How do you know when you are trusting God’s timing and not your own? If hindsight were equal to foresight, the answer might come easily. But if I could see the future, there would be no need for faith—no need to rely on God. This Paradoxical Life often rattles my thinking and leaves me confused. …
Category: Flourishing
Be Like Fred
I am fully aware that my age is showing when I use quotes like “Show me the money!” and “You complete me” in class and none of the students have any idea that I’m referencing a sports movie. How can we discuss the route to becoming a sport agent if students are unfamiliar with Jerry …
Weaving Threads
Does anyone else have an unfinished project tucked away at home? Perhaps it was a venture into woodworking, sewing, scrapbooking, or painting—now sitting quietly, reminding you of the Habit of Resilience you didn’t quite embrace to finish what you started. As I placed Christmas decorations around the house this week, I stumbled upon a framed …
Not an Expert
Yazoo, Mississippi—If reading those words fails to bring to your mind a rich southern drawl sharing the stories of Marcel Ledbetter and coon hunting, then you did not have the same rich childhood that I did growing up in the 1970s. But guess what? You do not have to miss out, because you can Just …
Just Ask Google
Just Ask Google. Have you come across these advertisements yet? If not, guess what? You can google it! (Aren’t I funny? Insert sarcasm). Perhaps my initial reaction stems from the current pressure I am feeling to convince these precious young college students in front of me every day that they do indeed have something to …
Appreciative Examen
Are you a math person or a language person? Perhaps, like me, you might rate yourself somewhere in between, similar to what is described in a previous post about being a Lark, Owl or Third Bird. Providing information in a numerical format seems easier for me to remember, but words also matter. Ask me to …
Transplanted
One of the charming aspects of being an academic is that you are often surrounded by experts in a variety of fields and disciplines from healthcare to soil science! Like others on campus, I can be guilty of gushing about subjects I find intriguing, whether that involves the dimensions of wellness, Unreasonable Hospitality, or Appreciative …
Turn My Eyes
Do you happen to have a favorite song that the lyrics just speak to you, no matter what version or style that it happens to be performed in? Keep considering that song and I’d be truly delighted if you shared the title in the comments below or chose to share it with me personally in …
Misunderstood Introvert
Extraverts are given permission to skip this post, that is, unless you desire to authentically understand the introverts in your life. If you are unfamiliar with the terminology, which I believe is often Misunderstood, please take time to complete a quick online assessment of the MBTI to learn more. For the rest of us Misunderstood …
His Presence
How do you define the word flourishing? (I would truly be delighted if anyone would accept the challenge to share their personal definition in the comments below). But we are not the only ones to ponder the word’s meaning. Attempts to define what it means for a human to flourish at life existed long before …
Flourishing @ Life 