Tag: lessons learned
I remember attending my first Twelve Step recovery meeting ever. It was an open meeting, and I attended with a friend. I listened. I learned a lot and felt that even though what people were sharing didn’t totally apply to me, there was something… Continue Reading “Dissonance”
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Category: gratitudeTags: alcoholism, Christ, Christianity, counseling, dissonance, evil, first world problems, friendship, God, good, gratitude, lessons learned, light, marriage, PTSD, recovery, reflections, relationships, spirituality, thankful, trauma, truth, twelve step program, twelve steps
Posted on June 11, 2017
by bethanymwallace
3 Comments
I woke up humming a tune. “Whippoorwills in the willows…” I love that little song. It takes me back to a sweet time in my life when I had fewer cares and responsibilities, a time when love enveloped me like the warm comforter I… Continue Reading “How to move”
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Category: gratitudeTags: 12 steps, being where my hands are, change, choices, God, grateful, grief, how to be thankful, lessons learned, life, live in the present, memories, one day at a time, parenting, recovery, reflections, relationships, right now
Posted on February 5, 2017
by bethanymwallace
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“Kindness is the mightiest force in the world,” according to One Day at a Time (299). In the past, I didn’t feel kind. I didn’t even feel like being kind. I felt like stabbing my ex-husband’s eyeballs with a handful of forks. If you know… Continue Reading “Mighty kind”
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Category: gratitudeTags: AA, be where your hands are, Big Book, Christianity, divorce, family, God, grateful, kindness, learning, lessons learned, life, love, martyrdom, one day at a time, recovery, reflections, relationships, relatives, religion, resentment, sins, thankful, truth, work
Posted on November 7, 2016
by bethanymwallace
1 Comment
I found myself whispering, too, even though I wasn’t the one hiding in a closet while a drunken man beat on the door. “Bridgett, it’s okay. You’ll be okay. You do not have to answer that door. DO NOT answer the door, okay?” Bridgett… Continue Reading “Say yes”
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Category: gratitudeTags: abuse, alcoholism, being there for others, disclosure, domestic abuse, drunk, English, fear, God, grateful, gratitude, helping others, higher education, homosexuality, Kristin Wiig, lessons learned, opportunity, oral communication, redemption, relationships, responding to God, Saturday Night Live, say yes, SNL, spirituality, teaching, thankful, TRiO programs, Upward Bound
Posted on October 19, 2016
by bethanymwallace
3 Comments
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… Continue Reading “I’d rather be wrong”
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Category: gratitudeTags: 12 steps, abuse, acceptance, addiction, alcoholism, being right, being wrong, Christianity, friendship, God, lessons learned, life, love, peace, recovery, relationships, serenity, suicide, truth
Posted on December 17, 2014
by bethanymwallace
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*My English Composition I students wrote their final exam essays about three gifts they received in 2014. Some of their essays were exceptionally touching, meaningful, or humorous. I believe you’ll enjoy reading a few of these–whose authors have granted permission for me to share… Continue Reading “Three gifts in 2014”
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Category: gratitudeTags: 2014 gift list, Chick-Fil-A, chicken sandwich, college, English Composition, free gifts, funny, gift list, gifts, grades, grammar, grateful, gratitude, humor, instructor, Kia Sorento, learning, lessons learned, new car, personal narrative, professor, Shanna Huffine, significance, student, student essay, teaching, thankful, writing
Posted on November 21, 2014
by bethanymwallace
2 Comments
Dear Rhonda, Thank you for helping me find my house. I resisted liking that house since it was more my ex-husband’s preference than mine. You might even say that I resented that darn house for a long, long time, actually. Slowly but surely, the longer… Continue Reading “Dear Rhonda”
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Category: gratitudeTags: 2014 gratitude project, baking, BBBS, Big Brothers Big Sisters, business, career, development, ethical, friendship, fundraising, God, grateful, gratitude, guidance, home, house, impact, keeping in touch, leadership, lessons learned, love, mentor, non-profit, pfefferneuse, real estate, realtor, Rhonda Bletsh, sub-contractor, teaching, thankful, thanksgiving, writing
Posted on March 5, 2014
by bethanymwallace
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This piece was written by my former professor, who I like to consider one of my writing mentors, Dr. Teresa Burns Murphy, as a tribute to her parents. They will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this month. Happy anniversary to a couple who obviously… Continue Reading “What I learned from my parents”
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Category: gratitudeTags: 60th anniversary, adamas, anniversary, Arkansas, Bible, books of the Bible, brother, children, commitment, dad, daughter, diamonds, Dr. Teresa Burns Murphy, father, grateful, gratitude, Greek, lessons learned, Long Beach, love, Lyon College, memories, mother, nursery, Old Testament, parenting, school bus, sister, success, Sunday School, teacher, teaching, Teresa Burns Murphy, thankful, wedding, wedding anniversary
Today’s post is written by my great friend, Debra Dickey. Thanks for the great reminder, Debra, that God is always faithful to me in the small things, too. I have had the honor of an unconventional amount of both during this past year. At… Continue Reading “Untied shoelaces and lost gloves”
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Category: gratitudeTags: 1 John 3:1, Bible, faith, faithful, faithful in the small things, father, gloves, God, God's love, grateful, gratitude, hats, Jesus, learning, lessons learned, lost gloves, love, mittens, parables, praise God, shoelaces, the little things, untied shoelaces, walking the dog, winter
Posted on November 14, 2013
by bethanymwallace
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*It’s Day 14 of the Dear Gratitude project. Today, I’m sharing a letter to my students. There is no way I could ever thank each of them individually for all they’ve added to my life. I’m grateful for the opportunity to teach today, and… Continue Reading “Day 14: Dear students”
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Category: gratitudeTags: APPLE Project, Arkansas Baptist High School, bipolar disorder, college, Dear Gratitude project, ELL, ESL, feeling old, friendship, gay, grateful, gratitude, high school, higher education, homosexuality, hope, hope in this world, immigrants, joy, laughter, learning, lessons learned, Milli Vanilli, plagiarism, snapchat, students, suicide, suicide prevention, teach, teacher, teaching, thankful, thanksgiving, Youth Home, Yusef Komunyakaa