I agree with Douglas Coupland. Writers are word painters. Words are our supplies.
As the artist uses his brush to bring color to the canvas, our words and word choices bring pictures to the reader’s mind.
I love this quote by Emerson. Though the picture shows a gate on an Irish path I once walked, the application is the same as though that gate were a door.
Emerson’s words can have different meanings. Simply put, when we open a door, we do two things:
I didn’t have to open the gate in the picture, but I did choose to walk through and siege the opportunity. On the other side, I found a farmer with his dog, and we had a lovely conversation.
When you encounter a door or a gate will you do what Emerson suggests and be an opener?
Fall means our sunlight hours are shrinking a little more each day. I will miss sitting on the porch and reading.
What will you miss now that the season has changed?
I read this poem by Phyllis McGinley in the comments section of a blog. I found it whimsical and sobering and created this graphic, which you are free to share. 
McGinley ends her poem: “But do not give advice at all.” The premise of columnist Parker J. Palmer’s blog titled The Gift of Presence, The Perils of Advice was “Don’t give advice, … Instead, be fully present, listen deeply …”
Giving advice can be a sticky wicket. Which route would you take?
I ran across this quote from James A. Pike doing research for my current WIP (that’s work in progress for non-writer types). Naturally, I did a little rabbit chasing because I was unfamiliar with his name.
Turns out James Albert Pike (1913 – 1969) was an American Episcopal bishop, who died while exploring the Wilderness of the Temptation.
His outspoken, and sometimes, heretical views on theological and social issues made him one of the most controversial public figures of his time. Heresy procedures were started several times, but in the end, the Church decided it was not in the denomination’s best interest to pursue an actual heresy trial.
I don’t like to be controversial so I won’t go into Pike’s views. You can do your own research. All I will say is, he was a fascinating man with some very questionable theological views.
But, I think the advice in this meme is good. He aimed to ease anxiety. I think we’d all agree reducing anxiety is a very good thing.
Slow change can be less jarring. Unfortunately, enacting change like a caterpillar moves – slowly, methodically – is not always possible. Events like Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, earthquakes, and/or wildfires thrust change upon us very fast. We must move and move quickly. The opportunity to be like the caterpillar isn’t there. We have to move like a toad.
The way I see it – take Pike’s advice when you can otherwise hop like a toad to get out of harm’s way.
Every year when the back-to-school chatter begins I think about teachers. Not just public school teachers but also all those moms who undertake to homeschool.
When I was teaching in public school the words back-to-school brought mixed feelings. I loved teaching. The excitement that came in August as I prepared for another school year was hard to beat.
It’s that time of year again.
I still feel the excitement and fight the urge to buy new school supplies. Does August bring on thoughts of school and school teachers for you?
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