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Memoir Writing: Can You Bury the Past and Tell Your Story?
The question, “Can you bury the past?’ surfaced as I contemplated whether to resume work writing a memoir that had been gathering dust for a couple of years.The…
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Aging and Writing
Is writing something that you have wanted to do, but find that the older you get, the more reasons you can come up with for not doing so?
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HOW TO LET A WALK IN THE FOREST INSPIRE YOUR WRITING
Taking a walk through the forest is one of the best ways to inspire your writing, regardless of subject matter.
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ON THE IMPORTANCE OF WRITING
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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Dekker-225
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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Beyond DNA: The Two Threads of Our Legacy
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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When Doubt Becomes Divine
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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Dekker Opens His Heart to a Grieving Widower
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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When Saying ‘No’ Becomes A Prayer
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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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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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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A Retreat That Became a Pilgrimage
Have you ever longed for a retreat but found yourself facing obstacles at every turn? What if the perfect retreat setting was hiding in plain sight, nestled within…
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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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Embracing Mystery: Beyond Labels in Spiritual Connection
Why move beyond labels to find a name for God? Here we look at some of the well known names for God and learn why sometimes it is…
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The Art of Waiting-A Spiritual Practice
Waiting can be more than foot tapping and annoyance. Waiting is an opportunity to nourish the soul and strengthen us for what is ahead.