The Resolute Woman

Author: resolutewoman

  • Brutal honesty

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    resolutewoman
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    I can’t think of a better present than a book, especially when it’s a gift from a good friend who knows exactly what kind of book you will enjoy. My friend Mary Ann recently gave me a copy of Rainbow in the Cloud—The Wisdom and Spirit of Maya Angelou. I will share some of Angelou’s…

  • The second spring

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    Now, when I take an early morning walk with my neighbor Gaynelle and our two dogs, the air is crisper, cooler, perfect for walking. By the time we return, the sun is up and it’s warm, but not hot. It’s autumn again, and the leaves are starting to turn. It’s an amazing time of the…

  • One at a time

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    resolutewoman
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    Last night before I went to bed, I complained to my husband, “I can’t believe I have to get up and do those stupid exercises again.” I have been doing exercises every morning again and again and again since I broke my leg last year in March. I have been doing them for a year…

  • Just 150 minutes a week

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    Keep exercising.The experts advise spending 150 minutes a week taking a brisk walk—or doing some other kind of moderate intensity aerobic exercise. Plus, they advise us to do twice-weekly muscle strengthening. Research “paper after paper after paper shows that the most effective, potent way we can improve life and duration of life is exercise,” says…

  • The surprises of the day

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    resolutewoman
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    While I was in Washington state, I watched the sun go down while I ate a Fanny Bay oyster at a wonderful restaurant next to a river. The menu described the oyster this way: “Firm meat, mild brine, cucumber finish.” It was served with a lemon and a grapefruit mignonette, and it was amazing. This…

  • When to be kind

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    “Be kind whenever possible,” says the Dalai Lama. “It is always possible.” When I was in Washington state recently, I discovered wise words in a number of places—a large independent bookstore, a small antique shop and even in the airport. I found this quote at Village Books in Bellingham. –Joy

  • Women must be revolutionaries

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    Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American congresswoman, ran for president in 1972. She was “the most historically significant forerunner to Hillary Clinton,” says Marc Morial, the president and CEO of the National Urban League. Chisholm hired only women for her campaign staff, and half of those women were African Americans. “Of my two handicaps, being female…

  • Agree to disagree

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    My friend Kerry, a Methodist minister, reminded me where the term “agree to disagree” comes from. In her church’s online newsletter, Kerry attributes the phrase to John Wesley, the first Methodist, and his friend George Whitfield. Wesley wrote in a letter to his brother Charles, “If you agree with me, well. If not, we can…

  • What makes life so sweet

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    I’m back from a trip to Bellingham, Washington, where I visited my friends Mark and Eva and also to Winthrop Washington, where I attended Elizabeth and Brooke’s wedding. I looked forward to the trip for months. I had a splendid time, and now I have many happy memories. As Emily Dickinson once wrote, “That it…

  • Small things

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    resolutewoman
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    When I read about Mother Teresa being named a saint, I remembered one of my favorite quotes. “Not all of us can do great things. Bu we can do small things with great love,” Mother Teresa said. She also said: * Peace begins with a smile.” * “If you judge people, you have no time…