Category Archives: personal reflections

Happy to be an only child

Posted on October 7, 2015 by stillalife

As an only child, I was surprised to read a recent Seattle Times article in which the writer urges parents who have only one child not to panic.  Apparently the prevailing fear in this era of hyper-parenting is that the … Continue reading →

Posted in personal reflections | 6 Comments

Pack light, gripe less

Posted on September 16, 2015 by stillalife

We recently returned from two weeks spent touring Portugal. The Rick Steves’ tour we were on involved white wine; a cork farm; cathedrals and medieval monasteries; ancient Roman cities; red wine; beautiful landscapes; Gothic, Renaissance, Romanesque, and Rococo architecture; walled … Continue reading →

Posted in personal reflections, travel | 2 Comments

A different kind of self-help

Posted on August 16, 2015 by stillalife

We live in a me, me, me world. Or as the Beatles said, “I me mine.” Often, when “the me” isn’t getting its way, isn’t losing weight, getting rich, finding true love, or gaining more confidence, it turns to self-improvement … Continue reading →

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Homage to dilettantes

Posted on August 6, 2015 by stillalife

Clearing out years of accumulated stuff is like shining a spotlight on your past.  As part of my current focus on de-cluttering, I have found all the evidence I need that I’ve been a lifelong dabbler. And I’m certain I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in arts and crafts, personal reflections | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

How much money do you need?

Posted on July 2, 2015 by stillalife

How much money do you need? Recently someone told me that twenty million dollars was the current number being tossed around in a local football player’s contract negotiations. If you earned twenty million over a course of a few years, … Continue reading →

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

How much is enough?

Posted on June 16, 2015 by stillalife

How much of anything is too little, how much is enough, and how much is too much?  It sounds like a question out of the story of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” But I’m not talking about the temperature of … Continue reading →

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

Want to become popular? Try plastic surgery

Posted on June 2, 2015 by stillalife

Last night, I dreamed that in one 48- hour period, I had acquired enough new creases in my face to add ten years to my appearance. Fortunately, when I awoke and ran to the mirror, I could only spot the … Continue reading →

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Can you love yourself too much? Ask Narcissus.

Posted on May 21, 2015 by stillalife

Remember Narcissus? In Greek mythology, he fell in love with his reflection in a pool of water, and died when he found he couldn’t grasp it. In the course of looking for trends in naming children (my last blog), I … Continue reading →

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“What’s in a Name?”

Posted on May 10, 2015 by stillalife

“What’s in a name?” asked Shakespeare’s Romeo. What prompted my research into this question was a story I heard from a Buddhist minister. When he became ordained, the first Buddhist name he chose combined two Japanese words, one meaning the … Continue reading →

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Collective memories and avoiding regrets

Posted on April 20, 2015 by stillalife

Psychologists say it’s important to stay connected to friends as we age. Recently, I figured out a good reason why. I reconnected with friends I knew starting in kindergarten. We spent three days at a cabin in the woods reminiscing … Continue reading →

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