Forgiving self is one of the hardest things I have ever done. Sure, forgiving others can be hard, too, depending on the situation - whether they meant to be hurtful or deceiving or whether they ask for forgiveness. But sometimes, we let too much time pass by, and those hurts build up. Sadly, the person …
A is for Absolution
One of the things I like most about confession in the Catholic church - and I honestly don't go as often as I should to appreciate its benefits more fully - is being reminded by someone whom I've just confessed to that I am forgiven. Sure, I'm supposed to know that I am already, especially …
Love: A Forgiving Heart
We are all human. We all make mistakes. We make goals and don't always achieve them. And we all share these things with every single other person on this earth whether they are our parent, child, sibling, friend, co-worker, or a stranger. Every day we get to make the choice to forgive ourselves and start …
Connectivity, Love & Meaning
Outdoor Christmas Tree display; December 2022. As I wrapped Christmas gifts on Friday and attended a Wreaths Across America event on Saturday, I considered what these two things have to do with life - in general and specifically. With each pull of the tape or string, I recalled many of the times I had wrapped …
Reading & Writing About Writing
It seems I'm always trying to narrow-down my writing focus. I see so many of my writer friends who focus on one genre of writing, and I get to thinking that maybe I should, as well. If you've been following me for some time now, you know that my writing topics are all over the …
Kindness in the Air
Okay, so on Friday, I had an eye doctor appointment in a neighboring town about an hour away from where I now live. One day before, I received a call from their office saying they hadn't received my referral authorization yet. This was news to me. So, I called my primary doctor in a "let's …
Giving the Gift of Love
Good news! I survived Thanksgiving without any food maladies. I couldn't be happier or more grateful. It was a quick holiday of family, food, and festivities --- and just like that we're heading from Thanksgiving toward Christmas. In doing this, I'm striving to hold onto that feeling of gratitude for all that I have and …
Slowing Down for a Much-needed Rest
Sammie-girl - always by my side. Sometimes what a person really needs is a good long rest. When life is always coming at you in one or another, well, a nap may be just what you need. I hear people say all the time, and I'm guilty of it too, I don't have time for …
When Food Dictates Your Life
When I said I'd be taking a few days off after my "Countdown to 60" Stories and 60th Birthday Post on Instagram, I had no idea I'd literally be off of social media for a few days. Thanks to my food allergies for that! Of course, hubs likes to think it's due to food poisoning, …
Virginia Alice Crawford 