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  • August 26, 2020

How Twenty Minutes a Day Can Change Your Life.

Did you know that the average American only spends 7% of their life outside? Maybe you are surprised by that number or perhaps not. When you put it in years, if we...

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  • August 24, 2020

Taking Time For Reflection As We Transition To A New Season.

It is that time of year when we begin to put away the pool towels and the sunscreen in favor of bouquets of sharpened pencils and stacks of notebooks. While I love...

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  • August 19, 2020

Why do we need to be intentional about rest even if life is less busy right now?

We have been home for the past six months and still, life feels as busy as ever. How can our calendar be almost completely void of activity and yet our lives feel...

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  • August 17, 2020

Your story matters, if not now for the next generation.

The other night while my husband worked late I decided to sit on his office floor and go through a packet of papers and photos my mother had given me some time...

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  • August 12, 2020

How to live a creative life.

Play a word association game with me. Take a deep breath, clear the clutter from your mind and when you read the next word I want you to capture the first thoughts...

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  • August 10, 2020

Adjusting Perspective

My vision is blurry without my glasses or contacts. My hearing is poor without the assistance of hearing aids. Basically I’m a hot mess without corrective lenses or volume control. Thankfully there...

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  • The Journey is Easier Without the Extra Weight.

joy.marker

✍️Writing hope-filled words of reflection.
🌅 Cultivating beauty in every season.

Hello September! While Summer temperatures still Hello September!

While Summer temperatures still dominate the days, 
we eagerly anticipate Autumn's respite as you arrive.

While we enjoy the last of Summer’s gifts, produce and flowers,
we begin the transition into pumpkin spice and soup season.

We have loved you, August, 
the memories made in your summer days.

However, we are ready to move fully into what comes next,
Welcome, September; we are glad you are here.

P.S. We wouldn’t be upset if you’d bring some Autumnal Temperatures along with you. Some of us are ready for sweater weather and fire pits. Please and thank you.

#randomreflection #throughouttheseasons #newmonth #summer #autumn
August is technically summer in my part of the wor August is technically summer in my part of the world; it feels like summer, and the calendar says it's summer. Yet here we are at the end of August, and many of our schedules demanded weeks ago that we put away the pool towels and sunscreen in favor of bouquets of sharpened pencils and stacks of notebooks.

I love Autumn. Who doesn't love a season that brings out the mass amount of school supplies and sweaters? 

However enthusiastic I am about the next season, transitioning from one season to another can be messy as our routines and rhythms change. Yet, while transitions can be challenging, they can also provide an opportunity to pause and reflect on one season before moving into the next.

Creating a habit of reflection is more than just walking down memory lane. It's about recognizing what is working, what is no longer working, what we have learned, how we have changed, and moving forward into the next season with a purpose. 

As we prepare to say goodbye to summer and hello to autumn, here are five questions to consider.

What are some of the gifts you have discovered in this past season?

What have been some of the difficulties in this past season?

What rhythms and routines have been working well for you?

What are some of the rhythms and routines that are not working?

What are you doing to tend your own body? Mind? And Soul?

Reflection does not mean we live in the past. Instead, we learn from the past, live fully present in the moment, and become intentional about moving forward.

May we learn from what was before so that we might be better prepared for what is yet to come.

#randomreflection #throughouttheseasons #summer #transition #autumn
I’ve been pondering these words I read from Meride I’ve been pondering these words I read from Merideth Hite Estevez. 

“If life is synonymous with expression, art is not something we make but a way we say yes to living.”

And I can’t help but think about how perspective matters; our approach to life and how we choose to live it matters. 

I’m thinking ……….. I don't have to pick up a paintbrush to paint a picture, or a pen to write a story, because I am already expressing the portrait I’m painting and the story I’m writing through the life I am living.

#randomreflection #art #livingart #writingastory #creatingalife #randomquote #wonder
I cringe every time someone says, “I am not creati I cringe every time someone says, “I am not creative.” 

Nope, that attitude will not do. 

Maybe your artistic skills haven't been developed, or you haven’t found a hobby that fits the mold of what’s labeled as creative. But that is more the fault of culture and mindset than a lack of creative skills and abilities. 

