Any questions that cloud my mind regarding others are typically the first warning signal of something that I need to work on myself. I find that when something judgmental comes to my mind, it is a learning tool that I can use to think about and adapt to my life. If a fleeting judgmental thought crosses my mind, I take note and try to take that thought and put it back on me.  When my mind is alerted to someone who acts prideful, instead of addressing the person, I look to myself to eliminate that type of behavior.  If my…

Acceptance for many of us is seeing before believing.  But the beauty of our faith is believing without doubt.  There are many things we do in our daily lives that strengthen our faith and the faith of others. Living life and accepting others with love have proven to be instrumental in my journey.  Not simply saying the right words, but following through with compassion and meaningful actions.   Taking a moment before things get nasty to better understand the perspective of others.  Before saying something I regret, I say a quick prayer for guidance and perspective.  I ask Jesus to speak…

Sometimes it seems easier to escape into something routine, exciting, or new instead of addressing the issue.  Avoidance creates much stress and anxiety in the world today.   I was taken aback when I heard the statistic that over our lifetime, between 12-18 years of our lives are spent on our phones.  Although I see many advantages of technology, to me, hours of scrolling through unnecessary information seem to be an escape from being present, avoiding the unknown, the silence, or the discomfort of being present in the moment.    It might not be technology for all of us.  Some of…

When I consider that our pets completely rely on us, it makes sense that they might have a fear of the unknown. They sense clues that something is different, but have no knowledge of what or for how long.     Over the last three years, our dog has been a bit spoiled by the fact that someone, mostly me, has been in the house 24/7.  Our dog saw my suitcase and started to get a bit clingy, knowing something was up.  One of my neighbors takes great care of her when I am away, but it has been numerous years…