Consider your purpose . . .

Consider your purpose . . .

Purpose evolves as we age and grow wiser. It’s not about reinventing ourselves or chasing a long-held dream. Purpose doesn’t arrive in one clear answer. Instead, it comes slowly through pauses, questions, and moments of stillness. Sometimes purpose whispers, and we can only hear it when we allow ourselves to stop and listen.

Purpose also doesn’t mean staying busy. In fact, it often asks just the opposite. It invites us to listen to our bodies, our spirits, and the quiet nudges that lead us toward peace. Those nudges matter, and they deserve our time and attention.

There is no finish line to reach. We are simply called to show up each day with openness and curiosity, gently stretching forward into what is being revealed. Some women find clarity while walking outdoors, others through meditation, yoga, or prayer. Still others turn to journaling as a way to express what lives beneath the surface. There is no one right way.

We find the freedom to let go of expectations, to stop comparing our journey to other women, and to trust that we are exactly where we need to be. We don’t have to have everything figured out. Purpose unfolds one day at a time as we continue stretching forward, listening, and trusting the process.

This is the heart of Stretching Forward  - creating space to pause, reflect, and listen for what is calling us now. It is an invitation to honor where we’ve been, to be fully present today, and to move gently toward what lies ahead.

Where in your life might you be invited to pause, listen, and gently stretch forward today?

A bit of this and a bit of that . . .

I sat down today to write and realized the entry I started back in October never made it past those first few lines. It made me smile and shake my head - where has the time gone? Somehow we’re just 15 days away from Christmas. There’s snow on the ground here in Cleveland, the air is nippy, and it feels like the season arrived before I was quite ready for it.

The October CELEBRATE retreat still warms my heart when I think about it. Each woman showed up fully and allowed herself to let go and take in the peace and fun of our time together. The weather was kind to us, and Lakeside was beautiful in that quiet, gentle way it has of holding us.

My husband and I led a “Surviving the Holidays” group just before Thanksgiving, and I felt the meaning of it more than ever. It is so important to remember those who are grieving, whether their loss was recent or years ago. Holidays shift when someone you love is gone.

My first Thanksgiving without my mother was bittersweet this year. It was such a gift to have three of our five children and their families around the table. We missed the other two, of course, but with a family our size, being all together is a rare gift. We treasure whoever is able to be with us. Joy and sadness kept weaving around me the entire day.

December began in a whirl with several gatherings, celebrations, and commitments all wrapped up in the first few days. This week has slowed down, and I’m grateful. My word for the year is BALANCE, and I look at it every day. Some days it comes naturally, and other days I have to work a bit harder for it. When I feel overwhelmed, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, then another, until my shoulders drop and the world softens just a bit.

I’m decorating the house slowly this year, one box at a time. Some days I tackle two or three; other days just one. Christmas cards have been done over several sittings rather than all at once, and I’ve trimmed my list so it feels kind instead of hurried. I’m determined to pay attention to what I need each day, whether that means baking cookies, wrapping gifts, or sitting down with a cup of tea and a good book.

One of my favorite things this time of year is to take time one evening, turn off all the lights except for the glow of the Christmas tree, play soft Christmas music, and simply sit. No agenda, no rush, just the quiet shimmer of the lights. That’s when I feel the world settle inside me. That’s when my balance returns.

More than anything, I hope you’re finding your own balance this season. Time with people you love, and time that is yours alone. Not every decoration needs to go up. Not every invitation needs a yes. We’re allowed to choose what brings us peace. 

Savoring August - a Lesson in Slowing Down

August is half over, and I find myself wondering—what’s the rush?

When I was a child, summer vacation seemed endless. We still had plenty of time to run barefoot in the grass and chase fireflies before school started - always after Labor Day. The warm days stretched lazily before us, and we soaked up every bit of sun and freedom.

