Gandhi, one of my often-mentioned heroes, is an encouraging example in part because of his rough start. Prior to peacefully running the British out of India, he was a lawyer who was too cowed to speak up in court. He lost case after case. “He was a total failure,” writes Paul Rogat Loeb in an […] Read More

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Just passed a thousand posts on Friday without even knowing it. That would be about three novels in length. Though, I must say my novels are more considered than my posts. Still, it does make me think. A thousand! Damn! Will have to cook up an appropriate celebration. Add to del.icio.us - Stumble It! - Subscribe to this feed - Digg […] Read More

Yesterday afternoon my writing group was called off, and instead of rushing back to my laptop, I went home and hit the garden. Hit is the operative word. I did some serious pruning. For me, this is a bold move. My general gardening philosophy is: if a thing wants to grow, I let it grow. […] Read More

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor Satanshudders and says, “Oh no, she’s awake.”– unknown (Mamie can be found at Can I Do It?) Add to del.icio.us - Stumble It! - Subscribe to this feed - Digg it Read More

I find growing older, I’m increasingly bolderAnd increasingly hard to subdue!– author unknown Contributed by quote maven Mamie of Can I Do It? Add to del.icio.us - Stumble It! - Subscribe to this feed - Digg it Read More

Got me a new agent and I’m really happy with her. This is always a great moment in a writer’s life. So I’m celebrating. And Husband Bob brought home hydrangeas. Add to del.icio.us - Stumble It! - Subscribe to this feed - Digg it Read More

“Talk does not cook rice.” -Chinese Proverb, quoted from productivity guru David Allen‘s latest newsletter. (His mantra is Getting Things Done or GTD.) I’m a great fan of talk myself. However, in most situations, the conversation (or the monologue) has to be followed by action for any “rice” to result. Rice, I now realize, is […] Read More

My sister-in-law Ruth Sheehan, a truly bold writer, is a columnist for the local News & Observer. She has often used that space to champion better treatment for the mentally ill. Recently she started a column saying: “It took a lot of guts to write this book.” Which would have gotten my attention even if […] Read More

Made a recent personal discovery: I have more courage in the morning. I don’t mean the arduous moments of struggling to wake up, but instead after I get rolling. Then the world feels new, or newish, and I’m out in it. Fatigue, on the other hand, does not make me bold. And that’s probably just […] Read More