Category Archives: flourishing tree

Taken for granted or taken with gratitude

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We’ve been having a conversation about Walmart and forgiveness the last few weeks, and I promise to come back to that topic when I have more to report.

But today, my thoughts are more occupied with the things I take for granted. My hands, for instance.

Yesterday while I was out running, I took a tumble on some loose gravel and ended up sliding along the asphalt for what seemed like an eternity – probably because it happened in slow motion. I sat up and saw the palm of my right hand covered in blood, asphalt crumbs and dirt, and felt pain along the left side of my body (shoulder, hand, hip, lower leg and foot).  Continue reading →

Forgiving Walmart

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If you had asked me back in February when I started this blog whether Walmart would be a hot topic on my blog someday, I would have laughed. But love the big-box store or hate it, you haven’t been shy about sharing your opinion.

To respond to Chris’ request to see some of the email and Facebook responses to last week’s post, I’m adding a sample here. I had meant to share the email I got from a close friend giving detailed advice to forgive Walmart. Her answer was the one that moved me the most. But not everyone encouraged breaking the ban. You’ll see that there’s a pretty sharp division:  Continue reading →

A tale of three Walmarts

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It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. … Oh, right. That’s been done already. Do you mind if I tell you about my day instead?

Thanks to those of you who commented on last week’s post about jealousy. At the end of that post, I asked for advice about whether to break a 14+ year ban of Walmart to buy Jerel Law’s new (first) book there. Walmart has exclusive rights to carry the book for 90 days, and I found out from Jerel’s blog that it may be April of next year before the book is available elsewhere.

Several of you who emailed me or posted a comment said I should forgive Walmart and go buy the book. So today, I drove to Walmart to break my ban. I left empty-handed.  Continue reading →

Defeating the green-eyed monster

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I promised in last week’s post to talk with you about jealousy today. But first, would you mind a quick update? Both twigs of the baby elm tree have already sprouted new leaves, and I’m hopeful the wire cage and the Irish Spring soap, along with the beginnings of some lovely fall weather, will all keep that little tree thriving.

Let’s take a look at where that little tree is growing:

^ The little tree is growing right there …
in the shadow of its much larger parent tree.

You really can’t even see the little tree, can you? It’s so small and easy to miss. If you get down to the tree’s level, here’s what you’ll see:  Continue reading →

Time for Irish Spring

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No … Ireland hasn’t relocated to the southern hemisphere. It’s just entering autumn at this time of year. But this week, I realized it was time …

What do you remember most about this soap’s commercials?

Now, before you get really worried, I do shower regularly, and I use a less pungent soap than Irish Spring. But do you know where Irish Spring can be quite useful? In the garden.  Continue reading →