Now, I watch our grandchildren heading back to school in mid-August and can’t help wondering, what’s the rush? The days are still long, the evenings warm, and the flowers finally at their peak.  There’s still so much left to squeeze out of summer. August has always felt like a deep breath to me—no holidays to prepare for, just slow afternoons on the back deck with an iced tea and a good book or to simply watch the day go by and linger in the moment.

Yesterday was a perfect reminder of why it’s worth slowing down. I spent the afternoon with one of my granddaughters keeping a birthday tradition we’ve had for years—a visit to her favorite tea room for afternoon tea, just the two of us. It started when she was three and curious about the tea I was drinking. I brought out the little china tea set I’d used as a girl, poured her a cup, and she was hooked.

In July she turned eleven. We dressed up—she looked absolutely lovely—and went to a local tea room. We shared our tea choices, hers a strawberry-blend tea, and mine a blue raspberry. We delighted in the cinnamon-apple scones with Devonshire cream. We sat like ladies, elbows off the table, napkins in our laps, and talked about our summer and her excitement for the school year ahead.

Later, back at my house, we played Chinese Checkers and Bingo. We looked through photos of our past teas and marveled at how she has grow from a little girl carefully holding a toy teacup to the poised young lady with sparkling eyes and dreams she is now.

That quiet afternoon was a gift. The tea was wonderful, but what mattered most was the time together, unhurried and uninterrupted.

Life doesn’t have to be lived in fast-forward. These small, unhurried moments with the people we love are what stay with us. August is still here, full of long evenings and soft sunsets. Let’s take a breath, sit still for a while, make room for the people we love, and enjoy what’s left of summer. Let August be what it is meant to be—a time to rest, reflect, and savor what’s right in front of you.

Solstice

Friday was the Summer Solstice. It was also my birthday. I wondered what they have in common. The solstice marks the longest day in the year for the Northern Hemisphere, the twenty-four hour period where there is the most daylight. In America, it usually marks the first day of summer. It is a time to celebrate the light within each one of us. It reminds us to look inward and find the nourishment we need to continue to grow. We are able to pause and let the energy planted in the Spring reach full bloom. It requires patience. We learn to develop trust and believe in ourselves. It is time to nurture who we are and look at our purpose. It is also a time to nurture others on our journey. There is more time during the daylight to work & play, to look at our intentions, to nourish ourselves and be patient with all that is to come. It is a time to be open to new experiences. It is a time to be grateful for what we already have. To sit on the beach and meditate, to stay up to see the fireflies. My husband and I often go to the Lake Erie shore at sunset and watch the sun go down, listening to the waves, taking time to soak in all the beauty in front of us. Spend some time each week feeling the warmth of the season, savoring the beauty of the day. Each one brings us new wonders to appreciate, lessons to be learned, and time to live life to its fullest.

So back to my birthday. This was a year that doesn’t end in a 0 or 5 - just another year. But it was so much more. As much as I joke that I don’t celebrate birthdays anymore, or that I’m 39 again, I celebrate that I am here, that I am healthy, that I am surrounded by people I love. My husband planned a cookout on our deck for a few of our children and grandchildren. The sun shone during dinner, and then a storm came in before dessert. We were able to clear the table and get inside as the deluge started. We laughed and were thankful the rain held off as long as it did. It was a wonderful solstice day - a time to nurture myself as I enjoyed being with part of my family and hearing from those who couldn’t be with us. I am ready for the year to come - with all the ups and downs it will bring. The solstice reminds me of all that is yet to come, and helps me remember there will be sunny days and rainy days to appreciate. 

Happy summer to all of you. Consider stretching in the next months to find the beauty in the season, to be patient with yourself and others, and to savor the changes summer brings.

Springtime

It has taken a long time for it to feel like spring here in Ohio. The trees have bloomed, the grass and leaves are now a lush green. We have had a good deal of rain to provide us with beautiful landscapes. My lilacs are done blooming and the peonies are now beautiful. What will be next? Spring shows us that new life, new chances, and a new outlook on life are all open to us. Have you found a new energy as the days grow warmer?

