Forever Kept in the Vault of My Heart As of this writing, James and I last spoke 8,035 days ago. This anniversary of September 11th 2001 marks the tragic last day that I heard the sound of my brother’s voice. At the time, I truly believed that my heart held all the love that it could possibly hold over my lifetime. But I was wrong. Twenty-two years of missing James has increased the love I have for him beyond measure. Years have shown me what it means to suddenly lose a cherished sibling in the horrific way that 9/11 families did. Losing him forever changed my own place in the world. The bond that siblings hold for each other shapes the life of the whole family. That is what love simply does. When one is lost, all are lost. As brother and sister, James and I…
Life can unexpectedly drop a mystery into your day. One such situation took me by surprise on an early summer morning. Sticking to my usual routine, I was gearing up for the work day while sipping an extra hot cup of coffee. Suddenly, I heard a noise coming from outside the house. It was a fast, bumpy sound, like the clangor sneakers make tumbling in the dryer. With a few loud planes also flying overhead, I didn’t give it too much thought. Not long after I returned to my steaming cup, the strange sound returned. It was louder this time. While I am no Sherlock Holmes in the making, I sheepishly went outside to investigate, but found nothing suspicious. All was well. So with greater intention, I made my way back inside to finish breakfast. However, before reaching the kitchen table, I distinctly heard the muffling noise loud and…
It is far easier to name obstacles that hinder the craft of writing than it is to make a quick case for getting words down on the page. Writers are persistently challenged by the sheer lack of time, a steady stream of distractions and staying motivated to keep working at the craft like clockwork. Moreover, the inspiration that tanks up the desire to write often dwindles when striving to really spot where the time invested is making a difference. Like salmon rushing upstream against the current, aspiring writers know they face stacked odds at being discovered any time soon. Building even a small readership today is quite difficult when keeping company with 32.7 million other bloggers in the United States alone, not to mention the 600 million blogs already established worldwide. Yes, the world is certainly a big place bent on pressing every nose against the tantalizing scent blazed…
Only Piranesi and the Other Exist. They live in a “House” filled with an infinite number of rooms that sweep into huge halls. The rest of the world no longer exists. The man who describes himself as the “Other” believes that the “knowledge of the ancients” is hidden somewhere. Its power was something that mankind used to possess, but lost at some point in time. Also living in this colossal place is Piranesi He is a good man who takes care of the House. Huge story-like statues populate the rooms, each symbolic of something that Piranesi cherishes. So gentle and kind, he feeds the beautiful birds flying everywhere, and marvels at the creatures filling the sea. All things within the House is meticulously known, and loved with tenderness. A scientist at heart, Piranesi moves through this majestic place with precision. There is no fear, he…
Thinking about the summer activities still left to do? Summer-ween will be here in a wink of an eye! It comes when summer peaks its hottest temperature during the latter half of July. Thinking about that first cool breeze arriving on a crisp autumnal morning is refreshing. As August now beckons, it is a good idea to think about the summer activities that are still left to do. Now is the time to inspire well-being and personal fulfillment. Summer Activities Still To-Do Checklist: 1. Sprout New Ways to Grow Yourself. Summer surrounds us with everything green and beautiful. We happily spend time tending the garden, growing vegetables and planting flowers. However, devoting time to grow your capacity to “grow” from within is so important to personal fulfillment. As the world is always changing, seek ways to expand how you think about your life and the relationships that…
