What is the right way?  There are so many paths to choose from and so many ways that we can choose to communicate or act. One of the things that helped me move beyond my typical biased views is leading with compassion.  When I approach a situation with a mindset of love, kindness, and understanding, my mind is open to seeing other perspectives.  Rather than assuming I know all the facts, I start with an understanding that I only know my perspective, and even then, my viewpoint can be biased.  Jesus knows the full story accurately and sees the total…

In life, there are plenty of moments that bring out the negative, but the real test is whether one can move past discouragement and use it as fuel to ignite kindness and compassion.  Ignoring the nasty addressing frustrations with love and understanding. Turning a seemingly negative event into a lesson in building trust.  Most of us have moments of frustration, but I don’t let those moments take over my life.  I learn from my mistakes, but I don’t linger in discouragement.   Think about a time when you have been around someone who lives their life frustrated and stressed…

I am hopeful I won’t allow myself to be boxed in by something so permanent as the word never.  When I hear myself use the word, I find myself immediately regretting what I’ve said.  I know that all things are possible, and most, if not all, of my “nevers” have been proven wrong.   Not only does it backfire on me, but it has also often led to some of my most memorable and cherished experiences.  I never wanted to go to college.  Yet I have earned a PhD. I never wanted to leave Ohio.  Yet I’ve lived…

Spring allows us a beautiful opportunity to push the reset button and start anew.  For the past few years, I have been doing the bare minimum outside, while I tended to things that were more urgent and a higher priority inside our home.   This past weekend, the yard received a thorough and much-needed reset.  Although my body continues to feel the joys of the manual labor, my mind has renewed energy from a weekend of fresh air, task completion, and beautification. The same is true with the inside of our house.  Every season provides an opportunity for renewal and…