I am motivated to work on many projects around our house. Trim needs to be painted, the porch glider is in need of a refresh, the windows are to be washed so the screens can be put in, etc. Whew! I am exhausted already. I will feel calmer and more at peace when my house is in order and I can enjoy the fruits of my labors and the weather on its way. I find my energy is different as I get older, and while I can’t wait to enjoy the end results, I know it will take longer than I wish to accomplish my to do list. So I will pace myself. My word for this year is balance - finding the right equilibrium between different areas of my life to achieve overall health and happiness. Every day I look at a picture I have over my desk that shows a cairn with one rock balancing over the one below. It is there to remind me of the importance of balance. Nature balances each season. Every flora and fauna has a reason. Such it is with us - each month has a reason, and a balance. There is beauty in each season of our lives, we just have to keep our eyes open.

Winter is here . . .

We are having a true winter this year here in Northeast Ohio. Last year there wasn’t one day below freezing. This year we have had weeks of below freezing and even several days in single digits allowing the snow to linger. I find that when there is snow on the ground, the daylight is brighter. I may be in the minority, but it is nice to have winter weather to celebrate this year. Time for soup and chili, hot chocolate, and warm tea, crunchy walks, fires in the fireplace, and cozy throws to keep us warm. Every season has something special to share with us. Sometimes, you have to look, but other times it is right in front of your face. A friend called today and said she had stopped by Lake Erie and found it sparkling in the sunshine. I decided to drive up to see it for myself. By the time I arrived, the sun was behind some clouds so not as much sparkle, but lots of serenity. Perfect for today. We enjoy the ice and snow now on the lake as it begins to melt in warmer temperatures. Before we know it there will be children skipping stones and jumping the waves. Where can you look today to find beauty in your world? Will it be there next week or will it have changed by then? You don’t want to miss it. Remember we are as unfinished as the shoreline, always changing so keep stretching forward.

I have added flyers to the homepage of this website for the 2025 retreats. More details may be found on the Upcoming Retreat page. The first one will be in Bay Village for one day, across the street from Lake Erie. As always, feel free to contact me for any questions you might have.

Almost Retreat Time!

October 1 will be here next week. There are only three weeks until a special group of women share the Idlewyld b&b with me for Celebrate What’s Right With Your World starting October 18. I have been preparing for a week or so now, and the more I prepare, the more excited I become. My daughter was here from Columbus this week to help me and as I opened boxes and made plans, she shared my enthusiasm. Each retreat is different because each group of women bring their own joy with them. I enjoy watching the group come together as I believe the women who attend are meant to be there. This fall I have had to place women on a waiting list as the parlor will be full. I wish I had more space, so may start looking for the future. 

If you’ve never tried a retreat, open your horizons and consider joining us in 2025. Which ever retreat you choose, you will learn something new about yourself, and your world, while having fun, meeting new people, savoring delicious home cooked meals, and experiencing new adventures. As Joan Anderson says, we continue to be “unfinished women.” And how wonderful is that!

Patience . . . and humility

Sunflowers can brighten each day. They represent a long life and a lasting happiness. Beautiful color, a reminder to smile, a validation of what sunshine and water can do, and of the beauty in this world. Do you find the sunflowers in your life when the unexpected happens?

Today is August 28, 2024. It has been 22 days since I slipped on a stair in my home during a tornado a couple of miles away, and broke both ankles. After surgery on my left ankle I am now in physical and occupational therapy as I slowly heal. I have been told I may be non-weight-bearing for 8 weeks on my left foot, so I am learning to use my better foot and a walker to move about. I am determined to follow directions, do my therapy, and stay off the left foot so that I will be as good as new when this is all over. Taking one day at a time. I thought I knew patience before, but each obstacle in our path offers new lessons to learn.

