by Beth Lueders | Apr 15, 2021 | Blog Post, Perspective
Roses and thorns are the beauty and the barbs. The two are inseparable like peanut butter and jelly and salt and pepper. I am a rose fan but not a thorn fan. Who is a thorn fan, really? One of my long-held traditions is watching the Tournament of Roses Parade every...
by Beth Lueders | Apr 9, 2021 | Blog Post, Perspective
Your laugh life. Hmmm . . . how’s that going for you lately? Could your funny bone use an extra dose of calcium and comedy? I get that. COVID has certainly squelched our giggles and dumped unwanted gloom everywhere we look. But fear not! Laughter and joy are still...
by Beth Lueders | Apr 1, 2021 | Blog Post, Perspective
Easter in the good ole days. Do you have favorite Easter memories as a kid? Chocolate bunnies. Jelly beans. Dyed eggs. Easter egg hunts. Church. Festive family meal. All of these and more come to mind when I think of Easter growing up in our farming community. And of...
by Beth Lueders | Mar 27, 2021 | Blog Post, Perspective
Good does triumph. I refuse to believe that evil actually wins when police officers and innocent civilians are killed in mass shootings. Veronica Moser-Sullivan and Eric Talley represented the good in our society. When Veronica grew up, she wanted to be a police...
by Beth Lueders | Mar 18, 2021 | Blog Post, Perspective
Puppies cure COVID Crud. It’s proven. My research alone proves it. Having a cute puppy in your life boosts endorphins, lowers your blood pressure and slims your waistline. Puppies even alleviate the general malaise of too many hours in facemasks and on Zoom calls. And...
by Beth Lueders | Mar 11, 2021 | Blog Post, Family, Perspective
The dirty diapers, the 3 a.m. feedings, the unending laundry. Mom deserves more praise. The millions of meals cooked, the boo-boo kisses, the bedtime stories. As an unattributed quote reminds us, “Life doesn’t come with a manual, it comes with a mother.” If my mother...
by Beth Lueders | Mar 4, 2021 | Blog Post, Perspective
You never know what you can learn from people who are quite unlike yourself. I’ve learned incredibly valuable life lessons from prostitutes. And witches and convicted felons. I’m pretty much the polar opposite of some of the people I interview for articles or chapters...
by Beth Lueders | Feb 18, 2021 | Blog Post, Perspective
I see your courage. I do. You work hard to steady your family, your work, your health and your finances. I see your courage when you sacrifice sleep to catch up on yesterday’s to-dos. When you bravely give to others even if your own tank is dipping toward low. Yes,...
by Beth Lueders | Feb 11, 2021 | Blog Post, Perspective
True love and writing love letters can be a bit tricky. If you reveal your heart too soon, will he or she walk the other way? What if your beloved thinks your prose needs some grammar help? Have I got a story of unusual love letters for you! I think you’ll appreciate...
by Beth Lueders | Feb 4, 2021 | Blog Post, Perspective
I am fighting the February Funk. It’s the opposite of “I did it” excitement. Well, that’s what I am calling this mid-winter, ho hum slump. I’m beyond tired of COVID-19, that wily virus that just won’t bow at gracefully. Last year’s lockdowns and...
