I really admire the writing of Bill Kenower, Editor-in-Chief of “Author” online magazine, a product of the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association. He posts a daily blog and I’m always amazed at his ability to write so profoundly on such a demanding schedule. In one of his recent blogs entitled “BornContinue Reading
I heard a disturbing news story a few days ago. It told about how people who have been without a job for six months to a year are coming up against a new kind of employee discrimination—against the unemployed. Employer thinking apparently goes something like this: “What? It’s been thatContinue Reading
Let’s face it—following your inner voice doesn’t always translate immediately into joy and bliss. A lot of times it can make you feel downright uncomfortable. Taking action to pursue your calling will help you find meaning in life and bring you a deep sense of satisfaction, but it’s also likelyContinue Reading
Why do people get married? Our current divorce rate of about 50 percent in the United States predicts that one out of every two marriages will end in divorce. So what makes one couple think they can beat the odds? What makes them want to try? Asking yourself these questionsContinue Reading
The new movie African Cats, released a few weeks ago on Earth Day, follows the story of two families struggling to survive on the African savannah—one, an aged mother lion named Layla and her daughter; and two, a strong mother cheetah and her five cubs. There’s a lot to commendContinue Reading
Today was a good day. Why? Because after a couple days of being away, I spent two hours working on my novel. I had to travel over the weekend. The pace and requirements of my schedule made it near impossible to focus on writing, and during the few hours thatContinue Reading
If you’re like most of us, you have a naysayer in your head. You know the one—he’s always making you say things like “I just don’t have time,” and “I’m not very good at that,” and “That would never work,” and “I just don’t know how.” You’ve heard about himContinue Reading
I hear people all the time say the words, “I can’t.” I can’t leave my job right now, because I have too many bills. I can’t change my relationship, because he/she just won’t change anyway, and I can’t leave, because, well, we’ve been together too long and there are theContinue Reading
I just finished a performance tonight at an awards concert. I accompanied my French horn student, who was the winner of a scholarship competition. I was a little nervous, as it’s been a long time since I’ve played on stage. I’ve been a musician for decades, soloing in high schoolContinue Reading
When I was growing up, I loved to listen to Barry Manilow. Call me square. I probably was. One of my favorites was one of Barry’s greatest hits, “Copacabana.” It was the beat that first attracted me, but as I grew older, the story came to life in my imagination,Continue Reading