Humility comes when you have to ask other people to help you do simple things for you. I am a person others look to for assistance, positive words, and moral support. Now I am learning from every helper in my life and I am grateful for each and every one of them. What is testing your patience today? Do you find yourself less than patient or being frustrated when things don’t go your way? Did something not go your way? Have you considered taking a deep breath and finding the best of the situation you are in? Each time you do, you stretch forward.

A glitch in the plans . . .

I started this week with a cold that started out slowly but has become a major inconvenience. I don’t feel well now. It is a holiday weekend, and I have been looking forward to having my daughter and granddaughter here for the weekend to share in the celebration of my son’s birthday. At first I thought I could kick the cold by slowing down, drinking lots of fluids, and resting. After all, it’s just a cold. I’m sure it’s helped, but the cold had a mind of its own. I took a Covid test on Tuesday, and again today, to make sure I wouldn’t be giving Covid to the family. Since one of my granddaughters recently had strep, I also went to my physician’s office for a strep culture. All were negative. Good news and bad news. There is no medication I can take to get better faster. But I am still contagious. I have been looking forward to this weekend for a long time and hated to cancel our plans, but felt it was in everyone’s best interest. So, no birthday celebration and no visit.

We never know what tomorrow will bring. How do you react when something happens you hadn’t planned on? Are you angry? Sad? Do you take it in stride, or do you take it out on the people around you? How can you be patient with yourself and your circumstances? I am disappointed, but know taking care of myself is more important right now. We will celebrate Alex’s birthday another day, our family will be back to visit when we are all healthy and can have fun together. So for now, I am sleeping, resting, reading, drinking lots of tea, and being gentle with myself. My family is very understanding and loving. I look forward to when I feel better. I hope you are taking care of yourselves as we enjoy the last few weeks of spring, anticipating all the fun summer will bring. Looking forward to fun months ahead with patience.

Spring teasers

March is here, the month spring officially arrives. We have had more sunshine in the Cleveland area recently than we are used to this time of year. The daffodils are even peaking out of the soil. I met my daughter at Kingwood Gardens in Mansfield, Ohio earlier this week. It was a chilly but sunny day. A few daffodils smiled at us even though they seemed to be all by themselves, waiting for others to join them in an explosion of color. Beneath the brown stems and rich soil we saw, spring is getting ready to awe us. The winter has provided rest and nourishment for the perennials, the shrubs, and the trees. Soon they will share their beauty with us. Inside the greenhouses we saw such diverse beauty in so many different flowering plants. The world is awakening for all of our senses. We are like the garden. Winter arrives and we hibernate for a bit. Maybe we enjoy a cup of tea with a good book. Maybe we take time to simplify our lives before the nice weather lures us out doors again. What are you looking forward to this spring? Take a minute to reflect on the past few months before you stretch forward into all the colors and joys of spring.

Timing is everything

The October retreat was six weeks ago and I am still reflecting on the weekend six of us had together. I was so glad to be at Lakeside. What a wonderful group of women. I have always believed that who is supposed to be there will be. We enjoyed learning new habits of celebration, sharing delicious meals and a fun movie, nature walks, solitude, community, a scavenger hunt, games, and lots of creativity. We were missing one retreater who ended up not feeling well the day before she was due at Lakeside, but know she will enjoy her time much more next spring when she is feeling better.

During the month of September, I came down with Covid after coming home from an out of state family wedding. I was under the weather for a couple of weeks and missed our second family wedding in Europe. Things happen. After the retreat my husband and I visited our daughter and her family in North Carolina. We were back a week when I pulled a muscle on my side and was once again not 100%. I knew it would heal if I gave it time and patience. I am grateful for a caring husband and good medical care when I need it. And I am ever so grateful that I was 100% for the retreat. I also made a trip to see my mother in Texas during November and had our three sons and their families for Thanksgiving soon after I returned. As December starts, I am almost back to normal and grateful for it all.

