The Spiritual Practices of a Lapsed Protestant

It’s 6:30 a.m., and I have just left my “holy corner,” where I sit alone every morning for an hour or two. The early morning is for me a sacred time, what the Celts call a “thin place,” where the gap between the sacred and the secular is very narrow. T… Continue reading

‘Women-Only’ Trips Represent a Growing Travel Trend

“Girlfriend Getaways” to spas, all-inclusive resorts or gambling meccas have long appealed to women who enjoy traveling with female friends and family members. More recently, though, groups of women are heading out to ride horses in Mongolia, learn bur… Continue reading

Winter Reading Picks to Intrigue and Inspire

A book. That’s the answer, whether the question is what makes a great holiday gift or what will see you through a chilly winter weekend.  Or maybe the answer is plural: Books. “In winter, I jump into bigger books like Richard Powers’ The Overstory, say… Continue reading

Lessons in Bravery From a Dog and Her Owner

Doris pulls me ahead; I trot to keep up. Her tail is sailing, as if atop a mast. I take this as a sign that my 1-1/2 year-old Terrier/Jack Russell mix is happy and brave. Well, slightly braver than she was three months ago when I adopted her from a she… Continue reading

Painting a Picture With Words

Students in the Visual Memoir class at Pillsbury House and Theatre in Minneapolis come prepared with a starting point for the art projects they will be creating: their own words. The class is part of Pillsbury’s Centerstage creative writing program for… Continue reading

‘Tis the Season to Show Kindness to Lonely Adults

Four years ago, Galina Zuckerman and her family were looking for a volunteer activity they could do together over the holidays when visiting their daughter at college. They ended up volunteering with HANDS, an organization that provides meals and gift … Continue reading

Marjorie Johnson’s Recipe for Longevity

In honor of her most recent birthday, Marjorie Johnson was serenaded by a Grammy Award-winning singer and an Emmy award-winning comedian on a national TV show. It wasn’t just any birthday for Johnson, a champion baker who’s earned more than 3,000 ribbo… Continue reading

Ways to Be Grateful Every Day

Thanksgiving is the day meant to serve as a reminder to be thankful for everything we have and to be grateful to the individuals who bring love, friendship and fulfillment to our lives. Kristi Nelson, the executive director of A Network for Grateful Li… Continue reading

6 Ways to Deal With Sentimental Items When Decluttering

Organizing. and getting rid of, extra belongings can make it easier to downsize, clean a home and entertain guests. But what should be done with a stack of boxes containing memorabilia stashed in a closet? Or a basement filled with items that represent… Continue reading

My Mom’s D-E-V-O-T-I-O-N to Crossword Puzzles

There are constants in life. Like the seven days of the week or the bright green flowers on the wallpaper in my mom’s kitchen or my mom herself, who insisted on correcting my sisters’ and my spelling errors on our letters home from summer camp. She’d i… Continue reading