by Barbara Smith | Oct 18, 2017 | Painting & Writing, Personal Pigeonholes
A friend shared a Spanish proverb; don’t speak unless you can improve upon the silence. There isn’t much silence today – unless I turn off the news, and remove myself from the glorious and gabby living room that Facebook is. When I think back to what others have said... 
by Barbara Smith | Sep 3, 2017 | Personal Pigeonholes
It’s not their calories! Many years ago, I met a friend at a popular creperie in downtown Annapolis. There, I received an object lesson that still goes off like a smoke alarm in a grease fire every time I wonder if I should say something to a friend about something... 
by Barbara Smith | Sep 2, 2017 | Understanding the Times
Crises and Stuff Create Opportunities for Choice Harvey hit Texas in a vulnerable week for our nation. We had been squabbling amongst ourselves, and digesting the news of North Korea’s missile launches. Listen to the lessons of Harvey. Let the storm remind you of the... 
by Barbara Smith | Aug 23, 2017 | Personal Pigeonholes
Anger is Not a Safe Traveling Companion Anger is one letter short of danger, a wise person observed. Rarely has anger ever taken me where I wanted to go. Anger can put my brain on hold; narrow my field to vision to the annoyance at hand, and alas, opens my mouth.... 
by Barbara Smith | Oct 23, 2015 | Painting & Writing, Personal Pigeonholes
It’s not hard to write encouraging paragraphs of “how-to’s.” They are the fruit of many personal failures to follow directions and learn from the experience of others. Wisdom is not something I was born with – but I can recognize it sometimes, having knocked my hard...