Author Archives: watchwordsblog

He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying. – Nietzsche Meditation: When I look back at how I got to where I am today, I realize that Nietzsche is right. I progressed in my personal and professionalContinue reading “The Journey is long…”

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. Maya Angelou Meditation: Three years ago I decided to leave a job that had gotten me into a place of mere survival. I had held that job for sevenContinue reading “Thriving not just surviving…”

A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men. ―Gloria Steinem Meditation: One of my daughters has a friend who is a boy. He is actually the tallest and most sportive guy in the whole school. From the moment that other girls and boys realized that they liked eachContinue reading ““You go girl!”…”

Human rights are not only violated by terrorism, repression or assassination, but also by unfair economic structures that create huge inequalities. Pope Francis Meditation: Some human rights violations are so horrific and “in your face” that we have a hard time breathing when we learn about them. We feel pain in our soul seeing thoseContinue reading “The Spectrum of Injustice and Human Rights Violations…”

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education. Martin Luther King, Jr. Meditation: Today my twin girls graduated from Middle school. Some children had an all A average. We were proud that both our girls have A’sContinue reading “Wisdom – More than Knowledge…”

Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. Howard Washington Thurman Meditation: When I give myself permission to fully take in God’s love and then learn to love myself, I will notContinue reading “Self-love as “Bliss””

God is a God of the present. God is always in the moment, be that moment hard or easy, joyful and painful. Henri Nouwen Meditation: The awareness that God is present with us is the beginning of faith. Faith means “trusting”. When we experience a person we love as emotionally not present with us, we are in pain.Continue reading ““God, ever present”…”

Today I will do something just for the fun of it. I will find something to do that’s just for me, and I won’t worry about what I should be doing. I will learn how to make myself feel good and enjoy life to the fullest. Melody Beattie Meditation: Sometimes when our life is fullContinue reading “Retirement every day…”

If your love for another person doesn’t include loving yourself then your love is incomplete. Shannon L. Alder Meditation: Every Sunday I am ending the worship service of the German church here in Atlanta with the words: “And now go forth, love God, love yourself and love and serve the world!” Some attendees might be surprisedContinue reading “Loving Myself, really?…”

A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. Charles Spurgeon Meditation: It is easy to drop the largest non-nuclear bomb on Syria after a gas attack. However, when the government of Syria has become corrupt and oppressive itself and is not being exposed and confronted, noContinue reading “The Truth is putting on its shoes…”