We never know what tomorrow will bring. How do you react when something happens you hadn’t planned on? Are you angry? Sad? Do you take it in stride, or do you take it out on the people around you? How can you be patient with yourself and your circumstance? I read many books while I was down and out and enjoyed many a cup of tea. I was fortunate to be able to take the time to heal. I know that if we pay attention to our bodies when they are compromised, we will heal faster allowing us to continue to stretch forward.

Beauty of the Season

How did August arrive so quickly this year? Merriam Webster defines august as “marked by majestic dignity or grandeur.” A great description of this month. Summer allows time for family, vacations, and breaks in our routines. A chance to breathe in the warm air, smell the plants around us, enjoy an ice cream cone, or just sit and listen to waves on the lake. I read yesterday that summer is only half over this week. It doesn’t seem that way. Children will be going back to school in the next couple of weeks, fall decorations are in all the stores, and sunsets are coming earlier each week. The lazy, hazy days of summer seem to be winding down.

This summer my husband and I have had the chance to be with our children and grandchildren. They don’t live near each other, so their time together is precious. The siblings and cousins have so much fun catching up. My favorite part of being with them is watching the joy on each face as all three generations laugh and play.

As I sit at my kitchen counter writing this, I am looking out my back windows. I see trees in full leaf, beautiful flowering impatiens, and lush greenery. Green, my favorite color. Green speaks to me of life. The trees shade us in the heat and allow us to sit on the deck in the evening. It takes most of the summer here in Northeast Ohio for the flowers to come into full bloom but when they do, they brighten my day. Set off by their leaves, the flowers burst into a riot of color. Small things that we often take for granted and don’t take time to enjoy.

Summer. Being in the moment, sharing and making memories, savoring the beauty of nature. Finding joy. Each season has its own beauty.

Summer!

Summer is here! A time when we enjoy picnics, pools, lakes, outdoor sports, and bike rides. A time to take walks without a jacket or sweater. I am not a hot weather fan, but I do enjoy the sunlight of summer and the cool evenings we often have in Northeast Ohio. Grilling, eating on the patio, visiting with family, grandchildren not needing to get up for school tomorrow. The “lazy, hazy days of summer” provide us a chance to savor today. Different flowers are blooming now than in May, each having its own beauty. The trees and lawns are a lush green right now. Fresh fruit and vegetables are becoming available, and will be more so as the rest of summer arrives. We have a chance to remember the fun times of our childhood, when we left home to play with friends and came in when we were hungry or thirsty. Ice cream trucks drove through our neighborhoods every now and then with Good Humor bars for sale. We ran through the sprinklers in the yard to cool off. We got dirty. And we laughed. They were carefree days.

The summer solstice provides a chance to celebrate what’s right with our world today. Enjoy the extra daylight, make it count. Smile, laugh, and be open to everything.

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Who You Are

I saw a quote today that I wanted to share with each of you. Summer is almost here and we are enjoying lush green trees and shrubs, and a bounty of floral colors and scents. With the end of the school year, more daylight, and warmer weather, we have great ideas for what we want to do in the next several months. Vacation plans, picnics, strolls in the park, evening barbecues, bicycle rides, hikes for exploring, listening to nature, swimming in pools or lakes, taking a boat ride or two, visiting family and friends, dinner out on serene patios, music in the park, projects around the house and yard, and so much more. There are so many options, we probably don’t have time for it all. We must take the time to decide which are most important to us. Sometimes we decide what the family wants, what our friends would like to do, what we have to do. This summer, take one day a week to do just what you want to do. It isn’t being selfish, it’s taking care of yourself. Then you will be able to enjoy all the other activities around you. So, keep stretching forward to make the best of the next three months.

“Don't let the expectations and opinions of other people affect your decisions.

It's your life, not theirs.

Do what matters most to you; do what makes you feel alive and happy.

Don't let the expectations and ideas of others limit who you are.

