A lesson for the Prodigal Son’s older brother — Catholic guilt is real. As a child, island priests scared me into believing God was on His throne, holding a brimstone with my name on it and itching to use it. I heard about the loving, just God, but the angry, ready-to-strike-you-down-at-the-first-whiff-of-sin God was right up there with the Boogy…

And that is good news for you — He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. Luke 15: 16 My daughter had a friend she used to hang out with when she was younger. Early on in the relationship, parental styles clashed. …

You have what you need to literally do anything — I have always felt like the underdog. The wallflower destined to live life invisible. Unloved, untalented, unwanted. Boo hoo, sob, sob. Now that the pity party is over, I could not wait to share how my latest Aha moment is shaping my life and it is my hope that you…

A cautionary tale about people who only want to use you and what you can do about it — “I like going to lunch with them,” she whispered to her friend. “They always have money.” My daughter, who was walking a few steps ahead of the whispering girls, had overheard the comment. …

Do you have answers to these questions? — Perhaps the most mindful way to view the new year is not to hope for a better future, or to take inventory of the goals you want to hit. Rather, it may be better spent reflecting on why you hope for the things you hope for, or why you want…

I am a year older and hopefully wiser — It’s my birthday. As a year-end baby, I was never one to make a huge fuss but I do enjoy the well wishes. My kids love to see who could be the first to text birthday wishes. The girls won out, beating the boys by an hour. To be fair…

And other lies we tell ourselves — At first, I thought it was just 2 other people waiting for the bus. As I got closer, I could see they were deep in conversation. At least he was trying to communicate. She was using the perhaps-if-I-yell-louder-I-will-be-heard method. Yell, she did. I was learning things about her opinion that…

Can you see me now — My son was not able to pick me up after work. I would have missed his earlier text had I not realized that I left my phone on the desk at my job and had to run back to get it. …

Progress started when I stopped chasing results — I am an old dog who love learning new tricks. Life is far more interesting when one stays curious and stays interesting when one keeps mentally and physically active as well. I never saw myself as an action taker. …