Welcome to the month of hopeless romanticism and hapless heartbreak. The retail world blushes all shades of pink, red, and lavender in an urge to sell us passion in packages. Singles resent the reminders of their isolation. Couples stress over how to avoid disappointing their beloved ones. Moms sigh over…
The smoke settles across our fire-scorched battlefield. Beside us, the mud groans as it swallows the two severed dragon heads of distorted identity. The dragon's sister also decays on this field. Misplaced authority oozes its last bit of stench into the distant wind. The paved road glimmers with fresh dew…
On a day meant to celebrate the heart, we're encouraged to purchase gifts as the key to true love. To embrace lovers, family, or to better love ourselves, the media insists we must buy just the right ticket to harmony. Culture gluts our media with advertisements for the best ways…
Valentines Day looms on the calendar next week. Some look forward to lavishing romantic gifts or excursions on their dear love. Those without an amorous partner might share hugs with family or friends. Others will eschew the red and pink holiday and escape by viewing action, horror, or sci-fi films. With…
We now focus our balanced living series upon the issue central to our hearts: relationships. In today's culture of incessant overwhelm, we're under pressure to work harder and prove our significance. We hear countless tips on how to strive for accomplishments while many of us remain at a loss for how to…
Chocolates bulge from store shelves this month. Sale ads urge us to procure these sweet pounds to show our love ... or adopt as our own. After all, who would leave a lonely velvet heart to languish in the clearance bin next week? The pressure to sprinkle sugar, flower petals,…
The ballerina pirouettes until stilled in her partner's embrace. With his support, she leaps toward heaven and floats to the stage. As the curtain swings to a close, she rushes in front of her partner to blow kisses at her fans. The audience acclaims her as graceful, flinging roses at her…
My employee twisted the phone receiver away from her ear. From three feet away, I heard the machine-gun sounds of our area supervisor's voice. After the call ended, I patted the case worker's shoulder. "I'll talk to her." For the past three months, I had started each work day by convincing…
I glared into the back yard. The canine intruder was striking again. Our cats mewed, begging to get into the screened porch. They couldn't stand up to the jaws and bark of the neighbor’s Labrador. It was up to me to challenge this black evil that pillaged our grassy space.…
As mentioned in my post a few weeks ago, connections with life-giving people serve an important role in maintaining healthy personal energy. While some develop relationships with ease, others struggle to develop or maintain them. The difference might seem inborn, but the factors of a friend-attracting personality can actually be cultivated. If you'd…