You, my friend, were crafted by the master artist, and while you may not hold a formal title of artist, you are writing a story, painting a picture, and creating beauty every day as you craft your life. 

Every problem you solve, every dinner you craft, every bedtime story you tell, is you creating something beautiful. 

If I knew your name and address, I might send you a bouquet of sharpened pencils, colored ones at that, to sit as a reminder that you, my friend, are creating beautiful art every day of your life. 

You are an artist, even if you never pick up those colored pencils. Although I highly recommend that you do. Color just for fun and see what happens. 

#randomreflection #create #youareanartist #craftingalife #creating #coloredpencils
Dropping in to leave us with a random quote to con Dropping in to leave us with a random quote to consider.

“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” 
Simone Weil

When you read this, what comes to mind? How are you inspired? 

#randomreflection #randomquote #consider #attention #generosity
I recently finished reading the debut novel from m I recently finished reading the debut novel from my friend @beccameek , and I really hope she's just getting started.

Summer at Caroling Creek was an engaging read, with characters and a plot line that will keep you coming back for more. And, I hope there are more stories to come.

If you're looking for a great book to finish out your summer reading, I highly recommend Summer at Caroling Creek. And @beccameek please keep writing more stories for us. 

#randombookreview #summerreading #booksIlove
This is the first time in twelve years that my dai This is the first time in twelve years that my daily rhythms have not been completely changed with August's arrival. And while I love my new job and know without a doubt it is exactly where I am meant to be, I can’t deny that some grief lingers as I watch my teacher and tiny human friends head back to school.

To all my teacher friends, I see you and appreciate all that you give and pour out, selflessly investing in the next generation. Don’t forget: To put your oxygen mask on first; make sure your cup is constantly being refilled. Even the seemingly small and unseen moments matter. It all matters. You matter and are changing the world, one child at a time.

To all my friends sending young people back to school: don’t take for granted the investment their teachers and coaches are making in your child’s life. They will need reminders as the school year goes on that what they are giving of themselves is being seen. Treat them with respect and partner with them to help your child succeed this school year. You need them, your child needs them, and they need you on their team.

This school year, let’s remember that we are always better together, that we are in this together, and that the next generation is watching and learning from us. 

#randomreflection #backtoschool #bettertogether #nextgeneration
When I began writing words out loud, I chose Rando When I began writing words out loud, I chose Random Reflection because while writing was and is intentional, the topics are born of real-life, everyday moments that sometimes feel very random.

Random - chosen without method or conscious decision.

Then one day, as I was reading - can’t even remember what I was reading- a thought struck me.

Perhaps what appears random is actually responsiveness—paying attention to what is happening in the world around us and in our lives, then responding.

Life, unscripted, can feel very random, and yet what if we altered our perspective to recognize that our randomness was actually responsiveness?

What can appear as randomness might just be that we are learning to pay attention, adapt our approach, and respond to the rhythm of life in each season?

I Wonder………………….

#randomreflection #wordtoponder #throughouttheseasons #summer #random
As a child, I could not understand why my mother h As a child, I could not understand why my mother had random books she was reading simultaneously throughout the house. Fast-forward an undisclosed number of years, and guess what?  I usually have multiple books I’m reading scattered throughout the house. 

It turns out different books fit into different parts of your daily rhythm. So I thought today I would share with you the four books I read simultaneously in July. 

Soul Inspiration: This is the book you read when you need a moment to allow your soul to breathe in something good.

Wild Wonder by Stephen Proctor: This is the book you leave out on your coffee table because it is beautiful, and then when you pass by, you pause to soak in the beauty of the words and art.

Getting Lost in Story: The book you read when you wish to travel into another world and experience life through someone else's eyes. Aka, Fiction.

The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis: I’ll be honest, it took me a few chapters to get into this story, but once I got to know the characters, I could not put it down. 

Exercising the Brain: The book you read to grow your knowledge on a particular topic. 

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel: While this is a book about money, it is not a how-to book. Rather, this book helps you understand how we think and relate to money, the difference between being rich and wealthy (neither of which has to do with how much money you have). This is a book I wish I had read in my twenties, and I highly recommend it regardless of how much or how little money you have.

