Have you ever noticed how most dogs are so happy, so incredibly excited to see their human owners when they enter a room? Even if you leave the room for a few minutes and return, most canines are just thrilled to have you around? They crave your attention. They want to be petted and adored. We had …
My friend Dana, who is also a writer, gave a speech in our Toastmasters group Thursday on the importance of writing everyday. She urged the audience to write daily for four different reasons. Her first reason included the art of recognizing astonishment. She told a fabulous, descriptive story. Dana detailed a scene she witnessed in the park …
A strange, surprising thrill has taken over me the past several weeks. I do it in the shower. I do it in the car on my morning and evening commute. I’m even doing it while washing dishes and folding laundry. By “it” I mean practicing and writing speeches for my Toastmasters club. I joined the …
The phrase, “Expect for your Mind to be Blown,” were the words that stuck within my head after an all-day graduate studies workshop on Saturday. This was my biggest takeaway from the session. Our day was filled with paper writing tips, examples on APA style, open discussion with other students and professors in the program but …
Recently I interviewed a mental health counselor for an article. We discussed some of the main reasons people benefit from attending therapy sessions. The counselor revealed that a common misconception the general public has is that asking for help is often seen as a weakness. People may want to have it all in life and …
When I witnessed my seven year old yell at her younger sister during a routine bath, I blurted these words out: “When did Anger take control of you? Can we try to find Joy again?” I could not help myself. The summer release of the Disney Pixar film Inside Out has caused my brain to …
July has been an excellent writing month for me. I am once again appearing in the Pensacola News Journal for an editorial I wrote on encouraging parents to talk to children early about sex, consent and inappropriate behavior. The story also appeared in the Alabama online news media too. I’m thrilled that attention to this issue …
I was featured in the Sunday, July 12, 2015 lifestyle section of the Northwest Florida Daily newspaper for this piece I wrote on dealing with children who say they are “bored.” This was inspired by actual events and real conversation. Below is the full article. I’m placing it here since the newspaper did not publish …
This is a feature (below) that I wrote about attending a virtual dementia tour on June 26, 2015. It appeared in Pensacola Today on July 6, 2015. 10 Minutes of Virtual Dementia Leaves a Lasting Impression A colleague invited me to attend the University of West Florida Center on Aging’s “Art Across the Ages” event …
I’m so honored that the Pensacola News Journal chose to publish my piece on what it means to be a writer. I compare the writing process to the weather – there are no two days alike. Enjoy the feature: Originally published in the PNJ: July 5, 2015. Being a writer means taking on the weather. …