The Reflective Pen

Simple Wisdom – Because Life Can Be Complicated

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  • Aging

    How to claim agency in our old age

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

    How we claim agency and remain autonomous as we age is a matter of choice and something to be celebrated, regardless of disability or loss.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges,  Spiritual Growth

    How You Can Make Peace With Your Past

    /
    man with regrets was told he could make peace with your past

    Making peace with your past may include a number of rituals of surrender that help you get on, not only with today, but the future.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges,  Spiritual Growth

    How to feed your spirit when churches close

    /
    old church with closed doors

    As more and more places of worship close their doors, people are left to satisfy their spiritual hunger in new ways.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker,  Spiritual Growth

    Dekker answers several questions on faith

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    Dekker

    Dekker, the wise old service dog, answers questions about forgiveness, prayer, worship and faithfulness from a canine perspective.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    How to Learn the Art of Listening in a Noisy World

    /
    silouette of couple practicing art of listening to each other as they sit on a dock. Hard to do when the subject is death.

    The art of listening is really a skill that takes years of practice to learn, much like anything else in life.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    Slow vs fast. What is the best pace for living?

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    a tortoise with a slow pace for living

    When it comes to the best pace for living, is it better to go slow or fast? A look at the benefits of each pace in living the…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges,  Spiritual Growth

    How to Smile with the Challenge of Downsizing

    /
    large house with the challenge of downsizing

    With life changes comes an inevitable need to downsize, to eliminate a collection of a lifetime, and to control clutter. Here's one way to crack resistance and get…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Poetry,  Spiritual Growth

    When I Die

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    sunset over a cove

    "When I Die" is a poem that looks at the continuity of life in the event of death.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    Dekker responds to questions about God

    /
    Dekker has wisdom about God

    Dekker, a service dog whose wisdom is treasured by many people, turns to questions about the existence and nature of God with his perspective on prayers, heaven and…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Aging

    Is there a difference between aging and growing old?

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    old aging tree trunk

    Is there a distinction between aging and growing old? This brief article explores one difference.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges,  Spiritual Growth

    The Journey of Life from Womb to Grave

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    newborn on first journey of life

     We speak a lot about the journey of life, but do we ever think much about the process of travel from birth to death?  How do we get…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges,  Spiritual Growth

    How to Wait Without Losing Your Mind

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    how to wait, spiritual aging, illness

      How to wait for something, especially the unknown, challenges even the most patient of people. There is waiting…and then there is WAITING.  Waiting for a bus or…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker,  Life Challenges,  Spiritual Growth

    Dekker shares his wisdom

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    Dekker gives advice

    People write to Dekker for answers to everyday problems and to get his advice for living well despite challenges.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    What can you do when you fail?

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    man covering face wonders what to do when you fail

    How long does it take to fail? In the blink of an eye you may hit the delete button, crash a car or start a forest fire. Then…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Creativity,  Dekker

    Do you know what your pet is thinking?

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

    When you look into the big round eyes of your dog or cat, do you ever wonder what they are thinking? Here are some ways to find out.

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    Ardis Mayo
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Recent posts

  • 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
  • older man listening to bring comfort, memoryMemory as Both Gift and Grief
    Aging, Life Challenges
  • Walking away from religion
    Spiritual Growth
  • man who knows how to live fully lifts his arms to the sunsetFinding Sacred in Everyday Life
    Spiritual Growth

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