Pondering Blog exploring lessons from life’s teachers

20 Breaths
Janet Howard Janet Howard

20 Breaths

I gently pushed off into the darkness - slowly frog-stroking away from shore,

stretching my arms and legs and moving through the darkness into the unknown,

now an ocean creature, through the cold, healing liquid.

for ten counts out

turning,

and ten counts back.

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Lessons From Falling Down
Janet Howard Janet Howard

Lessons From Falling Down

Lessons from falling down. Sometimes in life — we fall. It can’t always be avoided. We can notice the conditions, give ourselves a warning and fall.

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Lessons from Food Services in Assisted Living
Janet Howard Janet Howard

Lessons from Food Services in Assisted Living

I didn’t know I would learn the names of so many people, get to know them - learn about their kids, their career, their life partners and the nicknames that their partner called them - like Honey Bun. Once when I called someone that - she told me that her deceased husband called her that - so we started calling each other Honey Bun.

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Welcome to Rosehip26
Janet Howard Janet Howard

Welcome to Rosehip26

I used to feel burdened by my imperfections – my mistakes -- my pain -- my shoulders sore, my brow worried.  I was weighted by stones in my pockets.  But over time, I’ve dropped those stones one by one.   They sit by streams, under a fern and on a window sill.   I still have one or two in my pocket and in my palm - for comfort.  To hold onto.

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