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What is the Purpose of Living?
"What is the purpose of living" is a question that arises several times across the lifespan and sometimes the answer is quite simple as illustratedd in the life…
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Dekker, a Dog who writes an advice column
Dekker is a service dog who loves to write, or more correctly, dictate advice to humans (and sometimes cats and other animals).
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Manifesto – TheReflectivePen – Part three, More goals
This is the third and final part of the Manifesto of TheReflectivePen - Goals numbered 6-11 with a summary of all eleven goals for writing this blog at…
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A Manifesto – TheReflectivePen – Part Two
Part two of a three-part Manifesto of TheReflectivePen is the first half of a list of goals that guide the writing on this blog.
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A Manifesto of TheReflectivePen Part One
Genesis The genesis of TheReflectivePen is a tale of collective failures and successful adventures in both writing and technology in a search for meaning and…
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Dekker Answers a Question about Adopted Pets
Dekker is a service dog who offers advice to readers of TheReflectivePen. In this post he responds to questions about 'pandemic pets', as well as questions about death…
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How to Forgive Yourself When You Make Mistakes
How do I forgive myself? ‘Going down the wrong road’ is a common expression for having made a poor choice. This happens. To forgive yourself is the challenge.…
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How Do You Return to Normal After a Huge Loss
Is it ever Possible to Return to Normal? What is normal when life has delivered a significant blow - divorce, death, pandemic, or job loss?
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Five Ways You Can Find the Sacred in the Ordinary
This summary of five ways to find the sacred in the ordinary is offered as examples of an infinite resource for anyone thirsty for wisdom and insight. Holding…
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Dekker – A Service Dog with Answers
Many people have asked me how Dekker ‘writes,’ sharing his wisdom every month in English. The only words that may seem legitimate from a dog are “Woof, woof”....Learning…
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Five Things to Know About Grief and Loss
When you lose a spouse there are a series of expected feelings and experiences ahead. Grief, loneliness, pain, laughter, and joy are only five but worth taking a…
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How To Begin Again When You Fail
"Always we begin again.” These are grounding words of St Benedict. Words that speak a gentle truth when we find ourselves up against a brick wall of failure.
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Five Ways to Stay Calm Without Losing Patience
Five ways to not lose your patience - 1. Slow down...2. Breathe...3. Make waiting a spiritual practice...4. Smile...5. go for a walk
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Learning to Sit Alone With Feelings
Learning to sit is a common Buddhist practice but for this author, the road to sitting was marked by an illness accompanied by cognitive loss that did not…
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Dekker, The Service Dog, Shares His Wisdom
Many people have asked me how Dekker ‘writes,’ sharing his wisdom every month in this blog. The only words that may seem legitimate from a dog are “Woof,…
