We all make mistakes.

That’s a given. It’s what we

do next that shapes our

living. Do we lie, deny,

or justify? Can

we look the truth in the eye

and begin to rectify?

                                                                          JDG

Today I gladly

retreat to the cool confines

of home though the dogs

protest that it can’t be called 

a walk if it’s just

to the end of the driveway 

and back. I beg to differ.

                                                                            JDG

Just for fun, I write.

Playing with images, words,

and ideas gives

me pleasure and if reading

them gives you pleasure 

too, it’s like drinking the same

very good glass of wine twice.

                                                                              JDG

I had just started

running through my well-thought-out

points when she looked at

me and asked, “What part of ‘yes’

don’t you understand?”

All my carefully chosen

words had no need to

be spoken and I confess

I felt a certain sense of loss.

                                                                                           JDG

Twice she’s found snake skins,

long and intact, and twice she’s

picked them up and placed

them in her room.  She, too, has

left behind old skins

as she grows into someone

 new. With a sigh, I do this too.

                                                                                       JDG

I know things have gone

too far when the messenger 

light on the car says

“Tighten gas cap,” and even

when I comply, it

won’t let it go, but keeps on

blinking its distrust at me.

                                                                                               JDG

Somewhere, maybe close,

someone cries, reaches out for

help or hides. Somewhere,

maybe close, someone giggles,

reaches out, invites

us to join the fun. To choose

one is not to say

no to the other. Our hearts

can hold sorrow and

delight in equal measure.

This truth, our minds can

come to know. Practice doesn’t

make life perfect, but 

it can soften our edges,

strengthen and lengthen our reach.

                                                                                   JDG

When we land ourselves

in a great big mess, what if

we grab the chance to

   learn the skill of the artful

reframe? We could come

to see great big messes as

 on-the-job training

in that much sought after strength –

anxiety management.

                                                                                            JDG

Start where you are. You’ve

gotten this far by step and

misstep. Maybe you

missed the boat and took the plane –

you arrived right here

just the same. Now the only

way forward starts from this spot.

                                                                                              JDG