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All content on this blog is copyright protected.~ask permission to use my content (including re-blogging)Margaret Barry Settlement House
I am a perennial optimist
I Am Becoming the Me I Was Born To Be
As I journey through this part of my life I have discovered my next mountain. The key is to be the me I want to be in the world, as my gift back to God.-
Recent Posts
- The path less traveled
- Does a new year make you want to change?
- Begin Each Day With a Grateful Heart
- Good Wednesday to you
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- Pause with me
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was right
- I fell in love with the ocean
- H2O therapy
- Get out there …
- Stay in grace
- Sometimes You Just Have to Have Popcorn
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February 2023 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Archives
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Smiling Jesus: by Frances Hook
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Category Archives: Friendship
Begin Each Day With a Grateful Heart
I don’t know about you, but in my life I have always gleaned wisdom from those around me. My faith in God and my desire to live a life that He wants underlies it all. Sometimes i notice things i … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship, God, optimism
Tagged Faith, hope, teachers and friends, wisdom from elders
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I fell in love with the ocean
I grew up in Minnesota and Chicago. I loved the rivers and lakes. Beach time was precious. In my adult life I have lived within about an hour and 15 min from the ocean. Oh, boy, that is incredible. My … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship, God, Nature, stress
Tagged happy place, ocean, self-care
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Wait …. ok, let’s go
Monday night –> how are you doing? I am feeling grateful tonight. I am grateful for people who care and people who post things that remind me of the good and kind way of doing things….I have been on SO … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship, God
Tagged Faith, kindness, trust, walk each other home
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The need to feel at home
Roofs – by Joyce Kilmer ‘The road is wide and the stars are out and the breath of the night issweet,And this is the time when wanderlust should seize upon my feet.But I’m glad to turn from the open road and … Continue reading
Posted in Family Life and Issues, Friendship, God, Nature, stress, time management
Tagged de-stress, self-care
1 Comment
Unchartered territory for me: new mindfulness
Gosh it is Saturday already! Yesterday was my birthday… it was wonderful. If you missed my birthday post and want to see it, the link is right here. https://believeanyway.wordpress.com/2014/07/25/my-day-is-now-yup-its-my-birthday/ Oh how the years have flown by. It is likely that I … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship, God
Tagged birthday, Faith, Friendship, God
8 Comments
My day is now: yup it’s my birthday
Today I entered a brand new decade. I turned 60. Yep. Just like that, I left my 50s. This past decade was a time of questioning the meaning of my life and the paths I walked. There were so many changes. … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship, God, Positive Thinking
Tagged birthday, Faith, family, Friendship, God, Life, memories
25 Comments
Even a poor tailor is entitled to some happiness!
If you have seen “Fiddler on the Roof” you may recognize the title of this blog post as a line from the movie. It was said by Tevye’s oldest daughter Tseitel’s true love Motel (pronounced “mottle”)Kamzoil the tailor. Now why am … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship, God
Tagged acceptance, Faith, friends, hope, Joy, Love
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Are you wallowing today?
The thing is, at times we draw our meaning from our role(s) in life and from our associations. What do I mean by our associations? For example, from our immediate family we have ongoing connections. From our extended family we … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship, God, Positive Thinking
Tagged Faith, Friendship, God, hurt feelings, rejection
4 Comments
I was different; I still am
“I was motivated to be different in part because I was different.” –Donna Brazile I have always marched to my own drummer. You see, I notice trends and movements in the culture. I always have. As a kid, whenever I … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship
Tagged Faith, friends, Friendship, God
8 Comments
The precise moment when friendship is formed
I was thinking about friendship, and the many forms it takes. Then I stumbled upon this quote: “We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship
Tagged Friendship, Love, Ray Bradbury Malcolm Gladwell
2 Comments
Happy New Year! Open the book; turn the page
My very dear friend Pattie shared this photo on New Year’s Eve. She is one amazing and fabulous friend. I do not know what I would do without her. The photo inspired me to write this post. Yes, the pages … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship, Positive Thinking
Tagged Faith, Friendship, Life, New year
5 Comments
Thankfulness
As we zoom towards Thanksgiving Day, I find myself grateful for so much. I am thankful for my loved ones. I am thankful for my home, my job, my life. I am thankful for my students. “I thank Thee for … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship
Tagged compassion, Faith, Friendship, God, inspiration, Life, Thanksgiving
4 Comments
Life is connected it is not just disparate events
I tell my students that all of their school subjects are connected. Just because each one is taught in a different room does not mean they are truly separate. Events in our lives and stages of our lives can seem … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship, Scripture
Tagged Courage, Faith, Friendship, inspiration, Life
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Genesis 50:19-21 It applies this week
Are you suffering, have bad things happened? Are you afraid? Genesis 50:19-21 might help you.[ “But Joseph replied to them, ‘Have no fear. Can I take the place of God? Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it … Continue reading
A week bookended by cousins and one of my brothers
Today is my brother Mike’s birthday. To know him is to love him. He is one of those genuine guys that everyone loves. Why is that? He is loving, respectful and believes that there is no such thing as a … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship
Tagged family, friends, Love, Maggie Breckner, seasons of the heart, simplicity
3 Comments
Having a tough day?
Are you having a tough day or week? Do you feel worn out or care-worn? Ah, put your feet up now, and take a deep breath. Yes, I know that doesn’t fix anything. The difficulties and challenges in your life … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship, Positive Thinking
Tagged discouragement, marmoset, stress
4 Comments
How do you want to be remembered?
We create impressions and memories by how we live our lives. How do you hope to be remembered? Perhaps I am thinking about that today, because of the multiple “reunions” I have attended lately. You know how those things go. … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship
Tagged Faith, Friendship, God, inspiration, Life, ocean
3 Comments
Reunions and reconnecting are like returning to beloved books
In a social media world, much of our lives have become like text messages and twitters. Our communications are shortened, our time together in face-to-face encounters is brief. This has been the case for awhile now. Letters and long Sunday … Continue reading
Posted in communication, Friendship, social media
Tagged friends as books, Friendship, Life, reunions
10 Comments
Two extraordinary friends
My magical weekend continued on Sunday. I went to Mass and brunch with some dear, dear old friends (Andi and Jerry). We have been friends since my freshman year of college. For a brief, magical time we ended up in … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship
Tagged Courage, Faith, Friendship, hope, reunions
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Throughout my days: I am an etch-a-sketch
Are there things that you “just know” in your heart of hearts? For instance, even if you are in the depths of despair do you somehow know that you are not alone; that you are loved? I eventually remember that … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship
Tagged etch-a-sketch, Faith, Friendship
8 Comments
I will stand my ground and I won’t back down
Somewhere along the line, I never heard Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers songs. That is, until 9/11. His song “I won’t back down” became a bit of an anthem for many people. It spoke to their gut about defending what … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship
Tagged family, friends
8 Comments
In an electronic age- build community and teach the world to sing
I started this blog a little over two years ago. I started it because a dear friend (Dana) recommended that I do so. She knows that I have always loved to write. I loved it from the time I was … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship
Tagged blogging, community, Friendship, hope, Optimism
9 Comments
Soul mates
“A soul mate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step out and we can be completely and honestly who … Continue reading
How did you pick your major or career path?
When did you know what you wanted to study or what you wanted to do? For most of us it has changed or evolved over the years. When I was in high school there were specific teachers I bonded with. … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship
18 Comments
Believe Anyway 