The Women of Krusha

The Women of Krusha

Lately, I’ve been pondering the concept of perseverance, its roots, its costs, and potential outcomes. When does perseverance bleed into obsession? When does commitment become corrosive? Is perseverance always a positive quality? I seem to have inherited a healthy (or unhealthy) dose of perseverance from my mother, which lately has begun to feel like a…

What Inspires You?

What Inspires You?

This blog is about inspiration. We all have our go-to activities or places when we need to be inspired or uplifted. For me, usually a hike or a trip to a new (or old) place or spending time with family (even if just memories of family) will rid me of the blues. If I am…

Godmother of Rock ‘n Roll

Godmother of Rock ‘n Roll

What do Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis all have in common? Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a Black musician from Arkansas who played the electric guitar and sang the blues and gospel. She toured with Muddy Waters in 1964 in England and is said to have influenced Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Keith Richards…

Small Gestures of Empowerment

Small Gestures of Empowerment

Sometimes the legacy of a legend like Martin Luther King, Jr. is overwhelming. His words, his defiance, his righteousness, his dreams. I am haunted by his words and his uplifting vision for our country. He inspires us all to be and do better in order to realize our full potential as a nation. (A challenge…

Christmas Exuberance

Christmas Exuberance

The Christmas spirit is a funny and ephemeral thing. Sometimes it’s found in the twinkling lights, sometimes at the Santa visit, and sometimes at the table while eyeing the Christmas turkey. In our family, it showed up through the gifts and yes, there was a special tradition attached (of course). Our family always attempted to…

No, I’ve Got This!

No, I’ve Got This!

Chocolate on my shirt and a melting candy bar in my hand. I’d made a mess, and I hate messes, plus I’d been caught wiping that chocolate onto my clean, white shirt. As a firstborn, my mother supposedly kept me ultra clean, whisking me away from the slightest mess to put me into another outfit…