Growing up in a rural Mississippi town, in the early 1960s, I had no concept of "stranger-danger". Kids played outside all day with their only parental admonition being, "you'd better be in this house when the street lights come on!" My brothers and I were part of a street pack of kids who spent each … Continue reading Sweetie-Pie
The Hypocrite
Here I am again: this is me...the Pot calling out the Kettle. Last week I wrote about loving yourself; accepting yourself; making time for the things that bring you joy. I write those things because self-care is such an important concept for those in the helping profession. Without it, we crash and burn. We leave … Continue reading The Hypocrite
Resolute
Yesterday was the day. The day for introspection. On January 1st, we take a critical look at our experiences spanning the preceding 12 months. Judge and jury, we weigh the good along with the bad and all too often our focus falls on the bad... We gained weight. We didn't exercise like we should have. … Continue reading Resolute
The boy in the Basement
Unpublished (c) A. Lacy 2019 I have been working on a novel for a few years. As an exercise in returning to what I love, I have picked it up again. Instead of telling myself I had no time, I am making time for something that I love, which is writing. I've included an excerpt … Continue reading The boy in the Basement
Being Thankful is not Enough
November sped by like a bullet train. I have been so busy; caught up in the hampster wheel of my career and my personal life that I blinked and almost missed it. And now...Thanksgiving is in a few days. The beginning of the holiday season that brings such joy to some and such loneliness for … Continue reading Being Thankful is not Enough
Blinding Yourself
Discovering the Greek tragedies in high school, I enjoyed the intense emotionally charged storylines. The story of Oedipus particularly intrigued me. Although warned that his path would lead to tragedy, Oedipus, blinded by his own hubris, ignored the warnings and proceeded on his ill- fated journey. When he later realized that his figurative blindness led … Continue reading Blinding Yourself
Dangerous Opportunity
When written in Chinese, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters. One represents danger, and the other represents opportunity. John F. Kennedy. We all face crisis: in our career, in our personal life, in relationships. Crisis can seem debilitating at times. And for some, it is. In the throngs of crisis, we experience those … Continue reading Dangerous Opportunity
The Better to Hear You…
We all know the story of Red Riding Hood and her encounter with the Big Bad Wolf posing as her grandmother. "Why Grandma, what big ears you have". "The better to hear you with, my dear". Big Bad, salivating at the thought of this sweet snack before him, knew the best way to convince her … Continue reading The Better to Hear You…
Connor Riley
Being an only child had advantages and disadvantages for my daughter. In the plus column, she thrived with the singular attention and focus she received from me. With my hectic, unpredictable schedule as a child welfare worker, I didnt have to divide what little family time I had with other children. She was my world. … Continue reading Connor Riley
The Great Divide
I was looking forward to connecting with and reestablishing some very old ties. An event had been planned that would allow me to see people I had not seen in 30 years. I excitedly planned for the trip, only to find out it had been cancelled. Death in the family? No. Weather issues? No. It … Continue reading The Great Divide
Water for Camels 