Getting to the Heart of the Matter: These are the books that help you grow in your humanness. They help you understand yourself a little more and, hopefully, see others a little better. 

Mattering by Jennifer Brehery Wallace: This book not only helps you see the importance of showing others they matter, but it also helps you recognize how you matter and how to engage in the spaces that make you feel like you don’t.

#randomreflection #throughouttheseasons #summer #summerreading #randombookrecommendation #abookfortheseason
A recurring theme has been popping up in my readin A recurring theme has been popping up in my reading and scrolling: humanness, our humanity, the state or quality of being human.

Surrounded by technology and the evolution of AI, while simultaneously faced with natural disasters and never-ending wars. I believe it is driving many to re-evaluate what it means to be human, to consider our mattering and belonging in this world.

In this month’s edition of Throughout The Seasons, we are considering our humanness. 

If you are not already subscribed, follow the link in my bio to join us as we talk about what fundamentally sets us apart as human beings: our ability to think, feel, and engage socially.

#randomreflection #throughouttheseasons #summer #humanness #think #feel #engagesocially
The World Cup may be over but Kansas City is not o The World Cup may be over but Kansas City is not over Soccer. 

Today I got to enjoy a beautiful afternoon/evening, in a beautiful stadium, with some of my favorite people. 

Great game KC Currents. It's awesome having such a great place to watch our Women Soccer Team play.

Thank you for a fun adventure @a.t.marker @ben_marker and @tayachesher. ❤️

#throughouttheseasons #summerfun
Good Morning, Final Day of July. May we remember Good Morning, Final Day of July. 

May we remember to look up, noticing the gift of art in today's sky.

May we remember to also look down, paying attention to where we are grounded and the path we walk today. 

May we carry what we need into August, while leaving behind what we do not carry with July.

#randomreflection #throughouttheseasons #summer
As we greet the final days of July, some of us beg As we greet the final days of July, some of us begin to grieve the end of summer days, others go into task mode preparing for the arrival of a new school year, and many of us find ourselves facing another seasonal transition. 

While technically there are plenty of summer days remaining on the calendar, and relentless heat lingers. August often represents a transition back into Autumnal rhythms. 

Have you paused to consider, identify and name seasonal transitions?  After all, they are a part of life and as Bruce Feiler said, 

"Life is in the transitions. We can't ignore these central times of life; we can't wish or will them away. We have to accept them, name them, mark them, share them, and eventually convert them into fuel for remaking our life stories." 

#randomreflection #throughouttheseasons #summer #transitions
We might be motivated to read (fiction in particul We might be motivated to read (fiction in particular) by a desire to escape our current reality, to get lost in someone else's story.

We might consider reading our guilty pleasure, our hobby, our “just for fun” activity. 

Or maybe, we read only non-fiction, believing there is nothing to gain from fictional stories.

What if reading is not simply an escape from reality? 

What if those stories, even after the book is closed, linger? 

Have we ever considered that perhaps we carry the experience with us, unknowingly being taught and formed by another's story?

What if, as Ashlen Greer says, “We read not to escape life but to learn how to live it more deeply and richly, to experience the world through the eyes of the other.”

I wonder………………………..

#randomreflection #quotetoconsider #reading #summerreading #ordinarylife
This is your friendly reminder that you are never This is your friendly reminder that you are never too old for summer reading.

In America about 38% of adults read 1 - 5 books a year, with only 14% reading 20+. 

Even if you're not reading to learn or keep growing neurological connections. Adults who read at least 30 minutes a week, yes I said a week, have reduced stress levels by 20%. 

We hear a lot about the impact of reading on education and children. Yet, how can we fuss and complain if we adults aren't living by example. 

If we want our young people to be readers, perhaps we should start with us first. There's still time this summer, I imagine your library would be happy to see you. 

#randomreflection #throughouttheseasons #summerreading
A Word to Ponder: Reset The world moves at such a A Word to Ponder: Reset

The world moves at such a rapid pace that it is easy to get into a rhythm of doing what we have always done, just trying to keep up. We set a destination on our GPS and keep going. 

