In this Entry:State of the World/ Feel Better TipsPersonal Reflection/ Power of ConnectionJust Because/ McMenaminsPostscript I don’t know about you, but I’ve been feeling a bit down lately. Given the state of so much in our world - war, politics, inflation - it's no surprise. Add our own or loved ones' aging or health challenges, … Continue reading The Joy Survival Kit: Staying Up When Life Gets Heavy
In this Entry:A Map of Her Own/ The Big and Little SteamboatPersonal Reflection/ Power of Human ConnectionBook Recommendations/ This is Happiness +Postscript T.S. Potter, image credit Salem Public Library Big and Little Steamboats I had a lot of fun during my recent interview on KBOO's Jonesy Hour. Having listened to previous episodes, I knew Ken … Continue reading Steamboats and Soul: A Map to Happiness
In this Entry:Social Action/ Worker Memorial DayPersonal Reflection/ Young Worker FatalitiesBook Recommendations/ S.R. Stoner's Sage Series Social Action Graham Trainor, President, Oregon Labor Federation, AFL-CIO offers opening and closing remarks. Today is Workers Memorial Day. I suspect most Americans are unaware of this memorial for those lives lost on the job this past year. And … Continue reading Labor, Loss, and Literature: A Personal Entry
Reflections on a life in safety, a passion for fiction, and the labor that defines us. Each day, authors debut a first or next work. Somewhere between 2-4 million new books are released each year worldwide. It's both exciting and overwhelming to try to keep up with the variety and diversity of available books. And … Continue reading More Than a Job: How Work Can Dictate the Way Characters Breathe
Yeah, somewhere along the way I remember learning it not to be particularly helpful if we get too hyped up on happenings. Do some groundwork, sit back, and believe that things will take care of themselves. I’m getting much better at this. It reminds me of a paragraph I wrote when I committed to exactly … Continue reading Calmness Amid Events on Steroids
I found great joy in crafting a book for my grandson this past month. Yet another reminder about how essential it is to make time for creativity, love and joy in these difficult times. Too, I'm trying to model that for my own adult daughters. Our little guy and I had fun sharing his birthday … Continue reading Happy Birthday Oregon: Recognizing our Resilience and Spirit
It never fails. Just when I'm unsure I have another blog in me, a new inspiration floats in. Today it is a memory about a set of glass goblets, and the Oregonian's front page story celebrating 175 years since its birth. Today's Oregonian article celebrates the anniversary of the first printing of the Oregonian. That … Continue reading From Newspapers to Glass Goblets: Creatively Weaving Fact into Story
Yesterday I told a friend that my favorite author-related activity is joining book groups to discuss my books. I meant what I said. As much as I enjoy presenting book talks, usually with folks who haven't yet read my book, nothing compares to exploring a book's nitty gritty details. All of it: what people most … Continue reading Exploring Author Insights Through Book Groups
Yes, I hear a few of you thinking: Didn't she just say she's retired? Yeah, yeah. It's just that I do always hope to give back. And as evidence in my sharing this piece, though it might be contrary to what some believe, I too can't turn my brain off. After catching up with a … Continue reading Total Worker Health: Idealism vs. Reality
Until last year, listening to audiobooks was something I rarely did except when on a long drive. I would have to backtrack or rewind many times as my mind drifted to one thought or another. Once on a trip to Missoula, Russ and I listened to Invasion of the Body Snatchers enroute, and a collection … Continue reading Embracing Audiobooks: A Journey of Discovery