Sometimes it is referred to as wisdom. Sometimes it is referred to as experience. It is both of these, plus other things. It is always regarded as a valuable asset to be sought after. It is something gained through a lot…

When I look back through my life and consider all of the things that have brought me joy and happiness, I realize that it wasn’t the extravagant experiences that most carried me through life, it was the simple things. Some…

I was born and raised in a region of the country that is like no other. It was settled by different ethnic immigrant groups, a century and a half ago, who created villages on the rolling prairie landscape. Because of…

Everyone, no matter what culture they are from or how long they have lived, has a basic need to feel content. Contentment is something that some seem to have naturally, while others appear to struggle for it throughout their lives.…

New objects have an effusive glow, freshness and flawlessness that have a strong allure to our innate sense of the imperfect nature of life. Because they cannot remain new for long, new things have a transient rarity. Things seem to…

I have found that there are few places that can stir my emotions and memories more than a resale store. Not the high-end antique stores, mind you, because the focus there is on rare and precious items that are highly…

The gentle turning of time’s cycles ushers in each season in a seamless and undramatic fashion. But, there is no season that is more tranquil, soothing and sublimely beautiful than autumn. Summer’s heat wanes and is replaced by a delicate…

This season is remaking itself, slowly and daily. After the equinox, it seems to accelerate, rushing towards summer with an impatient temperament. The stirring rubs off on me. Every year at this time, I feel a craving for travel. Some…

With the passage of time comes change. Seasons are one way that we mark this change, realizing that things come and go in cycles and rhythms that work beyond our control. In any season, and in our lives, there are good…

Within each mature tree is a solid core of wood that was formed during the first couple of decades of life. It is, in essence, the pillar upon which the rest of its life is built upon. Although the outer…