Effort is Loving

Have you ever received something that had so much thought put into it, that the effort was more valuable than the thing? It’s why my grandmother kept this awkwardly shaped Alabama pottery I made as a 3rd grader for over 30 years and why looking at this orchid every day makes me so happy. It’sContinue reading “Effort is Loving”

Home is Different for Everyone

“A chaque oiseau, son nid est beau.” Translation “To every bird, its own nest is beautiful.” Little quotes you find in New Orleans years ago that earn meaning with gained perspective. I’ve been in hundreds, maybe even thousands of homes throughout my career. The one thing I’ve noticed in every price point is the amountContinue reading “Home is Different for Everyone”

Attentiveness: Hearing What’s Not Said

Do you think of people when they aren’t around and understand what they don’t say? When you’re connected to people, you should. What I mean by this is sometimes people say things without saying them because they’re afraid to admit they’re struggling and sometimes people pull back when they need you to lean in. SometimesContinue reading “Attentiveness: Hearing What’s Not Said”

No One Deserves Your Worst, Not Even You

That Marilyn Monroe quote “I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.” is garbage. The first part is true for everyone, butContinue reading “No One Deserves Your Worst, Not Even You”

Why Demand What You Can Request?

I was watching two little boys play yesterday, taking turns jumping off of a bench, and I hear “Get out of my way” from one to the other. Well, that wasn’t very nice. I called that little boy over and said, “Okay, I’m going to say the same thing to you in two different waysContinue reading “Why Demand What You Can Request?”

Not Everyone is a Pink Starburst

Not everyone is a pink Starburst. Sometimes people let us down and disappoint us. So, is it fair to actually BE let down? Because maybe the people we WANT to be the pink Starburst are nice yellow Starbursts – good but different. Still good! I’ve discovered at the ripe age of 29+? that it’s moreContinue reading “Not Everyone is a Pink Starburst”

Got Grit?

Who are you when things aren’t perfect? Our lives are filled daily with imperfect situations and relationships where God has given us this beautiful, unique ability to reevaluate and modify the way we manage. While we can’t control what’s happening TO us, we can certainly control our actions in response to imperfect circumstances surrounding us.Continue reading “Got Grit?”

If You Can’t Make it Better…

“Lord, if I can’t make it better, please help me to not make it worse.” is my favorite little prayer my grandmother, Betty White “BJ”, taught me and I quote it often because it’s so often relevant. She was a lot of things, but most importantly she was a helper. “What can I do toContinue reading “If You Can’t Make it Better…”

Don’t Make it Worse

All day I’d rather be the one getting hurt than the one doing the hurting because there’s something to be said for being the stone and not the stepper. Standing out doesn’t always mean being the loudest. Sometimes standing out just means standing up for what you know in your heart is good to doContinue reading “Don’t Make it Worse”