Category Archives: topic

Rituals are comforting “There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.” —Deborah Norville Rituals are comforting. Every morning, since I was a little girl, I’ve opened my eyes and think, “It’s going to be a good day.” It’s a ritual that starts myContinue reading “open invitation no. 38: rituals”

Keep a cookie in your purse. When I was in college, Nancy the librarian who worked with my mom and fed me books my entire life, sent me a card and a cookie. The card read, “When life is hard and getting worse, keep a cookie in your purse.” It was a little jingle thatContinue reading “open invitation no. 36: dessert”

Make a gratitude list. Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul. —Amy Collette Make a gratitude list. Be creative. Use photographs or doodles. Collect some ephemera. (That’s a fancy word writers use that loosely means stuff you’d throw away if you didn’t haveContinue reading “open invitation no. 33: gratitude”

Masks hide magic. The idea of a mask in any scenario has always fascinated me. Not only does it protect identity, it also allows one to hide. —Jason Reynolds Today’s invitation to magic is to consider a mask you have encountered. It can be one you’ve worn; it can be figurative; it can be fromContinue reading “open invitation no. 30: magic unmasked”

Take a bite. What are your favorite fall foods? What were your traditional favorites when you were a kid? Share some with others. Handwrite a recipe or drop a taste on a co-worker’s desk. When we share our favorites, the joy is magnified. Take a bite, and share a story about fall food with us!Continue reading “open invitation no. 27: fall food”

Seasons change. I live in a part of the world where we have four distinct seasons. Every few months the outside world changes. Colors change; sometimes things die and other times things sprout; animal rhythms shift; the sky looms and the noises of earth adjust to the new season. The same is true for allContinue reading “open invitation no. 21: seasons change”

Some things never change. There might be magic waiting to be discovered in the things that seem to never change. Spend some time thinking about something that’s been a constant in your life. Maybe you always get a new toothbrush on your birthday or you still sit in the same porch swing as you didContinue reading “open invitation no. 15: constant”

Choose to find a celebration. “If you look at life one way there is always cause for alarm.” Elizabeth Bowen said this. These words casually circle through my mind on most days. They prod me to consider different ways to look at the day. I do not have to be alarmed. I can find aContinue reading “open invitation no. 8: choose to find a celebration”