Freelance articles/Essays
(For more of my articles, see the authormagazine archives.)
The Transformative Story
It has been a while since I first started writing steadily - around age nine when I began keeping a journal. In the beginning, writing was just a chance to talk more. Soon, it evolved into a means of telling the stories of things that were happening and the stories of how I was feeling about the things that were happening. And then, it took a turn and I started to write to try to feel better about those stories. Read more. . .
It has been a while since I first started writing steadily - around age nine when I began keeping a journal. In the beginning, writing was just a chance to talk more. Soon, it evolved into a means of telling the stories of things that were happening and the stories of how I was feeling about the things that were happening. And then, it took a turn and I started to write to try to feel better about those stories. Read more. . .
Rules, Consequences, and What’s the Point
My youngest son walked out of his school the other day. He’d had a rough time earlier. He didn’t go far; just milled around and came back in. His teacher spoke to him about it and he said, “I know, I know, you’ve told me before about the rule. I don’t care!” Read more. . .
My youngest son walked out of his school the other day. He’d had a rough time earlier. He didn’t go far; just milled around and came back in. His teacher spoke to him about it and he said, “I know, I know, you’ve told me before about the rule. I don’t care!” Read more. . .
The Voice of Possibility
I read an article about an Australian woman who gave birth to twins prematurely; they were born at 27 weeks. The girl was fine but the boy was declared dead by the doctor after twenty minutes of attempted resuscitation. The mother unwrapped the baby and laid him against her skin, held him and talked to him for two hours until he began showing signs of life. He seemed to gasp for air; the doctor dismissed it as a reflex action, but when the mother fed the baby breast milk from her finger his breathing normalized. Soon he opened his eyes. And what seemed to be The Impossible became Possible. Read more. . .
I read an article about an Australian woman who gave birth to twins prematurely; they were born at 27 weeks. The girl was fine but the boy was declared dead by the doctor after twenty minutes of attempted resuscitation. The mother unwrapped the baby and laid him against her skin, held him and talked to him for two hours until he began showing signs of life. He seemed to gasp for air; the doctor dismissed it as a reflex action, but when the mother fed the baby breast milk from her finger his breathing normalized. Soon he opened his eyes. And what seemed to be The Impossible became Possible. Read more. . .
Perfect It Later
“Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err . . . that precious right.”
--Mahatma Gandhi
Recently I was listening to an audio recording of life coach/teacher Mandy Evans* speaking with a man who was in the process of completing an advanced degree. He had a paper due and spoke of his distress over getting it done. He described having to “force” himself to write it and was wondering if there was an easier way. Read more. . .
“Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err . . . that precious right.”
--Mahatma Gandhi
Recently I was listening to an audio recording of life coach/teacher Mandy Evans* speaking with a man who was in the process of completing an advanced degree. He had a paper due and spoke of his distress over getting it done. He described having to “force” himself to write it and was wondering if there was an easier way. Read more. . .
What Moves Us
Rest in reason; move in passion.
-- Khalil Gibran
Several weeks ago, I found myself suffering again. I observed the situation and quickly diagnosed it as “writing-related” and acknowledged that I was frightened to return to working on my book. Once again, I was confused about the story and feeling inadequate to the task. Because the writing wasn’t coming easily, I condemned myself for not knowing the route I was to take and this condemnation was creating a sense of failure and hopelessness. Read more. . .
Rest in reason; move in passion.
-- Khalil Gibran
Several weeks ago, I found myself suffering again. I observed the situation and quickly diagnosed it as “writing-related” and acknowledged that I was frightened to return to working on my book. Once again, I was confused about the story and feeling inadequate to the task. Because the writing wasn’t coming easily, I condemned myself for not knowing the route I was to take and this condemnation was creating a sense of failure and hopelessness. Read more. . .
I Wish You Like
This
Hippo-mo-potomuses and other right mistakes
by Jennifer Paros
Around many of the holidays, historically, my sons have come home bearing gifts made in school and overseen by their teachers. These are often craft projects (some of which I haven’t completely understood) with pre-formulated pieces, which the child constructs and writes on or decorates to personalize. I enjoy receiving these, regardless of what they may be, and due to my sentimental nature, find even the most standard re-cycled phrases pleasing. Read more . . .
Hippo-mo-potomuses and other right mistakes
by Jennifer Paros
Around many of the holidays, historically, my sons have come home bearing gifts made in school and overseen by their teachers. These are often craft projects (some of which I haven’t completely understood) with pre-formulated pieces, which the child constructs and writes on or decorates to personalize. I enjoy receiving these, regardless of what they may be, and due to my sentimental nature, find even the most standard re-cycled phrases pleasing. Read more . . .
True Genius
“Since you are like no other human being ever created since the beginning of time, you are incomparable.”
~ Brenda Ueland
In a featurette for Spike Jonze’s movie of Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak praises the director’s adaptation of his children’s book and makes a point of saying of Jonze, “He’s not afraid of himself. He’s a real artist that lets it come through the work. So, he’s touched me very much."
There is something magnificent about seeing someone fully and honestly express himself through his work. In fact, we often stand and cheer when this pure, unselfconscious moment occurs -–the power and the grace of it being evident to most, if not all. Often we refer to it as “talent” or “being gifted,” and explain it as a moment given the person due to genetics, luck or training. Read more. . .
“Since you are like no other human being ever created since the beginning of time, you are incomparable.”
~ Brenda Ueland
In a featurette for Spike Jonze’s movie of Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak praises the director’s adaptation of his children’s book and makes a point of saying of Jonze, “He’s not afraid of himself. He’s a real artist that lets it come through the work. So, he’s touched me very much."
There is something magnificent about seeing someone fully and honestly express himself through his work. In fact, we often stand and cheer when this pure, unselfconscious moment occurs -–the power and the grace of it being evident to most, if not all. Often we refer to it as “talent” or “being gifted,” and explain it as a moment given the person due to genetics, luck or training. Read more. . .
By Choice
The Best Resolution of All
“Life is a sum of all your choices.”
--Albert Camus
I’ve always liked the New Year’s resolution; it is deciding purposefully to practice choice. But what if, instead of just one Big Fat Choice, like Quit Smoking, or Lose Weight - what if the choice we think we are making for at least an entire year (if not a lifetime) is seen as comprised of an infinite number of choices of response we make moment by moment? This way, we start recognizing our choice in everything; no longer are we victims to anything. Now, regardless of what we choose, we are aware of choosing. And since choosing is our only power, we’ve got ourselves back in the driver’s seat. And that’s the whole point of a New Year’s Resolution, to put ourselves back in charge of some area of our lives, back in creative control. Read more. . .
The Best Resolution of All
“Life is a sum of all your choices.”
--Albert Camus
I’ve always liked the New Year’s resolution; it is deciding purposefully to practice choice. But what if, instead of just one Big Fat Choice, like Quit Smoking, or Lose Weight - what if the choice we think we are making for at least an entire year (if not a lifetime) is seen as comprised of an infinite number of choices of response we make moment by moment? This way, we start recognizing our choice in everything; no longer are we victims to anything. Now, regardless of what we choose, we are aware of choosing. And since choosing is our only power, we’ve got ourselves back in the driver’s seat. And that’s the whole point of a New Year’s Resolution, to put ourselves back in charge of some area of our lives, back in creative control. Read more. . .
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