In my garden there is a very interesting plant, the Hibiscus Mutabilis. The common name in the south is Cotton Rose or Confederate Rose, but it’s a plant that originated in Asia and is on every continent but Antarctica. Each year for the past three years I cut off all the branches when the [...]
My kids know that I was pretty strict when they were young, but they occasionally witnessed me breaking a rule. Something that seemed silly, like no pictures allowed in a museum exhibit, or going in the wrong door. Or speeding... and then getting a ticket. But in all of these cases, there was no [...]
Decisions, decisions… what do I wear today, what do I want for breakfast, what do I HAVE to do today, what do I WANT to do today? We are faced with hundreds of decisions every single day: some decisions are easy, some take a little time, others can be overwhelming. As adults, we have [...]
A couple years ago a friend gave me a journal and a pen for my birthday with a challenge to write three things every day for a year for which I was thankful, without repeating anything. She said she had done that and was completely amazed at how her outlook on her life changed. [...]
I had a conversation today with a couple of my young friends and their mom. I asked them what grit was. Two 14 year olds and a 10 year old said they had no idea. The youngest picked up her phone and asked it “What’s a grit?” The phone showed her a box of [...]
I recently had an interesting conversation with a couple of my female friends who are successful professionals that work in male dominated fields within the military/government service. They are civilians, exceedingly intelligent and thoughtful, and have worked very hard to get to the level that they have. I asked each of them what they [...]
I received my second Covid vaccine yesterday, and I am a little out of sorts today. I’m not complaining really, my arm is sore and I’m feeling very tired. I fully recognize the gift of science and the ability to help our world return to normal, as well as the protection for my own [...]
It’s April... a year has gone by. An unprecedented, weird, scary, cautious year: four full seasons. A year ago international travel was closed to us (whether we travel or not, it feels restricting), we wear masks that hide our smiles, schools are online, we can’t eat out or go shopping without worrying, we don’t [...]
Our nonprofit, A Beautiful Me, empowers girls with life-giving messages about their self-worth and tools to build their confidence. In our emerge360 teen program, we train girls in business and philanthropy skills at our social enterprise retail store, The Closet by A Beautiful Me, in downtown Port Huron, Michigan. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced [...]
Our nonprofit, A Beautiful Me, empowers girls with life-giving messages about their self-worth and tools to build their confidence. We primarily work with girls through workshops and assemblies in schools and at our social enterprise retail store, The Closet by A Beautiful Me, in downtown Port Huron, Michigan. When the pandemic closed schools and [...]
