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Simple Wisdom – Because Life Can Be Complicated

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  • Life Challenges

    Is the Pound I Lost the Same I Gained? Finding Wisdom in Weight

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    woman looking at herself in a mirror, weight gained

    is the pound I lost the same one I gained back? And more importantly, what has this dance with the scale taught me about matters of weight, wisdom,…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges

    How to Be a Human Being

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    young man practicing the art of listening, being

     Have you ever noticed how exhausting it is to always be "doing"? Our calendars overflow with tasks, our minds race with to-do lists, and even our rest becomes…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    Dekker Speaks HIs MInd

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    Dekker

    Usually I introduce this blog post by introducing Dekker, a service dog with many special gifts—one of which is sharing his wisdom with humans. Today, I said I…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Aging,  Life Challenges

    Spiritual Reflections on Illness and Aging

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    aging and illness

    After avoiding the illness that changed the world, I finally experienced firsthand the effects of COVID-19 in my own body. Following are reflections on the gifts of that…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    Finding God Beyond Church

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

    What happens when we let go of religious 'shoulds' and find spirituality in places other than church?

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    The Death of To-Do Lists: Are Your Goals Killing Your Soul?

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    cup of coffee on a calendar listing goals

    Are your goals a source of unrest? Are to-do lists killing your soul even as you check little boxes and measure your steps, pounds, or bank balance?The Tyranny…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    Dekker-225

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    Welcome to Dekker’s monthly post, where he brings canine perspective and wisdom to questions people ask. Dekker is the service dog of the creator of this blog a…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Aging

    Beyond DNA: The Two Threads of Our Legacy 

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    a baby's tiny feet, beyond DNA

    When we think about what we pass on to our descendants, we usually think first of DNA. DNA is like nature's ultimate hand-me-down, passing along Aunt Betty's musical…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Aging,  Life Challenges

    LETTING GO OF THE WHEEL: A PATH TO PEACE

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    oak leaves falling, letting go

    The speedometer read zero, but my heart raced at sixty. Though temporary, that moment marked a profound change in my life. 

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth,  Uncategorized

    When Doubt Becomes Divine

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    man waiting in reflective practice, doubt and prayer - boredom

    Is spiritual doubt a crisis of faith or a doorway to more profound belief? For many aging believers, religious uncertainty becomes more common – and surprisingly more enriching.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    Dekker Opens His Heart to a Grieving Widower

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    Dekker

    Dekker, a service dog with many unique talents, responds to readers' questions with the wisdom he has become famous for. Today he responds to a man in grief...

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Aging,  Life Challenges

    When Saying ‘No’ Becomes A Prayer

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

    When Saying 'No' Becomes a PrayerI've come to believe that one of our most powerful prayers isn't found in ancient liturgies or morning devotions - it's in the…

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Aging,  Life Challenges

    The Sacred Dance: When Rebellion Meets True Strength

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    puppy beside chocolate told no christmas breakfast

     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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    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    When to Explore, When to Persist on Your Spiritual Path

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    woman on a high swing over a steep gorge experiences the feeling of vulnerability...explore or persist

    There are two approaches to a spiritual path. When to explore and when to persist are the challenging questions.

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    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges

    Spiritual Aging: Beyond Doctor Visits and Exercise Plans

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    how to wait, spiritual aging, illness

    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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    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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