I am toasting to a year of mindful living, having recently watched the Netflix documentary Minimalism. It reminded me of what I’ve believed for years, even if I live it out imperfectly, in fits and starts: happiness lies in intentional living.
Category: stuff.of.life
Courage Over Fear
Some people are born brave; I wasn’t one of those. Every act of courage I have ever engaged in has been calculated and costly. In the end, I’ve always been glad that I chose courage over fear. The British dictionary defines courage as “the power or quality of dealing with or facing danger, fear, pain,…
Before I Die
If you haven’t heard of the Before I Die Wall, the idea started with artist Candy Chang of New Orleans, LA. A close friend of hers had died unexpectedly, prompting her to think about all the things she would regret not doing, if she were to die then. In response, she created a mural that…
When Disappointment Knocks
Everyone knows a thing or two about disappointment. From the infant who doesn’t get his bottle as quickly as he wants it, to the business owner filing for bankruptcy due to a lack of cash flow, everyone has experienced disappointment and will experience it again and again. I have noticed that the more emotionally invested…
First-time Dad
He was terrified. All the months of bravado crumbled when he got the call that his wife had gone into labor. She had been at work when her water broke, and someone was rushing her to the general hospital. Was she okay, he wondered? The caller had been in a hurry and hadn’t given many…
Writing: Its Joys
I don’t clearly remember when I started writing for the joy of it, but I do remember when I fell in love with words. I was a tiny six, perhaps seven, sitting in the back seat of my Dad’s bright yellow Renault hatchback as he gave my mom and me a ride to school. Mom…
Travel Diaries: Oregon
My drive through Oregon during my 2013 road trip was a quick one. I didn’t even stop in Portland, but headed straight for Eugene to meet a friend for dinch. I had been to Portland the summer before, and I had greatly enjoyed being there as I had known I would. Several of my friends…
Spurned
In a little while, I will be leaving my neighborhood and moving to a new one. The two neighborhoods are similar, in that they are both nestled in foothills and surrounded by wild lands, where wildlife lurks around residential areas. I’ve often thought this is not much different from what some call “the African bush,”…
Portable Magic
In case you’re wondering whether I got enough sleep last night, I didn’t. I was cold and it took forever to warm up enough to fall asleep. And then I woke up in the middle of the night to turn off the heater because I got too warm. Sigh. But I soldiered through the day…
Accidental Discoveries
Lately, I have been thinking about accidental discoveries, also known as Serendipity. For years, I believed in the supreme importance of planning, but I have had to re-examine this in the light of my life experiences. Although I still believe that planning is important because it enables you to be efficient at the things that…
Travel Diaries: Salt Lake City
From Vegas, I headed back onto the I-15, driving north towards Utah. I was in Arizona for all of 30 minutes and had to drive through the Virgin River Canyon. Well, desert canyons are now my impression of Arizona. Pretty soon I was in Utah, driving through the red bluffs near St. George before heading…
Minda Magero 