“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” L.M. Montgomery October has a way of asking us to pay attention. The light changes first. It softens around the edges. The air feels a little cleaner, as if the sky has taken a deep breath. Then the trees begin their quiet show, one branch at a time, until suddenly the world is brushed with gold, rust, crimson, and amber. I absolutely love the fall season. Everything seems to come alive with color, even as it is pr

“If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it.” Michael Jordan I’m not particularly good at climbing, but I am pretty good at not giving up. That perseverance has served me well throughout my lifetime. There’s a saying where I come from in the Appalachian mountains that we would use whenever someone told us we couldn’t do something: “Hide and watch!” Those two little words carry a lot of attitude. They mean, “You may not believe I can do

“Man's word is his wand filled with magic and power! Man comes into the world financed by God, with all that he desires or requires already on his pathway. This supply is released through faith and the Spoken Word. If thou canst believe, all things are possible.” Florence Scovel Shinn We use words every day, many times without even realizing what we are putting out into the universe. We speak casually about our lives, our health, our finances, our relationships and our fut

“When we are peaceful, when we are happy, we can blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society will benefit from our peace.” Thich Nhat Hanh I remember the day Thich Nhat Hanh died. I remember crying because it seemed as if a light had gone out in the world as the life left his body. My mind knew that he was still alive spiritually, yet that knowledge did little to console my heart. I had listened to his teachings for years and resonated deeply with

“Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced .”-Soren Kierkegaard How much of our lives do we spend trying to fix ourselves? We convince ourselves that when we become more successful, more spiritual, more patient, more loving, or more accomplished, then we will finally be enough. We search for the next book, the next class, the next healing, believing that somewhere just beyond our reach is the version of ourselves that deserves happiness. But what

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths." — Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Sometimes a soul comes into the world to make a big difference. Sometimes, one comes here to make a huge difference. We are saying goodbye to one such being who has blessed our planet in such a way that many across America and other countries are filled with sadness. I met George Franklin

“Don’t ever be ashamed of loving the strange things that make your weird little heart happy.” Elizabeth Gilbert I have always believed that it is the little things in life that bring us the greatest joy. The aroma of fresh coffee brewing in the morning. A field of daisies dancing in the breeze. The unexpected text from a friend that arrives at exactly the right moment. The sound of birds singing outside the window. A butterfly crossing your path. A smile from a stranger. T

“Life is a song - sing it. Life is a game - play it. Life is a challenge - meet it. Life is a dream - realize it. Life is a sacrifice - offer it. Life is love - enjoy it.” Sai Baba There are moments when I sit quietly and contemplate the miracle of being here. Out of all eternity, we have been gifted this brief and beautiful experience called life. Every sunrise, every breath, every encounter is part of a sacred journey designed to help us remember who we truly are. Life

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” — Paulo Coelho There are moments in life when hope feels easy. The sun is shining, doors are opening, and everything seems to flow effortlessly. In those moments, believing in miracles feels natural. But what about the nights when the answers do not come? What about the seasons when prayers seem to echo into silence and dreams appear to drift farther away instead of closer? Those are the moments t

“Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it.” Winston Churchill There is something magical about watching a kite dance across the sky. I remember standing in an open field on a windy day, struggling to get the kite off the ground. The harder the wind blew, the more impossible it seemed. The kite twisted, dove, and tangled itself in frustration. Yet the moment I learned how to work with the wind instead of against it, everything changed. Suddenly it lifted higher and