of confession. I mentioned that when I lived in south[...]
Synchronicity (or, how I was traded for a bag of McDonald’s food)
I married my high school sweetheart during my second year of college. As you may have guessed it wasn't the wisest decision I’ve ever made, and it was a difficult four years. However, when all was said and done, I wound up back in my hometown of Wilmington, NC,[...]
Motivational Interviewing (or, lessons from my students)
As many of you know, I am the School Counseling Director of the alternative school in my district. I work with 80-100 students in grades 6-12, many of whom have behavioral challenges. During this past school year, I completed an intensive course in Motivational Interviewing. Because MI is an[...]
Love or Fear (or, which path will you choose?)
Disclaimer: Remember in my first blog when I asked my readers for one favor – read with an open mind? Well… With that out of the way, let’s jump right in! As you know from my radio interview, I’ve spent a great deal of time wrestling with many of[...]
The Nature of Reality (or, am I dreaming?)
Those of you who, like me, grew up in the 70s and 80s realize the incredible speed with which technology has advanced over the past 40-50 years. Shoot, I remember as a pre-teen, taking family road trips to Florida to visit relatives. My brother and I would sit in[...]
Altruism (or, could we ever pull off a Socialist society?)
I recently ran across an opinion piece in The Week, entitled The Ugly Truth of Canada’s Welfare State, by Shikha Dalmia. The very first paragraph struck me… She wrote, “The central project of the liberal welfare state is to build a society based on a high-minded ethic of altruism[...]
The Sound of Silence (or, gifts come in unexpected packages)
The other morning, I was awoken (a bit early) with The Sound of Silence playing in my head – you know, that new cover by Disturbed (it’s awesome, right?!). I’ve been around long enough to know that God often speaks to me very early in the morning, during that[...]
Be Positive! (or, dog tags don’t lie!)
My 18-year-old son, Evan, is an awesome young man (even if I am a bit partial), and is on the verge of permanently leaving the nest to embark on his adult life! He has always been a quiet, thoughtful, introspective child, which has its pros and cons. On the[...]
Relationships (or, why can’t we just get along?)
It is August of 2015, and the principal of my high school stands up to address the staff during our first faculty meeting after summer vacation – tough crowd! “It’s all about relationships,” she pronounced. She goes on to explain that she has done a lot of reflection over[...]
An Apple a Day (or, the new secret to happiness?)
Did you know that your mind cannot tell the difference between a real apple and an imaginary one? It’s true! Researchers demonstrated that regardless of whether you see an apple or imagine an apple, the same area of the brain in triggered. DID YOU HEAR THAT? Your brain reacts[...]
Text messages from God (or, who the hell IS this?)
It’s 6am on a random Friday morning in February. I roll out of bed, groggy but glad it is Friday! As I do every morning, I grab my phone and my reading glasses and stumble into the bathroom, shielding my eyes from the blaring light that my sweet husband[...]
Spirituality 101 (or, a woman without a tribe)
The educator in me wanted to start this blog post with a quiz (don’t worry…it won’t be graded :) ) How many pairs of yoga pants do you own? (ok, this is primarily for females….although if you are a guy who wears yoga pants, I’m thrilled that you are[...]
Political Correctness Gone Awry? (or, perhaps Trump got something right)
Whatever you think of Trump, he is correct on one (at least one) count – Political Correctness is out of control. I would also add that political correctness is, ultimately, not in our best interest. But wait! Before you let the word “Trump” scare you off, hear me out…[...]
Judgement (or, payback is hell)
Last Tuesday, after finishing up the radio show with Debra Moffitt, I sat there for a moment, thinking about the monumental shift that had just taken place, the heavy weight of it sinking in. Adrenaline and nervous energy had been building up for the past 36 hours, as I[...]
My First-Ever Blog Post (or, now you can say you knew me before I was famous ;) )
I have known I was a writer most of my life. I have been writing all of my life – journals, recommendation letters, letters to the editor, research papers, you name it. I sat down to write my first book in middle school. I had no idea what I[...]
