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Simple Wisdom – Because Life Can Be Complicated

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  • BLOG
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  • Creativity

    Don’t Let It Disappear: The Importance of Family Stories

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    Storytelling is a fundamental part of the human experience, connecting us to our roots, sharing family stories across generations, and leaving a lasting legacy.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    Dekker and his “Pawnderings”

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    Dekker, service dog posing on granite slab

    Dekker is a British Black lab whose gifts for writing emerged during the pandemic when he had to stay home much of the time. If this is your…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    How to Adapt Spiritual Practices as We Age

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    Ardis Mayo, soul food, spirituality

    Explore how spirituality evolves with age in our deep dive into 'soul food' for the spirit. Uncover the role of traditions, nature, and personal growth paths in feeding…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges,  Spiritual Growth

    ARE YOU A DRIFTER OR A PILGRIM?

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    Woman on the beach, does she drift or is she on a pilgrimage? beyond church, lonliness?

    Most of my life I have been a drifter but not in the sense of a pilgrim who walks the Camino. My drifting has been both an inner…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    How to Have Gratitude When Life is Difficult

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    woman with outstretched arms seeks to satisfy her spiritual hunger

    Gratitude is a transformative gift. It turns what we fear and want to run away from into something we can embrace and hold with pride.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    Pawndering with Dekker

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    Welcome to the ‘pawnderings’ of Dekker, a middle aged canine who loves to share his wisdom…as long as there is a piece of kibble in return. As a…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges

    What Are You Afraid Of?

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    Whit cat with wide open eyes. She must have writer's block and fear

    If you have ever been afraid of anything, this is the article to read for it is a reminder that fear does not have to control your life.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    Living With a Service Dog

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    Dekker reciving a hug from Ardis Mayo

    Living with a service dog meant that I had to surrender my understanding of dogs as 'pets'. And I have had a number in my lifetime.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Aging

    The Problem of Ageism

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    An old lady wears a colorful red and yellow striped sobrero, perhaps to celebrate aging. Grace

    There is a problem that gets laughed at too often. It is called Ageism. Aging isn't the problem. How we disparage it is.Most people I talk to about…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges

    Why I Will Not Fight Illness

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    old lady who can claim agency lifting her hand to say stop, saying no

    Long ago, I decided not to fight illness anymore. I have more adventurous things to do that don’t leave much time or energy for fighting a battle. One…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    Dekker Pawnders Death

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    dekker sleepinig

    Woof woof…Welcome to “Dekker’s page”, a monthly assortment of human questions Dekker answers with the wisdom of a Black Lab of British descent. (When he isn't s ...

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    Do You Believe in God?

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    symbols of faith

    Do you believe in God? And do you practice that belief in some form of traditional religion? Or, like many, do you struggle with matters of faith?Let me…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Creativity,  Life Challenges

    Against The Grain

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    A black dog with a yellow cap

    It takes a lot of courage to live against the grain, to follow a different drummer than all your friends or buck the council of parents to “make…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges

    Thoughts on The Meaning of Soul Rest

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    A contemplative dog rests his chin on the sheets as he ponders the purpose of living. Old pet

    I got to thinking about rest this morning. Very early! It seems that for as much as I wanted sleep last night, the sandman was working elsewhere!So exactly…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    Dekker Wisdom and other Pawnderings

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    Dekker, the dog who has a lot of wisdom

    If you are a new reader of TheReflectivePen, this may be the first time you have met Dekker's and his Pawnderings. He is a service dog for the…

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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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