M.J. Compton's Blog, page 36

Maps

I had an interesting conversation with someone the other day. She was lamenting the younger generation’s dependence on GPS and/or their phones to get them places. “Remember road maps?” she asked. Of course I remember road maps. I have a file folder full of them. I used to keep a couple in the glove compartment […]

#UpbeatAuthors: Relaxation

I often say, “I read the way most people watch television.” And I think that’s true. I usually read several books a week. Sometimes those books are re-reads, but thanks to the public library and my Kindle, I have easy access to more new-to-me books than ever. Reading is how I relax. A good story […]

April is National Jazz Appreciation Month

I like jazz. I never played jazz when I was in high school band, but Y-Chromo did, from the time he was in sixth grade until the day he graduated from high school. He started middle school jazz ensemble when he was still in elementary school. Early rehearsals two mornings a week, plus one evening […]

#UpbeatAuthors: Efficiency & Stress

Maximizing efficiency doesn’t necessarily mean upping stress levels. It’s been my experience that I’m more productive if I slow down, take several deep breaths, and focus on completing one task at a time. Research indicates there is no such thing as multitasking. The brain can do only one thing at a time. MRI imaging shows […]

Water Water Every Where

Today is World Water Day. Water is a subject always on my mind. About thirteen years ago, I read a disturbing article that stated the next war would not be fought for oil, but rather for water. Potable water. That was scary. I wish I could find the article again, but although I’m fairly savvy […]

#UpbeatAuthors: Renewal

One of the many things I love about being an #UpbeatAuthor is the way the weekly topics encourage me to explore aspects of my faith I might not have previously considered. Example: renewal. Every morning is a renewal. Wow. Every morning, when I wake up, I am renewed because what happened the previous day is […]

Weird Holiday: Everything You Think Is Wrong Day

Today is the day you can avoid making decisions. If you think something, it’s wrong. Today is the day to acknowledge you are not always right. You are imperfect. People who accept their mistakes are usually treated with more respect than those who hesitate to take responsibility for their actions. Admitting one’s mistakes then attempting […]

#UpbeatAuthors: Healthy Eating

Like everything else, defining “healthy eating” depends on one’s point of view. What my niece with celiac disease considers healthy is totally different from the foods her sister who is allergic to casein (milk protein) knows are safe. Peanut butter was a staple in my house when the Chromos were growing up. It would be deadly […]

International Women’s Day

How many of us knew about the women of Hidden Figures before the movie? Hedy Lamarr, one of the most “beautiful” movie stars of the 1930s and 40s, also invented a radio system to throw off Nazi torpedoes. Her work is the basis for cellular and Blue Tooth technology. Did you know that? Rosalind Elsie […]

Peaceful Places

This week’s #UpbeatAuthors topic is “a place that gives you peace.”  I really had to think long and hard about what peace means to me. There are many kinds of peace. Different places offer different types of peace. One such place is my bed, which offers me peace from the crazy scary world in which […]