“A republic, if you can keep it.” ~ Benjamin Franklin Birthdays are a good time for reflection. That’s why this week we’ve dedicated the front page of the Herald Times to reprinting the Declaration of Independence again. Why? Because I suspect that, much like many Christians have never read the[Read More…]

“The great thing about life — the most magnificent thing about being these sentient human beings — is that we have been given the power of choice.” ~ Bryant McGill One of the few benefits of being shoved up against the reality of mortality — our own or someone close to[Read More…]

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” ~ Alvin Toffler Journalism has often been referred to as “the first rough draft of history.” That implies several things: the story, when first written, is incomplete;[Read More…]

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson The preceding quote would ideally be read right before bed, or right[Read More…]

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” ~ Añais Nin According to pioneering family therapist Virginia Satir, there are more than 250 ways to do the dishes. I just finished playing dish Jenga — that advanced skill developed by people without automatic dishwashers that[Read More…]

“Life is a test and this world a place of trial. Always the problems — or it may be the same problem — will be presented to every generation in different forms.” ~ Winston Churchill Despite what we may hope for during our school years, test-taking doesn’t end once we finish[Read More…]

“Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us.” ~ Oscar Wilde There’s a theory among people who study near-death experiences (NDEs) that your entire life flashes before your eyes in a sort of “life review” at the end of physical life. Enough people have reported something along[Read More…]

Unlike being a Boomer or a Gen-Xer or a Millennial — categories assigned by birth year — anyone can find themselves part of the “Sandwich Generation.” It’s the place middle-aged adults land when they’re caring for children or grandchildren while also helping aging parents. Sometimes that care is financial —[Read More…]

The last two weeks I’ve spent more time talking to my parents, aunt, uncle, and long-time family friends than I have in years. All the predictable excuses for that — and a few unusual ones — are to blame. I’ve heard stories about my dad’s Army service at Fort Carson[Read More…]

Opportunity or community. What’s the difference? By definition, these concepts are fundamentally different, yet they often intermingle. Opportunity asks, What can I gain? What can I achieve? Community asks, Who am I with? Who do I belong to? One is inherently self-focused; the other is inherently other-focused. Nearly every decision[Read More…]

“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count; it’s the life in your years.”~ Unknown (often incorrectly attributed to Abraham Lincoln) Sometimes being an only child is great. This is not one of those times. I’m writing this from my mom’s hospital room in Rifle.[Read More…]

“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people.  It will keep you insane your whole life.” ~ Anne Lamott  I’ve long told myself that the week we have a “perfect” paper will be the week I quit, and just about every week I think I’ve nailed[Read More…]