For years, GratitudeCup blog followers/readers have told me I should start a podcast. I resisted. Writing is my thing, I insisted. Not talking. Well, sometimes necessity is the mother of invention. It was today after a Zoom-based interview with one of my long-time friends and former colleagues went awry thanks to a faulty internet connection.... Continue Reading →
I’d rather be wrong
Recently, one of my friends reached out to me to inform me that she'd been viciously attacked by her boyfriend (now ex). She described the bruises, and she admitted she felt scared for her life. "You were right about him." In the pit of my gut, I winced. There was a time when I reveled in... Continue Reading →
Being a mom: it’s hard, y’all
Today's post is the first in what I hope to be a series of post by friends and guest contibutors on the topic of Mother's Day and all things related. Big thanks to my guest writer today, blogger and former Arkansan Kambri Davidson, who now lives a more glamorous life with her husband Drew in... Continue Reading →
The golden ticket essay
*One of my students, Jared Tickner, in Comp II this semester gave me permission to share this essay with all of you. This is his first essay for the semester; I read it after reading a stack of other essays that were good essays but didn't quite measure up in one way or another. Some... Continue Reading →
Day 25: Dear Need
Day 25 in the Dear Gratitude project is submitted by yours truly :). Dear Need, I first remember meeting you, Need, when my father fell from his heroic platform in my mind. Grappling with drug addiction, he stood in our living room in Augusta, Kansas, in 1984, and admitted that he had fallen for Caroline.... Continue Reading →
Never say never
I've said NEVER about plenty of things. And eaten my words plenty of times, too. "I will NEVER get divorced." Done. Twice. "I am NEVER going to be one of those people who moves back to the middle of nowhere as an adult!" Done. Here. "I'm never going to date another alcoholic or addict, EVER!"... Continue Reading →
Day 28–The best he could
I'm very thankful to the guest writers who participated in the "28 days of love" project this month. It's been inspiring to read about the various ways love and gratitude coincide in so many very different people's lives. I had guest writers lined up every day, but a few people weren't able to write their... Continue Reading →
Hope fills holes
Yesterday, a friend and I baked our little hearts out in preparation for my husband's birthday celebration. While we cored apples and blended spices, we talked about what's going on in our lives . . . pregnancy woes, impending birth of my daughter, financial issues, relationships with family members, and our unique struggles with letting... Continue Reading →
Best Father’s Day yet
Today, I saw a picture on Facebook (re-posted by a friend) in honor of Father's Day. The caption read something along the lines of, "Thanks for always being there for me, Dad." The picture was of a baby, held up to a window, and on the other side of the glass was his father in... Continue Reading →
Trading the attitude for gratitude
Thanks to Linda Unger for sharing her gratitude in today's post as a guest contributor through her writing and photography gifts. I come from a family where sarcasm rules. I zing you, you zing me. Whoever zings the fastest and the loudest is the winner! There is little time for compliments and kindness. I have... Continue Reading →
Gratitude Cup 