Blog Posts

A week in which staying in the moment transformed each ordinary day into a peaceful, satisfying tile in the mosaic of a happy life. Finally, slowly, I’m truly absorbing the knowledge that I don’t have to be producing, or doing, to be worthy. Also, a week in which the temperatures dropped precipitously again, providing plenty of opportunity for fresh air and outdoor exercise (as well as gratitude that I no longer live in a blizzard zone).   Ways I Found Joy This Week Having a

A week in which I got intentional about metaphorically and literally shedding all that no longer serves me as the Year of the Snake drew to a close. Leaving me poised to gallop into the Year of the Fire Horse, which began Tuesday. It may just be the power of suggestion, but I’m feeling hopeful about leaving behind what felt like the suspended animation of the last few months and charging ahead into a juicier life. Stay tuned.   Ways I Found Joy This Week Stopping for lunch at

A week in which I once again became a veterinary technician. The promised update on last week’s vomiting extravaganza  is a good news/bad news one: my ten-pound titan has completely recovered from cholangitis (the nasty liver/gallbladder/bile duct infection that necessitated hospitalization and a temporary feeding tube) and now has pancreatitis. Which may or may not be (probably is) due to my exuberance, despite my inexperience, as a canine chef (a perfect example of the Dunn

As the holidays approach this year, I realize that my dread of the season has significantly lessened (perhaps a silver lining of estrangement ) but my habit of reviewing the blessings in my life (you can read about that here and here )  is entrenched. This year, in addition to the evergreen items on my gratitude list (my gorgeous sanctuary, my continued solvency, my progress in healing and thriving), there’s plenty to add to the list: Complete recovery from last year’s back

Some years ago, after reading The Gift of An Ordinary Day , I became a fan of the writer Katrina Kenison. Her observations are both quiet and profound, and I loved that she was a humble, thoughtful person; reading her work felt like communing with a friend. Following her blog over the years, I found a lot that resonated as she shared about the changing seasons of her life. Last week she posted “You Can’t Have It All”: a meditation on things she could  celebrate in an incredib

[The following is another piece written a few years ago when I was exploring alternative formats for storytelling.]   DON’T LEAVE HOME...

It seems that remaining steadfast in my resolve to find joy and purpose as democracy continues to dissolve is becoming an almost...

[I’d just begun reworking this older piece prior to my recent dog walking disaster. There truly are no coincidences. My enthusiastic...

My little buddy and I were both in high spirits as we set out for a walk Sunday morning. His walks are the highlight of his days, and I...

If you've been reading, you know that gratitude has become a cornerstone of my days and my unceasing paean to the Universe. Ironically,...

I just got in last night (not in the morning—it seems I need to pay a bit more attention to detail) from my long-awaited, outstanding...

I climbed into bed with a half-smile and my heart singing. This was such a good day. As I mentally compiled my gratitude list, it became...

I recently read On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good”, by Elise Loehnen. It’s a highly...

[This week has been a pivot extravaganza. The standouts among a series of unanticipated events have been a microwave fire that narrowly...

Until quite recently, I imagined that my convoluted, protracted path towards healing was unique. Surely I was the only one who was so...

It’s no secret that we all absorb ambient negativity to some degree, often unconsciously. For the past several years, I’ve been working...

This week the CWP is off doing her thing and I’m treating myself to a glorious staycation. Lots of rest and reflection, good food, books,...

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate. I’ve shared previously that I’ve always struggled with the holidays to some extent. As the...

I’m one of a handful of people I know who have never had Covid. (And I’m knocking on wood as I say this, as I know people getting it for...