The Reflective Pen

Simple Wisdom – Because Life Can Be Complicated

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  • Spiritual Growth

    WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT FEELING VULNERABLE?

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    man in tears

    Vulnerability helps us open the door to new connections. If only for a moment, we let our guard down and engage with people on another level.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL WORK OF GRATITUDE?

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    woman lifting arms in gratitude

    Why gratitude is a spiritual practice in which we include both memorable events and things that are painful.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    MORE ADVICE FROM DEKKER

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    Dekker

    Dekker is a British black lab whose gifts for giving advice emerged when he sat around every day with the restrictions of the pandemic. He was born to…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges

    WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRAIN FOG

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    intruder

    Here is what you need to know about Brain Fog if you are concerned about cooudy thinking, memory loss or difficulty sleeping.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Aging

    HOW DO YOU DEFINE GROWING OLD?

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    dictionaary

    The definition of 'aging' depends on a lot more things than one's chronological age and how we define it can influence how we live it.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    3 WAYS TO FIND JOY IN THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE

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    a child finds joy in the journey

    Here are three ways to find joy when life seems to be crashing around you and you are in danger of losing hope.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    SIMPLE WISDOM FOR PEOPLE IN DISTRESS

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    Dekker

    Dekker has advice for people on a number of issues, including broken New year's resolutions.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Creativity

    IF YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER, WHY NOT WRITE

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    Woman under stress chews on a pencil

    When you write, why do you write? Is it a life-long passion? A professional obligation? Or do you resist writing because, after all, you are not "a writer?"…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Creativity

    LOST AND FOUND – A CAT TALE

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    An outcast—neglected, homeless and starving— she sat waiting, eyes alert to the feeder where perched the possibility of breakfast on a cold March day. 

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges

    3 SIMPLE WAYS TO MANAGE STRESS

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    a stressed out dog with his chin on the floor, growing older, aging

    When confronted by a stressful event it helps to know three simple ways to manage the accompanying feelings.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Creativity

    HOW TO LET A WALK IN THE FOREST INSPIRE YOUR WRITING

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    City Forest stream

    Taking a walk through the forest is one of the best ways to inspire your writing, regardless of subject matter.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    DEKKER’S ADVICE ABOUT PEOPLE PROBLEMS

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    Dekker standing up on fence

    Dekker listens to a lot of 'people problems' and offers his best advice from his perspective as a service dog.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    ALL ABOUT DEKKER, THE SERVICE DOG

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    Dekker, service dog posing on granite slab

    Dekker, a NEADS-trained service dog "tells" about his training to become a world class dog who helps someone with a disability.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Creativity

    ON THE IMPORTANCE OF WRITING

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    levenger fountain pen

    The importance of writing surpasses our objections to the reasons we do not write and motivates more creativity with every word.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    HOW TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS

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    A dachshund using willpower to carry a stick much bigger than he is

    Accomplishing goals is not only about to-do lists and calendars. Having the right mindset and slowing down are equally important.

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    Ardis Mayo
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Recent posts

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  • dekker sleepinig, during illness, retirement retirementDekker Reflects on Retirement
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