As I’ve stepped into a regular rhythm of writing, I’ve discovered the surroundings that help me enter into this creative process. First, I prefer to do my writing in the morning. I’m not necessarily a morning person, but I’ve found that if I don’t start early on, the writing will inevitably get delayed. Second, I […]
Last Thursday I had my monthly meeting with my spiritual director. I shared with her about the surprising experience of my birthday and how refreshing it was in light of this challenging year. As we continued to explore this past year the word that came to mind for me was “resignation.” So much of this […]
When I was little, following every birthday and Christmas my mom would sit me down in front of a stack of stationary (her supply seemed endless) and have me write the dreaded thank you note. As I got older, she wasn’t as demanding, but she would continue to check in on me until all notes […]
The other day I was sitting in a coffee house, doing some work. As I sat down, I saw a man and woman one table over. As I was not far from them I overheard bits of their conversation. Soon I came to the conclusion that they were on a date and from the sounds […]
Last April I attended Q LA, a gathering to discuss ideas for the common good. The event is structured similarly to TED, where each presentation is under 20 minutes. At Q, presenters speak for 18, 9 or 3 minutes. One of the talks I heard came from Jessica Rey on modesty. This past week, I’ve seen […]
At some point in my life I made a life altering choice. I decided that Much Ado About Nothing was my favorite play. Not just my favorite Shakespeare play mind you, but my favorite play. Ever. Now, it’s hard for me to make such a stark statement as that. I tend not to have one absolute favorite […]
Let me take a minute now to discuss bad profile photos. There was a time, not too long ago, when you took a photo, finished a roll of film, then took it to get developed. Sometimes you hit the jackpot and got some great shots. Other times, your roll was blurry and out of focus, […]
Yesterday was my birthday and it was not a day I was initially looking forward to. About a month ago, a couple of friends had asked me about my birthday plans and I almost burst into tears. This year has been continually changing, growing, moving, isolating, and, confusing. Much in my life has changed and […]
I finally was able to view “The Impossible,” a film that tells the story of a family who found themselves caught in the middle of the tsunami in Thailand back in 2005. While there have been mixed thoughts on the film, due largely to ignoring the impact of the tsunami on the Thai people and […]
I posted this blog a couple of years ago, but still resonate with the feelings I expressed at that point. Hope you survive this Monday – I know I woke up desiring a bit more sleep. Jen ………. I had the privilege of skyping with a dear friend today (so grateful for technology […]
My brother graduates from college on Saturday. And while words cannot fully express how proud I am, I will still attempt a few thoughts on my experience with him. Congratulations Andrew! I’m so glad I get to be your sister. Love, love, love you! You were born into chaos Yet brought joy An […]
Hi Friends, Jen here. I’m in the midst of a busy week, with my brother graduating from college and a full week at work. A friend of mine, John Doukas, has graciously accepted the task of writing a guest post for today. Besides being an avid music lover, John has faithfully walked with those who […]