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Searching for ways to calm the storms

Until this past week, I had never heard of a bomb cyclone. But it’s formidable-sounding enough that I knew it referred to a nasty storm, even before I saw it described as “blizzard conditions and hurricane-like winds.” Shortly before Christmas, I saw a weather report about Winter Storm Dylan, which was dumping snow, sleet, and freezing rain in the Northeast.  Again, I thought, “I’ve never heard of that before.” I’m very familiar with winter storms, of course, having spent almost 60 years of my life [...]

By |January 5th, 2018|Columns, Health and Well-being, Making a Difference, Quotes and Sayings, Values|Comments Off on Searching for ways to calm the storms

A new plan to banish aches and pains

For a while now, I’ve been experiencing mild aches and pains when I get up in the morning. It’s nothing serious, just annoying. And it’s making me start to feel old. I was talking about this recently with a friend, and she mentioned a yoga program she’s doing. Apparently, she’s been feeling a few aches and pains herself, and came across a 31-day yoga program online. She said that since she’s been following it, she’s felt great. So I’m following it, too. I’m not entirely [...]

By |December 1st, 2017|Accountability, Columns, Health and Well-being, Success|Comments Off on A new plan to banish aches and pains

Closer to Home

We were nervous and concerned when we went to bed last Sunday night. Not for ourselves, but for our daughter and son-in-law in Orlando, which was expected to get pounded by Hurricane Irma during the night. On Monday morning, we talked to our daughter, who told us they had a scary and sleepless night, and now had a yard full of tree limbs and other debris, but only minor damage from the storm. And, miraculously, they still had power, while most of the surrounding areas [...]

By |September 16th, 2017|Columns, Family, Health and Well-being, Values|Comments Off on Closer to Home

Staying alive – and then some

I was on the treadmill at the health club when an elderly gentleman walked by and greeted a man who was on the treadmill next to me. “Trying to get in shape?” he asked him. “Just trying to stay alive,” his friend replied. This reminded me of a comic strip I saw once that pictured a doctor with a clipboard talking to an overweight man who had just completed a physical. The doctor glanced at his clipboard, then asked the man, “Which fits in better [...]

By |July 21st, 2017|Accountability, Columns, Health and Well-being|Comments Off on Staying alive – and then some

A stormy situation hits close to home

Thunderstorms were predicted for yesterday, and the sky was turning dark as my husband and I finished our shopping and left the store. “Something nasty is coming,” I said, “and it’s more than just a thunderstorm.” When you grow up in the Midwest, as we both did, you get to know the smell and feel of what we call “tornado weather.” It doesn’t mean a tornado is definitely coming, but it means the conditions are right for one to develop. The sky continued to darken [...]

By |April 28th, 2017|Columns, Faith, Health and Well-being|Comments Off on A stormy situation hits close to home

Enjoying a Different Kind of “Night Out”

The sun was just starting to set as I drove home from the first meeting at my new Toastmasters club. I drove slowly, partly because I’m not entirely familiar yet with the winding roads, and partly because it was the time of day when deer often dart out into the street. We’ve already seen plenty of them, including – along the side of the road – some that didn’t quite make it across safely. When I got home, my husband was sitting out back on [...]

By |April 14th, 2017|Columns, Family, Health and Well-being|Comments Off on Enjoying a Different Kind of “Night Out”

Twenty minutes a day can make a big difference

I’m pouring my heart and soul into my New Year’s Resolutions this year. Actually, it’s the other way around, and I expect my resolutions to make a noticeable difference in my life – my heart, my soul, my attitude and my concentration. All in just 20 minutes a day. While trying to decide what my New Year’s Resolutions would be this year, I thought about all the advice I hear regularly about things we should do first thing in the morning. Exercising, for instance, to [...]

By |December 30th, 2016|Accountability, Columns, Faith, Health and Well-being, Holidays|Comments Off on Twenty minutes a day can make a big difference

A minor miracle has a major impact

I referred to it as “a minor miracle.” A friend of mine laughed, asking what I would consider to be a major miracle. “The parting of the Red Sea,” I told her. “The lame throwing down their crutches and walking. The blind suddenly being able to see.” She suggested that those might better be described as dramatic miracles, rather than major ones, and another friend then suggested that I call the one I was talking about a simple miracle, rather than a minor one. What [...]

By |December 2nd, 2016|Coaching, Columns, Faith, Health and Well-being, Values|Comments Off on A minor miracle has a major impact

A summer challenge brings everyone home

We did it! We walked around the world in 80 days. For those who may not have read my earlier columns on the subject, a group of women who exercise at the Chanhassen Curves were on a quest to take enough steps, collectively, to literally walk around the world during the 80 days of this summer promotion. A map on the wall charted our progress, and each day or week the members taking part would report the numbers recorded on their Fitbits, pedometers, or whatever [...]

By |September 9th, 2016|Accountability, Columns, Health and Well-being, Quotes and Sayings, Success|Comments Off on A summer challenge brings everyone home

Priorities change with a family emergency

“Where were you last week? I missed you!” This was what I heard from several people about the fact that I didn’t have a column in last week’s Villager. One person said, “I can’t even remember the last time your column wasn’t in the paper.” To tell you the truth, neither can I. And for those who are wondering about the reason, it was a family matter. My father-in-law was hospitalized with a life-threatening infection that required immediate surgery, so my husband and I pretty [...]

By |September 2nd, 2016|Columns, Family, Health and Well-being, Values|Comments Off on Priorities change with a family emergency