Category: ELAN Blog
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Apple of My I…
ELAN Principle 9 is “Watch Your Language,” a deep well of subtopics which I’ll revisit in future blogs. Today is all about First Person. Literary works are expressed through the viewpoint of one or more characters. A story in first person is told through one character in their voice. It is “I lost my job…
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Living on the Curve…
Lifelong Learning is number ten of the ELAN Principles, my personal roadmap to guide upward and forward movement. My dad instilled in me the desire to always be reaching for new skill, new information, new habits, new joys to be discovered. When he died at 95, there were some 1500 books stored on his e-reader,…
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Life is But a Blip…
Our time on this earthly plane is no more than a blip on the radar of the circle of life. That sounds so depressing, but is it? If one’s life is reduced to a mere speck in the time, space continuum, what does that mean? I think it means we have been given a great…
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Green Is…
It’s storming – a good gulley washer and a welcome break to the heat wave which is the result of something called a heat dome. That sounds oppressive, like there is no escape, but I give thanks for the warmth and the greening up that it brings after summer showers. On blue sky days the…
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Rally…
It’s no secret I am not a morning person. I prefer to stay up into the next calendar day and sleep the morning away. There are times when the big wide world has other plans. Recently, the Joy of Djembe Drumming Ensemble was asked to perform on a morning news show to promote the local…
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Moving…
Several of my friends are moving to new homes, new neighborhoods, or new jobs. Although I’m not going anywhere, I am moving. I don’t need to move on or move up, only forward. My night dreams are invaded with walking on uncertain paths, surrounded by strangers. It matters not where I’m headed, only that I…
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I ‘Preciate Ya…
While it’s true I never actually say “I ‘preciate ‘ya,” (twang implied), I am thankful for those who work to bring comfort and joy to my life. Noticing them begets a happy lens that views people as helpful, good, and valuable. Going beyond a cursory thanks means to sincerely wish them well. It means to…
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Impromptu Joy…
I recently celebrated an artful day with one of my daughters, exploring a local modern art museum. Soaking in the creations of others feeds my soul. Doing so with a loved one, doubly so. Like music, visual art can enhance and energize. It has a way of toggling brain buttons to the on position, like…
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Ideal, Ideal Day…
What is your ideal day? I have a few. The simplest is cozying up in my writing closet, punctuated by playing piano and reading. Simple, not easy to pull off given the rarity of white spots on the calendar. I had the grandest ideal day at the New Orleans Fairgrounds, soft-shell crab poboy in hand,…
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Weather the Weather…
I’ve just returned from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival – a guaranteed day of amazing music from Blues to Zydeco and all kinds in between. Singing and dancing in the Gospel tent is going to church, rocking out with throngs of fans at the big stages is a party. The paths in between…
Patty Mayeux Blog 