Category Archives: personal reflections

Time: a solution to the problem of procrastination

Posted on July 31, 2023 by stillalife

After deciding to write a blog about procrastination, I opened a New York Times article, “Why You Procrastinate,” that begins with, ‘If you’ve ever put off an important task by, say, alphabetizing your spice drawer…’ Alphabetizing your spice drawer? I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in health, humor, personal reflections | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Changing things up

Posted on June 30, 2023 by stillalife

After several years of staying close to home and establishing a Covid-induced weekly routine, what do you do when that regimen has become a rut, but spending time in clogged airports and tourist-choked cities doesn’t sound like fun? Three months … Continue reading →

Posted in Covid, inspiration, personal reflections, touring town | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Fitting In

Posted on May 13, 2023 by stillalife

Years ago, I worked at a community college in an offbeat part of town. A well-known duo, elderly Pansy and her son George, added to the quirky nature of the neighborhood. The couple, known everywhere, never went out without their … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, personal reflections, stress | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Using our senses for sanity

Posted on April 4, 2023 by stillalife

When my cat spots a rabbit in the backyard, he devotes his eyes, all his muscles, and every paw-step to his prey. My ability to pay attention is much less impressive than the cat’s. “Where did I put my glasses?” … Continue reading →

Posted in current events/themes, health, personal reflections | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

The age of distractions

Posted on April 18, 2022 by stillalife

Recently, I read that the average adult can stay on a mental track for eight seconds, whereas goldfish can stay on track for nine. (How does anyone know the mind of a goldfish?) Fishy story or not, a lot of … Continue reading →

Posted in current events/themes, personal reflections | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Notes from a former Yale student

Posted on March 15, 2022 by stillalife

This post is a continuation of the last one, in which I confessed to my foolishness in signing up for a ten-week course, “The Science of Happiness,” offered by Yale University.  Taking the course was an impulse decision, and like … Continue reading →

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New Year’s resolutions are to blame

Posted on January 31, 2022 by stillalife

After the holidays, I attended a Zoom class on how to keep a visual diary.  Not having kept a diary before, but having received dozens of notebooks as gifts in anticipation of a time I might keep one, I decided … Continue reading →

Posted in arts and crafts, luxury of time, personal reflections | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

2021 in the rear view mirror

Posted on December 16, 2021 by stillalife

I planned to write an end-of-year letter to friends, but gave up and decided to turn it into a blog. So, dear friends, 2021 was a year of missing pieces. No overseas trips, few social events, and no encounters with crowds.   … Continue reading →

Posted in Covid, humor, personal reflections | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Labyrinths

Posted on November 5, 2021 by stillalife

Blogging during a pandemic that sent us indoors in March 2020 and barely let us out until March 2021 has been a challenge. And in the months that followed, I’ve done little more than exercise, go to the grocery store, … Continue reading →

Posted in inspiration, memories, personal reflections | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

It’s not corn. It’s sorghum.

Posted on September 2, 2021 by stillalife

  Ever wanted to know more about sorghum*, besides wondering if it’s a dental disorder? I didn’t either, until I found some growing in my yard.  I’ll point out that my yard is located much closer to city skyscrapers than to … Continue reading →

Posted in personal reflections | Tagged | 8 Comments