But when we create rhythms of rest in our lives, we also create pauses that allow our souls to breathe and give us an opportunity to reconsider our rhythms. 

Not every season is for everything.

Sometimes, where we thought we were headed is not where we need to be going.

When’s the last time you’ve allowed yourself a moment to reset? Perhaps you just need to shore up the rhythms you know are working so you can continue strong, or maybe you need to start new rhythms and move in a new direction.

Reset, in basic terms, is the act of restoring something to the way it once was. OR, to start over in a new direction.

What might it look like to allow yourself an occasional opportunity to reset?

#randomreflection #wordtoponder #reset
A novice, a beginner, someone new to the circumsta A novice, a beginner, someone new to the circumstances in which they are placed. This is a title I currently carry, and I have to admit, I’m not very good at living in this space. 

While I love to learn and try new things, in a professional context, I find the not knowing more challenging. 

I push myself, striving to be farther along than I am. Overachiever, some might say. 

Slow down, words I play in my head on repeat, because while I do not enjoy the beginner stage, experience has taught me it’s an important stage not to rush or wish away. 

Be a listener, a learner, I remind myself, and yet, it’s challenging not to feel as if you belong in the space you occupy. It’s hard to constantly ask for help when, for so long, you’ve been someone others ask. 

And yet, here I am learning once again how to be a novice, a beginner, the newest person in the room. 

I wonder where you have found yourself a novice recently? 

Any good tips for doing the beginner stage well?

#randomreflection #seasons #beginner #novice #newthings
Weekends have become my opportunity to reset, both Weekends have become my opportunity to reset, both my home, and my mind. 

It is a rhythm that doesn't have to be attached to time or task, it's more about mindset. 

What's taking up space that either needs to be handled or discarded, what needs to be refreshed or reset? 

This morning dying flowers inside, meant #optingoutside and treasure hunting in my garden, bringing natures gifts inside.

#saturdayvibes #gardentheraphy #reset #weekendrhythms
I find myself tensing up at the phrase, “It could I find myself tensing up at the phrase, “It could be worse.” A statement that feels as if it discounts what someone is going through. 

Yet recently, while reading about someone else’s journey with a life-threatening illness, I found myself thinking those very words. “I could have it so much worse.”

While I am chronically ill, I am physically fit and currently managing my disease relatively well. So when I read others' stories where things aren’t going so well, I feel an immense sense of gratitude. 

I never want to downplay or compare anyone’s story, including my own.  Hard things are hard things, without measuring one story against another. Hence, my dislike of “it could be worse.” 

However, I am learning that when it feels as if we are drowning in our own hard stories, there is something to be said about looking outside ourselves. There is a gift of gratitude we find when we pay attention to others and the world around us; a recognition that we are not the only ones with challenging chapters in our story. 

There is no scale of comparison; it all matters.  Your story matters. 

And yet I have come to believe that shared stories can change the world. They help us remember that we are not alone. Each of us has beautiful AND difficult moments written in our stories; our journeys are occasionally smooth, more often a little bumpy, and at other times a steep climb. 

We are simply better together, sharing our stories, learning from and encouraging one another.

Life is better together! Your stories matter!

#randomreflection #throughouttheseasons #bettertogether #sharedstories
While most of us are not writing our stories with While most of us are not writing our stories with pen and paper, we are all writing our stories as we live our daily lives. Each season of life is a chapter that tells who we are and who we are becoming.

Some chapters feature noticeable life changes or personal growth, while other plotlines transition more gradually. We can feel the winds change and know something new is coming, yet hold the suspense as we wait to see how the story unfolds.

These chapters can feel like a slow transition, a gradual movement from one season to the next. Perhaps that’s what keeps our stories interesting, the way the winds shift and the waves move in and then out?

Both unexpectedly fast transitions and gradual, slow transitions bring their own set of challenges.

Join me at Throughout The Seasons as we talk about those seasons when we are slowly transitioning into something new. Link in Bio.

#randomreflection #throughouttheseasons #summer #transitions #ourstories #becoming
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