If you let others tell you who you are, you are living their reality, not yours. There is more to life than pleasing people.

There is much more to life than following others' prescribed path. There is so much more to life than what you experience right now. You need to decide who you are for yourself …”

~ Roy T Bennett

Keep stretching

Each retreat is unique based on the women who participate, the topic, and the weather. Here in Ohio, the weather does not always cooperate, but we know how to make lemonade out of lemons. A Finding Purpose Today retreat was held on Saturday, April 1 in Bay Village. It was the first time this topic has been presented in person as the mini-retreat was developed during the first year of Covid as a way for women to gather in community while not being in the same room at the same time. The weather at the beginning of the day was cool, but the sun was shining. A great way to start a retreat. My hope was for an outdoor scavenger hunt during our lunch hour, but about fifteen minutes before lunch the skies turned gray, the wind started blowing, and then the rains came. As women, we know how to change directions, to find a new way. The day was special for those in attendance even without our outdoor time. Here’s hoping the Lakeside retreat weather treats us better at the end of the month.

Stress ?

How is winter going for you? Do you feel stress, anxiety, impatience, sadness, depression? Are your skies cloudy and gray, or full of beautiful blue and white fluffy clouds? I know the sun makes anything look better. I also know that many of us are not aware when we have stress in our lives.

I took a flight to Austin last week to visit my mother. January is always a tricky time to fly from Cleveland, but it is important to me to see her every few months. My flight to Austin was uneventful - everything you want in a flight - on time, plenty of time between flights, and one of my brothers picked me up. My visit with Mom was wonderful. I planned my trip to make it back home the day before my husband’s birthday. He told me it was no big deal if I missed his birthday, but it mattered to me. So my flight home was important to me. The night before the flight I received a text that some flights might be cancelled the next day due to the winter storm Kassandra. I kept watch on the radar but knew my flight was transferring in Atlanta where the storm didn’t seem to be headed. Another brother offered to drive me to the airport for my return flight. As I got in his car, I learned the flight was delayed so we stopped for breakfast before he dropped me off at the terminal to wait. I read a book and felt calm and relaxed as I waited for boarding. My flight was an hour and a half late arriving in Atlanta, leaving me only 15 minutes between flights to disembark, find the next gate, and board the next plane. Was it possible? I didn’t realize how much stress I was feeling until I made it to the gate only 4 doors down from where we landed. They were still boarding and that’s when the tears started streaming down my face. I had made it! I would make it home after all. I think it took most of the flight for me to relax and find peace. I was amazed at how emotional I was. It was just a plane ride delayed by weather. So why was I weepy?

We often don’t realize the stress we carry day to day. It makes it even more important to care for ourselves, to take time to relax, meditate, reflect, play a game, read a book, or just breathe. I don’t feel there is much stress in my life right now. But it can creep up on you at the most unexpected time. This winter, take extra care of yourself. Get the extra rest you need, do something that makes you smile. And when the stress comes out, accept it and let it flow through you. A few days later, I am back to being refreshed and relaxed once again. I was able to enjoy the snow out my window a few days ago as I savored a warm cup of tea and read a good book in my favorite chair. Try not to be hard on yourself when a little stress overwhelms you, know that this too will pass.

Inspiration

January is here. The weather in Cleveland has been unusual. Last week we had a day of 60° with sunshine to boot. Today we are back in the 40’s° with gray skies, more common for the next several months. We left our Christmas tree up longer this year for our Michigan grandchildren’s recent visit, as they spent time with their cousins enjoying the tree and commenting on their favorite ornaments. They picked out several my grandmother made me including a crocheted angel and an decorated eggshell, along with several ornaments made by her, my mother, and myself. My hope is that one of our ornaments will some day have a place on their trees. I watch as the traditions my children enjoyed when they were young are passed on to their children. It’s a big part of what makes the holidays special for me, the time together and the memories we make.

