Winter Solstice
As a gardener, I feel most alive in nature, especially during the growing season. My least favorite time of year is late fall as plants die or settle in for the winter, as days get darker and temperatures colder, culminating with the winter solstice. I look forward to December 22, when the days start to lengthen and lighten, offering hope for Spring’s new growth. Advent is often described as a time of waiting, of expectations, of hope for the Savior’s birth—the beginning of a new life. As our family navigated my husband’s terminal illness and death, we experienced a different...
Read MoreIt’s all just stuff…
Two recent events have me to thinking about the stuff we accumulate in our modern lives: My daughter and son-in-law are moving almost half-way across the country. Their months-long journey to find a new house while preparing to sell their current house has involved letting go of stuff they won’t need, as well as defining what they will need in this next chapter of their lives. A few months ago, my husband was diagnosed with an illness that has upended our lives, requiring us to redefine what is important, and how to fill our days without knowing what the future will bring – spending time and...
Read MoreIntentional Acts of Kindness
The phrase “random acts of kindness” is often used to describe things that catch us off guard. After my husband was diagnosed with a serious illness, we received many acts of kindness, but they didn’t feel very random. That got me to thinking–what if acts of kindness are not random, but intentional? What if we’re just not fully paying attention to the kindness of others? Let’s start with the premise that kindness is being friendly, generous, or considerate. The word random suggests something done without conscious decision, while intention implies purpose or deliberation. Given those...
Read MoreMaking Connections in a Disconnected World
“Technology lets us connect and interact with ease, increasing our points of contact and giving us access to a wide world of information. This is a good thing. But one downside of our highly technical world is that we may miss out on fully experiencing the world around us. Engrossed in gadgets and information, we become reactive, responding only to what is in front of us… What is lost is full, three-dimensional conversation…the time to really hear a message and comprehend the emotion behind it; the patience to reflect on how to respond so the other person understands you; the thoughtfulness...
Read MoreSeize the Day!
My mother used to say “Bad things come in 3’s.” When something bad would happen, we’d prepare for two more things to come and then we would relax. Not so this month! In the last two weeks, my community of friends and family has experienced a lot of loss – seven deaths, plus our dear Pastor leaving for another church. In the midst of all this loss, I’ve discovered a great deal of love and caring: people reaching out to others with kindness and appreciation; words of remembrance and encouragement on social media; lots of hugs, tears and laughter. With so...
Read MoreDo you see me? Do I matter?
One of my favorite hobbies is people watching–at airports, in restaurants, in meetings, in stores, at parties–wherever people tend to gather. I watch to see how people interact with each other and the rest of the world. I watch them scurry about their over-scheduled lives. I watch which social media posts get the most attention-usually pictures and stories of children or pets or family celebrations. I watch people move through grief and joy, through beginnings and endings. As I’ve observed and listened, I’ve come to two conclusions: In a world full of increasing...
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Deb Hornell is a visionary whose personal brand of “Cultivating Environments for Growth” extends into her consulting practice, her family and friendships, and her book: "Good Things for a Full Life."
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