“…There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” ~Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol Dear Universe, I have always been a fan of Dickens’ classic story A Christmas Carol. It has the quintessential elements a classic story should. It’s poignant, heart-hitting and puts things in perspective. Also, it has ghosts. (A version not to be …
Cheesecake Break
Dear Universe, The holidays are in full swing. I went out the other day to try and tackle some holiday shopping and within an hour, the pushing crowds, bumper carts, sappy music and too-packed parking lots had taken a toll. I needed a Santa-sized siesta. But first I had one more stop—Barnes & Noble. As I was walking near the …
Body Language
“The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind.” ~Caroline Myss Dear Universe, In a world where we are met with hundreds of distractions, demands, voices and responsibilities a day, I think it’s essential to sometimes stop and do one vital thing. Listen to ourselves. I mean really stop to hear what …
Let It Out
Dear Universe, Last month I spotted this card in a tiny London shop that was filled with countless humorous gems like this one. It gave me a chuckle so I bought it planning to send it to a friend. The other day I took it out to mail it and I realized that maybe there is some truth behind this …
Ask and Receive
“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” ~Zora Neale Hurston Dear Universe, Recently, I came upon this quote and it’s stayed with me, popping into my head at the most unexpected moments. I think I initially liked it because there’s a reassuring quality to it. Confused? Just stick it out; the answers are approaching. And in a …
La Dolce Far Niente
“La Dolce Far Niente–the sweetness of doing nothing.” ~Elizabeth Gilbert Dear Universe, Sometimes you need a day. A day where you allow yourself to not think about anything. A day to simply sit back, relax and revel in the sweetness of doing nothing. These days are pretty much impossible to come by. There’s always something to get to: laundry, cleaning, …
Keep On, Keeping On…
Dear Universe, It’s uplifting to see that the “Keep Calm” Phenomenon is still in full swing here in London and greeting me wherever I go. If anything, the Keep Calmisms have been taken to a whole new level. Anything goes. From t-shirts to tea cups to tea kettles to key rings to ticking clocks, you can buy a Keep Calm …
OLove It!
Dear Universe, Through the years I’ve heard of lots of unique gift ideas. I’ve seen of one-of-a-kind artwork and personalized, handcrafted jewelry. I’ve heard of people adopting a highway or buying a star and naming it after you. A few times I’ve had people make a donation in my honor to causes I feel strongly about. All thoughtful choices. But, …