Since I wasn’t putting Christmas away last week, I decided to clean my office. I work better when I know where to find things, and feel a calm when things around me are in order. It took a day to empty the closet and drawers, to organize Stretching Forward files, sewing items, and sorting piles into recycling, Goodwill, and trash. When I start the year in a neat and tidy space, I am more able to create and be motivated. It’s time to bring this new year into focus and continue planning for this year’s retreat offerings. Finding Purpose Today has been online during the past several years due to Covid and I have decided to make it in person April 1 so that we can be together for a day. A mini-retreat for those ready to test the waters of retreats. I am excited about the plans for Stretching Forward for 2023.

Last week I chose my word of the year for 2023 - INSPIRE - to remind me each day to stretch forward. My hope is to inspire myself as well as each of you - to believe in yourself, to be aware of all each of us has to offer, and to celebrate our uniqueness. This year starts with hope of great things, small and large. The sun will shine on many days, the air will be warm, good vibes will be there. All we have to do is keep our eyes and ears open and take it all in. Inspiration is all around us. What inspires you?

Celebrating Life

This is the time of year for celebrations. So many holidays upon us, lots of parties and events to host or attend. It started with Thanksgiving last month and goes through New Years a few weeks away. No matter your religion or age, there is something to celebrate in the last two months of each year.

My husband and I attended a ceremony last weekend for one of our grandsons as he completed all the Cub Scout requirements and crossed over the bridge to Boy Scouts. The bridge had planks with each of the twelve points of the Boy Scout Law for them to walk over. Each boy who crossed the bridge was reminded that Boy Scouts are trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. These fifth graders walked away from being led by adults to becoming responsible for their own decisions and the direction they will go in scouting. Great life lessons.

Two of our grandchildren are in bands and there have been holiday celebrations for each of them this month. A chance to show all they have learned and celebrate with the family they love. The smiles on each face during a concert tells it all.

A group of women I have been part of for almost 30 years will be at my home tonight to celebrate Christmas. We will share memories, good food, and laughter. I look forward to this evening every year. How comforting to have a group of women who are there for each other no matter what.

Earlier this month my husband and I attended a memorial service for a very dear friend. Usually a somber affair, this one was truly a celebration of his life with songs by a choir with over 40 voices who knew him. The memories shared during the service were heartfelt and spoke of the kind person he was. He lived what he believed - that today is a gift and each of us gets to enjoy each ray of sunlight we see and every happy hour we share with friends. All of us can take a lesson from how he led his life - slow to anger, easy to smile, full of laughter, and always up for the next adventure. Being part of his life helps remind me there is always something to celebrate.

There are small celebrations that make a difference as well. The sun shining this morning brought a smile to my face. Waking up in a warm bed, feeling rested, having that first cup of coffee (or tea, in my case). If the season has you feeling down, think of the small things that are in your life - there is always something there to celebrate, or at least put a smile on your face. This can be a difficult season for so many. Consider ways you may warm someone’s heart you know. Make a phone call, send a text, take a tray of cookies to them, listen. Life is too short not to find those moments. Wishing you peace, love, and joy as this year draws to an end.

Fall Fellowship

I have enjoyed the fellowship of so many women in the last month. I led the last Stretching Forward retreat for 2022 at Lakeside in October. Six women found new ways to celebrate what’s right with their lives, enjoy delicious meals, share fun exercises, take walks along the lake, and laugh. We watched Mrs. Harris celebrate her dreams in Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. We explored new habits to try as a way to celebrate life. My favorite is the concept of blending, very different from balancing. Blending isn’t ‘either/or’ or ‘black/white,’ but more ‘both/and thinking.’ It’s finding the right amount of each item in your life to make the best blend now, like a fine wine. When we shift to blending our lives - a little more of this and a little less of that - we create room for the lights and shadows that are an inevitable part of life. It’s a rhythm. Life flows like a river and as it does, we find the right blend for our life today. Changing even just one thing tomorrow will make a new blend, the right one for that moment. We find more flexibility in blending and, as a result, more celebration in the moment.

