Category: Wednesday’s Wisdom

(Please remember if you are reading this on your phone it will be easier if you tap onto the heading picture.) Dear TSJ Friends ~ Making change is hard! And I am not talking about working at an automated cash register. It is hard for us to change our minds and our behaviors. Nearly everywhere I turn it seems people are horrendously busy, and unable to shift perspectives on problems and challenges. We get stuck in certain thought or reactive patterns of behavior. We often want to change. But how can we? Many anxious people almost hate themselves. They tell

Good Evening TSJ Friends! Today has been a full day so my blog letter is a bit late in the day! The tidbit of wisdom I wish to share is of both feeling blessed and being blessed. Let me explain. I am feeling happily blessed today.  I say “happily blessed” because while I am happy today, I believe that even on our less-than-happy days we are being blessed – though our blessings may go unnoticed or unrecognized. For me the word “blessed” connotes a divine quality that is part of God’s extravagant grace or favor toward His creation and creatures. This

Good Morning, TSJ “Peeps” ~ When I have toast in the morning I butter it well.  When I go to a restaurant and order toast I ask them to butter it freely from edge to edge (rather than that token dab in the middle). Honestly, can there be any other reason to eat toast? You guessed it, I desire more.  I like the trimmings.  Butter especially, but close on its heels follow peanut butter, jam and melted cheese.   But dry toast? Not my usual preference. Right now though I have been reminded of a greater truth.  Toast is good

Dear TSJ Friends, (If you are reading this on your mobile phone, remember to click on the pictoral heading for easier reading!)  I wonder if you ever heard parents or teachers say things like, “Don’t be too sure” or “I wouldn’t be so sure about that if I were you!”  If you did, I imagine it had a bit of a sarcastic tone designed to challenge your arrogance or ignorance. Rest assured today’s musing does not have that tone intended.  I am thinking of it as a “hook” for our brains to latch onto when we are prone to react negatively. We

Dear TSJ Friends, Do you have BSs in your life?  I sure do! When I began writing a blog I quickly discovered that when you expose your opinions, your stories, your heart and your hopes, it takes courage. Self revelation always takes courage if done with others, sometimes even when by yourself.  Sharing your truth, however, is one path to discovering your own BS (blind spots). And those are like the proverbial “elephant in the room.” Our spouses and friends can see them! But then, life itself takes courage to live full-out and freely with honesty, integrity, enthusiasm, recovery, loss,

Happy New Year to The Shared Journey Community! It is with great joy and gratitude that my fingers tap the keys on the computer to connect with our Shared Journey friends and readers today.  For Mr. John and myself this season of celebration was  delightful as we reconnected with family, with our own souls and with our friends. We are grateful we could find comfort in our memories of Mr. Tom. We also have found comfort  and peace from the shared joys of the season. It has been an amazing time of healing and renewal. Three years ago after Mr.

Dear TSJ Peeps, Today, Solomon and I dedicate this blog to our late “Mr. Tom.” Three years ago this week, and just a few days before “Mr. Tom” went to sing freely with all the saints and angels in heaven, he gently pulled my face down by his and said,   “Don’t stop spreading your message.” I asked, “What message?”  He answered,  “Your message is of Love. That is who you are, Margie. You can’t not do it. Use Solomon to help you.” So Inspired by him, and Brené Brown’s book Daring Greatly, as well as by John and many of you,