Where My Heart Will Always Live

I'm having a difficult time trying to think of anything to say or find anything to post today.  I grew up in Connecticut and virtually my entire family was from New York and New Jersey and many still live in New England, specifically my immediate family.  So many beautiful childhood memories revolve around New Jersey - Asbury Park, Palisades Park, the bustling city streets that I never quite got used to during the many nights passing the time on park benches.  Many sad memories, too.  Good luck and recover well to everyone that has been hit, and much love to those in the Tri-State area where my heart will always live.

public domain image of an early Palisades Park postcard   

"...the adult American Negro female emerges a formidable character...."

"The fact that the adult American Negro female emerges a formidable character is often met with amazement, distaste and even belligerance. It is seldom accepted as an inevitable outcome of the struggle won by survivors, and deserves respect if not enthusiastic acceptance."
~ Maya Angelou

Photo by David Sim of "Bronze Woman" sculpture in Stockwell/U.K.

Think Just a Tiny Bit Differently

Been so busy lately, I barely have time to think, no less, write…and it is only going to get busier!  I decided recently that I had to work out a time budget.  To be honest, I had no time to even start that but I did manage to work out a few tips for myself.  I am thankful that my blog is set-up as a library so that all words of inspiration, not just mine, are more than welcome.  I love words and I love pondering those that come from a much different perspective than my own little corner of the world!  Working within my little time budget, I will add my own thoughts as often as possible but I will surely be working to find compassionate reflections to share with you all!  I consider it successful if one person just thinks, really thinks, about the world just a tiny bit differently.  How that happens, through my words or someone else’s words - not important!

morgueFile photo "taliesin"

“Whatever we are waiting for...."

“Whatever we are waiting for - peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance - it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.”  ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

morgueFile photo "vilhelm"

"If we are to survive...."

“If we are to survive, we must have ideas, vision, and courage. These things are rarely produced by committees. Everything that matters in our intellectual and moral life begins with an individual confronting his own mind and conscience in a room by himself.”
~ Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

morgueFile photo "chelle"

"Life is a culmination...."

“Life is a culmination of the past, an awareness of the present, an indication of a future beyond knowledge, the quality that gives a touch of divinity to matter.”
~ Charles Lindbergh

morgueFile photo "bosela"

"Let a new earth rise."

"Let a new earth rise. Let another world be born. Let a bloody peace be written in the sky. Let a second generation full of courage issue forth; let a people loving freedom come to growth."
~ Margaret Walker

NASA public domain image of Earth rise taken during lunar orbit by the crew of the Apollo 11 mission in July, 1969

Happy Anniversary, Focus on Insight!

One year ago today, I hit “publish” on my first blog entry and, viola, I became that most ethereal of people, a blogger.  Thankfully, the format of Focus on Insight, a library of compassionate reflections, gave me tons of flexibility regarding how I brought these reflections to you and the ability to pull pieces that spoke to me from anywhere and everywhere.  Never did I imagine that so much would be pulled from, well, parts of my brain.  During this year, I have managed to capture and organize so many of the random thoughts that have been floating through my mind for many years.  And when those thoughts were “on paper” I was able to move past them and just write about…whatever!  These days, I just sit down to write when I know it’s time and I barely question what appears.  Cathartic, definitely.

I wish to thank all of you who visit my blog – to faithful readers and to those stopping by for a random insight.  Thank you to those who have embraced my phocusFree Photo collection and my start-up non-profit, Women on the Edge Foundation!  I’m trying to give back, so share the love!

Thank you so much to the many amazing people that I have met through the Facebook groups that I was welcomed into by virtue of my being a Facebook inspiration page owner!  You are all incredible people!

I sincerely wish to thank my great friend from FB/Exploring the Amazing who opened up the floodgates and encouraged me to share my writing!

I toast you all!

FB/Focus on Insight cover photo remixed from a National Science Foundation public domain photo