Two weeks after the retreat my daughter and I spent an overnight in an airbnb to acknowledge my 70th birthday, a delayed celebration from the past summer. She planned our overnight to be after the retreat, allowing me to be totally in our moment, in the blend of our mother/daughter time. We were an empty nester and a mother of two young children just being together. We hiked at Hocking Hills, discovered a wonderful book store in German Village, did some holiday shopping, and found several delicious meals in local restaurants, all in less than 30 hours. We savored each moment. A respite for both of us and a time to step away from our day to day lives to share each other’s company. As she gets older I hope my eight year old granddaughter adds to our getaway blend. For now, she is learning the importance of self care from both of us.

Last weekend we travelled to North Carolina to celebrate my stepdaughter’s birthday with her husband, daughter, and friends. Another woman in my life full of joy and love she shares with her two year old daughter every day. What a blessing for my granddaughters to watch their mothers and grandmothers living their best lives.

I also spent time on Oak Island with seven retreat leaders I had never met for a collaboration weekend. We took time to share ideas, discuss details of our retreats, and have fun together. It was a wonderful group of women who value sharing their wisdom, giving back to others, lifting up each other, and encouraging every woman to stretch toward their passion. I enjoyed solitary walks on the ocean beach as I listened to the waves, watched the birds near the shore fly away as I came near, found a horseshoe crab shell, and smelled the salty air. We played games, laughed, celebrated a birthday, and learned from each other. It was food for the soul as we bonded and we plan to be together again next spring as a way to continue to encourage each other.

Celebration comes in many forms and there are habits we can learn to make each day special. As you ease into the holiday season, take time to remember what and why you are celebrating, then feel the joy each event brings to the moment. Look for ways to take the stress out of this season and embrace the wonder all around you. I hope you find a delicious blend of love, joy, and peace for the last several weeks of 2022.

Change is in the Air

Fall is here in Ohio. Not sure where the summer went. We are used to having a second summer at some point after the chill hits the air, but this year I came back from 90 degree Texas weather to cool fall weather in the middle of September that hasn’t left. Autumn is my favorite season but somehow this year it arrived too quickly with its crisp air and colorful leaves.

I enjoyed my travels to New Jersey and Texas last month. It was fun to see people I hadn’t seen in over 50 years at my high school reunion in New Jersey, to reconnect, to spend a little time with classmates, even some I never really got to know. Amazing what life does - we had a common bond, our high school years, and that was enough to have 24 hours of connection. All that time in between had melted away. We filled in the gaps since 1970 as if it had been just a couple of years. My heart was full and our time together brought back wonderful memories, stories, and even new friendships.

My trip to Texas was a time for family, to watch my niece, a two year old when I was married in 1997, as she walked down the aisle to share her vows with her best friend as he became her husband. She was a beautiful bride and they are a wonderful couple. I cherish the time I had with my mother who was beautiful as grandmother of the bride. Her eyes sparkled with love for her granddaughter and our family as she watched the ceremony and stayed for the entire reception.

Change. It’s all around us. Classmates age even if we don’t see them for 50 years. Our families grows up to start the next generation as the previous generations start to slow down. The trees lose their leaves in preparation for the coming seasons. We must celebrate the changes in our lives, no matter how small or large. Everything has a time, and a purpose. I am in the autumn of my life - a serene, beautiful spot to be in. I savor the freedom I have at this age, the ability to be active, to mostly do what I want to do, to have the joy of children and grandchildren, of nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters, old friends and new friends, to still have my mother. When we accept the changes, we are able to enjoy what life offers today. We can take time to consider what’s in our hearts as we become still and listen.

I hope it is a long autumn - both this year and in my life. Who knows how long either will be. All I know is that autumn is here today, and that is worth celebrating. Stay curious and keep stretching forward - it’s the best direction to travel.