Why “Just Do It” Doesn’t Do It Anymore

I’m discovering (the hard way) that if we’ve successfully established good fitness habits during the first half of life, everything changes as we try to stay active during the second half of life. The mindset and techniques that worked to get us active when we were younger can now become ineffective or downright harmful. Previously,… Continue reading Why “Just Do It” Doesn’t Do It Anymore

Preparing for the Unexpected

The email subject line boldly proclaimed, “Cathy, Stay Prepared for the Unexpected.” A drugstore chain decided to tap into existential angst around our lack of control over the future to sell batteries, band-aids, and bottled water. Usually, this type of marketing is very effective at getting my attention. I can easily be convinced to prepare… Continue reading Preparing for the Unexpected

Listening To God

One facet of staying awake is being present enough to what is happening so that we can hear what God is saying to us. In the gospels, the phrase “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” is repeated by Jesus multiple times (Mk 4:9, Mk 4:23, Mt 11:15, Mt 13:9, Lk 14:35). This phrase always… Continue reading Listening To God

Savoring Our Moments

Savoring is a specific practice I’m cultivating in my Lenten journey to stay awake and present. Very often, our days become routine – we do the same things repeatedly and even think the same way. This makes time appear to pass very quickly. Savoring is a way to break out of the dullness of too… Continue reading Savoring Our Moments

Prayer for A Perfect (Ordinary) Day

After being away for a week, I’m now home again and into my regular routine. Instead of seeing sunrise over the ocean, my morning walk now provides a view of sunrise over traffic. So much of life consists of normal, ordinary days that speed by as frantically as cars on their morning commute. Here’s a morning prayer for days like these.