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Simple Wisdom – Because Life Can Be Complicated

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  • Aging,  Life Challenges

    The Sacred Dance: When Rebellion Meets True Strength

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    puppy beside chocolate told no christmas breakfast

     The Moment of ChangeI was seventy-four when I finally said 'no' to hosting Christmas breakfast. The year before, our family tradition of stockings and breakfast ...

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    When to Explore, When to Persist on Your Spiritual Path

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    woman on a high swing over a steep gorge experiences the feeling of vulnerability...explore or persist

    There are two approaches to a spiritual path. When to explore and when to persist are the challenging questions.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges

    Spiritual Aging: Beyond Doctor Visits and Exercise Plans

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    how to wait, spiritual aging, illness

    A reader recently asked why we seem to focus more on physical issues as we age than the spiritual ones. When my friend Sarah turned 75, her calendar…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Aging,  Life Challenges

     Aged to Perfection: Finding Freedom from the Perfectionism Trap

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    A monkey tries to answer questions by looking in a mirror..aged to perfection

    perfectioHow many things in your life say "aged to perfection" on the label? I can think of both wine and cheese that fit this category, but I have…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Uncategorized

      Finding Fun in the Process of Aging

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    aging woman in wheelchair, grace

    Are you having fun in this process we call aging? Not just finding ways to have fun despite growing older, but discovering joy in the actual journey of…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Aging,  Life Challenges,  Spiritual Growth

    The Sound of Silence: Reflections on What Lies Beyond Death

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    Woman with questioning face wonders about sound of silence. mind reading

    Have you ever experienced a moment so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat? When my father passed away, I discovered a special kind of silence in his…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    Wisdom from Dekker

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    Dekker, service dog posing on granite slab

    Welcome to Dekker’s canine counsel for issues that plague people…but not often other dogs. Why is that? We may never know, but listening to our furry companions can…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges

    Temptation or Motivation?

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    cookies in hand - temptation or motivation?

    Are temptation and motivation the same thing? How might they differ? Does it matter? As I made a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies the other day....

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    A Retreat That Became a Pilgrimage

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    Searsport library

    Have you ever longed for a retreat but found yourself facing obstacles at every turn? What if the perfect retreat setting was hiding in plain sight, nestled within…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    What is Your Spiritual APGAR score?

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    baby crying APGAR SCORE

    Do you know what your spiritual APGAR score is? Is it possible to determine how fully alive you are spiritually in the same way babies are evaluated at…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    Dekker speaks

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    Ardis sits facing Dekker to listen to his wisdom

    If this is your first time visiting The Reflective Pen, you may not have heard about Dekker. He is my service dog who, during the pandemic, when there…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

     Embracing Mystery: Beyond Labels in Spiritual Connection

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    sculpture labels for name of God

    Why move beyond labels to find a name for God? Here we look at some of the well known names for God and learn why sometimes it is…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Creativity

    Memoir Writing: Can You Bury the Past and Tell Your Story?

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    writing memoir

    The question, “Can you bury the past?’ surfaced as I contemplated whether to resume work writing a memoir that had been gathering dust for a couple of years.The…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    The Art of Waiting-A Spiritual Practice

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    man waiting in reflective practice, doubt and prayer - boredom

    Waiting can be more than foot tapping and annoyance. Waiting is an opportunity to nourish the soul and strengthen us for what is ahead.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    Passion or Calling?

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    Is this tabby cat thinking about meaning and purpose or passion and calling? or aging

    Is it passion or calling that drives us forward with the choices we make in life? This article explores the differences and similarities.

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    Ardis Mayo
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Recent posts

  • dekker sleepinigWisdom from Dekker
    Dekker, Life Challenges
  • clasped hands, lonlinessLoneliness and Aging
    Aging, Life Challenges
  • two white haired aging ladies on a bench discussing the meaning and purpose of growing old, memoryThe Body Remembers
    Aging, Life Challenges
  • woman journaling to-do list and goalsJournaling as a Path
    Creativity, Life Challenges
  • Dekker, service dog posing on granite slabWisdom from Dekker in Autumn
    Dekker, Life Challenges

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