Megan DiMaria

I believe it's important to find a quiet place, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and recall what you are grateful for. These days especially, we need to be mindful about counting our blessings. The world is in a state of shared misery, dealing with the effects of COVID-19. I don't need to elaborate, we are all experiencing difficulties of one kind or another. Do you ever take some time to sit and ponder your blessings? You should. One of the best things to do when it feel

If you don't purpose to slow down and savor the beauty of the season, it won't happen. Here's some advice to slow down and savor Christmas: Make your favorite hot beverage, turn on the Christmas tree lights, sit down, and chill out. Give yourself a few minutes to just b-r-e-a-t-h-e. Listen to some Christmas carols. Sing along, if you'd like. Soak in the meaning of Christmas. Pray to Emmanuel (God with us!), and be quiet to listen to His leading. If you'd like a more structure

What were you doing 40 years ago last Saturday? I was starting the rest of my life. At the time, I thought I was all grown up. But looking back, I was so young, only 23 years old. I probably wasn’t unusual in not realizing exactly what I was agreeing to when I said, “I do.” Who knows what the future holds? I was in love. Still am. I was seeking a grand adventure. Got that! I was looking for a happily ever after. Got that too. However, since then I’ve realized happily ever aft

Happy (early) Valentine's Day. I've been thinking about my loves (my darling family), and that made me think of our kitchen table. So much life happens there—so many conversations and memories are made around a dinner table. I refinished my old 1990s table with a beautiful coat of purple and dark brown paint. Boy did it turn out great. See? It looks sleek and glamorous and chic (IMHO). We refinished the table in 2008, and ten years later, I’m still thrilled with it. I was c

What were you doing 39 years ago last Saturday? I was starting the rest of my life. At the time, I thought I was all grown up. But looking back, I was so young, only 23 years old. I probably wasn’t unusual in not realizing exactly what I was agreeing to when I said, “I do.” Who knows what the future holds? I was in love. Still am. I was seeking a grand adventure. Got that! I was looking for a happily ever after. Got that too. However, since then I’ve realized happily ever aft

I'm one of those folks who seem to be able to strike up unusual conversations with strangers. Today I was thinking about this encounter from a few years ago. Could this snippet end up in a novel? Perhaps. “Want to know what your problem is?” The voice came from my right. I turned to find a pleasant-looking woman smiling at me, waiting for my response to her question. Her voice held both confidence and compassion. Having never been approached by a stranger with such an interes

I hope you're enjoying your summer—spending restful moments outdoors in nature and making beautiful memories with family and friends. Happy 4th of July! Do you love history? I sure enjoy it. Since 2014, I've been hooked on the TV series Turn: Washington's Spies. It is the untold story of America's first spy ring. (You should binge-watch it and get caught up on the episodes.) Although the show is fictionalized, the main events are true, and the program brings to light the stru

Are you a door holder? Do you notice someone behind you and pause to pass off the door? I know, I know—you’re in a hurry. You’ve got something to do/somewhere to go. We all do. I always do the pause and pass. And when someone does it for me, I’m appreciative. A few days ago, I was going into a store behind a woman and her teen daughter. She slowed to toss something in the trashcan by the door, and I know she saw me. But when she passed through the door, she let it slam in my

Do you ever take some time to sit and ponder your blessings? You should. We all need space to take a deep breath, close our eyes, and recall what we are grateful for. This is one of my special places. I love to spend quiet time here thinking about life, about my darlings, about my blessings. I love to read in that chair or to put my lap desk over the wide arms and tap away on my computer. I love to sit in that leafy shade and read intriguing novels or sweet words of hope. I l