A Grain of Salt

Win the day even when anxiety strikes

Published March 23, 2020

It’s been an upsetting, unsettling, chaotic and noisy week. Predictions are that it’s not letting up soon. Depending on what you pay attention to it can throw your next minute, next hour, even your next days for a loop. It’s hard to turn away from the news and know what to focus on. If your regular programming has been upended and it has here is my strongest counsel for you. Develop and keep a morning…

Cancer and Coronavirus

Published March 17, 2020

I reflect on the two cancers I had in my thirties as a tremendous gift. A gift for then and a gift for now because what I learned in the midst of cancer is still applicable to the coronavirus that faces us. I didn’t think too much about my cancer. At the time of my diagnosis and treatments, my six children were all under the age of 10. They needed my attention. And quite frankly…

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Boy Meets Girl

Published March 9, 2020

On Christmas leave in 1985. I headed home from my duty station in Newport, Rhode Island to my parent’s home in Annapolis, Maryland. While at home a Newport friend called and asked if I would be interested in going out with a friend of his who was stationed in DC. I don’t recall asking very many questions but I do remember my very sophisticated and warm reply, “Well, its a free country.” Gary called me…

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Mary’s Monday Meanderings in March

Published March 2, 2020

Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila Renovare Podcast for insight on Interior Castle Instagram – The Home Edit Peace and Peacemaking Playlist Zinnia – Purple Prince Zinnia – Green Envy

To breathe or not to breathe

Published February 24, 2020

Sweat beads glistening, Cold, breath sucking, skin tingling Plunge in the pool!–Water Haiku I love the water! Just anticipating diving in causes my breathing to change. I grew up near the water, on the water and I’ve spent so much time in the water. In high school, I worked at the local pool life-guarding and teaching swimming. I spent almost eight years of my life working out in the pool year-round in the early mornings and…

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What We Give Away

Published February 17, 2020

At funerals we celebrate what people gave away rather than what they kept for themselves. Andy Stanley This past weekend, we gathered to honor Gary’s Dad’s life. A life that seems to be at once so ordinary and yet not so. Bill and Charlotte grew up together all through their primary and secondary school years. He went off to the Navy and as soon as she finished teacher’s college they married. Thus began the moves,…