How many people would want to read a book that started like this? “Once upon a time there was a princess. She was beautiful and everyone loved her and life always went her way all the time…” Where’s the conflict? Where’s the reason for the story? Where’s the character development? Plus, if this princess had no…
All posts tagged Life
The Inefficiency of Self Care
Efficiency is my love language. I jest. (But it’s also true.) I am a do-er. I work hard at my job, and in school, and take care of other tasks along the way. I get more done than the average person. I am learning to take care of myself with the same intensity. Self care…
Pile of Beans
Life is tough. Grief is real. Blocked goals abound in life. Though it comes in many forms– broken relationships, missed opportunities, or dashed expectations — we are confronted with a life that is not the way we thought it would be. So what do I do when I am confronted with this feeling? Do I bottle up…
Chaos
Life is messy. I try to pretend that it’s not, but that is futile. People are messy. Entropy happens. Chaos surrounds me. I tend to deal with the messiness of life by cleaning and organizing what I can, even if they’re unrelated. You can tell when work is especially hectic, because my bathroom is spotless.…
Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition is one of my favorite words. It ranks in my mind alongside onomatopoeia, hyperbole, and synecdoche both in multi-syllabic rhythm and definitional genius! Juxtaposition is the perfect term for certain situations. It is a noun meaning “an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.” Two things that shouldn’t…
Miracle Miles
My feet look like giant prunes. Worn and wrinkled from two hours of rain and miles of movement, my aching feet are my trophies of victory. 9.3 miles… check! This race benefitted a local neonatal unit, something near and dear to my heart. Plus we got bibs, baby food, and toys at the finish line!…
Canoes and Kayaks
During one particularly lonely and tear-filled night, my comfort came from an unexpected phrase which kept popping up in my mind. “Everybody suffers.” You might be wondering how that is at all comforting. But, to me, it means that life is full of suffering and struggle this side of Heaven. Everyone suffers. Single or married.…
A Pound of Life
Most of the patients I work with have negative ages. They are premature, born months before they were “supposed” to be. Thrust from the safe, warm, dark, cozy wombs, they are ill-prepared for the world. Developmentally, I must think of them and work on skills that are fitting for a baby at 6-9 months gestational…
Un-tweetable and Un-instagrammed
I told a friend once he’d know the end was near if he ever saw a tweet from me. So far he hasn’t. No one has. If you’re a person who lives life 140 clever characters at a time, by all means tweet well and often, and be happy. Or if you’re more the visual…
A Hospitable Life
Sometimes I see people. I hold doors. I help carry boxes. I let them in traffic. I send encouraging notes. Too much of the time, I don’t see people. I rush past them onto the elevator. I miss seeing them in the lunchroom. I fail to follow up on their rough days. I am too…