Life Challenges
Reflections and poetry inspired by life’s many challenges with some articles about how to navigate through difficulties with hope and grace.
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The Sacred Dance: When Rebellion Meets True Strength
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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Spiritual Aging: Beyond Doctor Visits and Exercise Plans
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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Aged to Perfection: Finding Freedom from the Perfectionism Trap
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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The Sound of Silence: Reflections on What Lies Beyond Death
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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Wisdom from Dekker
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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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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Dekker speaks
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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Dekker responds to humans…and dogs
What follows is a bit of canine wisdom from Dekker, the service dog. Dekker considers questions sent to him by both humans and their pets, giving his wisdom...
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Dekker Writes
I invite you to pretend for a moment that you see paw prints, a bit of drool and some kibble crumbs on this page. Such is life when…
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Growing Old for the Fun of It
I often say “I am growing old for the fun of it,” but the other day I stumbled stepping off a curb and I an image of myself…
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What holds you back from living a full life?
What is it that holds us back from living the fullest life possible as we age? Most of life is about moving forward, achieving, acquiring and growing.
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Dekker Answers People Questions
Welcome to Dekker’s page of puppy-dog wisdom for humans who have questions. Better than a therapist, Dekker is always faithful in The Reflective Pen to hear you ...
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Being a Crone Isn’t a Career Choice
I never thought I would want to grow up to be a crone, but then I realized it isn't a career choice. Much like the body I live…
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Aging Gratefully
Are you aging gratefully? Growing older is a privilege that not everyone gets to experience. Some days I think my dog understands gratefulness and aging better than I...
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How to Overcome Journaling Resistance
A short reflection on the challenges of developing a practice in journaling and how to overcome journaling resistance
