The MinkieLife Journal:
Thoughtful Observations & Joyful Wisdom

When I launched this blog nine days ago, I knew I was flying somewhat blind. I worked hard to create something that I hoped would be useful and eventually profitable. Looking at what has happened in a week, I understand I need to do a better job of managing my expectations. Sometimes, even when I think I don't have expectations, a sense of disappointment usually signals I had strong ideas about a situation that were not met. Like now. I realize I was actually flying completel

Ten years ago, I wrote a children's book for a class I was taking at Bread Loaf. I had a great time creating the book; the toy characters took on a life of their own. I basically followed them around, capturing their antics with my camera. I heard their conversations clearly and managed to write them down. As part of the MinkieLife project, I am determined to bring my art and writing into the light. To that end, I have an appointment to meet with printers in the big city this

Like many of you, in the 1990s I found Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. When I first got sober, I was living in a Hell's Kitchen apartment I feared I would never make it out of alive. The apartment building was an exhausted, pre-war, former residential hotel, with a dumbwaiter in the front hallway through which residents used to get their meals sent up from the basement kitchen. It was rumored that Bob Hope lived there at one time. By the time I got there, whatever glamour t

It seems counterintuitive to believe anything positive could begin with a negative. I had no idea that the beginning of a life that fit me perfectly would stem from a difficult, but HONEST, decision. That first NO marked a departure from a long practice of taking on any work that came my way. The Importance of a No In 1993, Claudia Shear wrote and performed a play called, "Blown Sideways through Life." It was an exploration of her life through 64 jobs she had held. An informa

Dear Friends, Let me remind you that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. As such, it is important to maintain the perspective of a spiritual being even as you are having your human life. What does this look like? In terms of feelings, consider "having" your feelings rather than "being" your feelings. For example: "I feel sad" is very different from "I am sad." Avoid having feelings about your feelings. For example: "I feel stupid because I feel upset" I thi

When I first got sober, I remember feeling as if chunks of heavy, dried clay were falling off my face. I was coming out from behind a self-constructed protective barrier. Embracing recovery was a complete rebirth from the living death of active alcoholism and addiction. As I continue to grow and change in my life, there is always transformation going on. Recently, I lost my work teaching at a rural community college. As an instructor of English and Theatre, I delighted in cur