life lessons: Monday Lessons with Dorie ~ The Melody We Leave Behind
- 10/11/26 08:36 AM
“The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.” — Irving Berlin
I've always loved this quote, but today it carries a little more meaning.
Today, our family gathers to say goodbye to my daughter's father-in-law, Russell Stout Sr.
Russell was a man who loved his family fiercely. He loved his dogs, his Dallas Cowboys, and his beloved TCU Horned Frogs!
But one of the things that made him especially proud was having three generations of Russell Stouts in the family!
My daughter married his son, Russell Stout Jr., and together they had Russell Stout III. Russell Sr. proudly appointed himself Chairman of the “Russell … (10 comments)
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life lessons: Looking Beyond the Front Door ~ Let the Ordinary Come Alive
- 09/27/26 03:35 PM
When I came across these words from William Martin in The Parent’s Tao Te Ching, I found myself thinking about my own grandchildren and all the simple moments we sometimes take for granted.
“Show them the infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand. And make the ordinary come alive for them. The extraordinary will take care of itself.”
There are so many activities available for children today, sports, lessons, camps, clubs, birthday parties and special events. Sometimes I marvel at how full their calendars can become. We work so hard to create wonderful experiences for them that I wonder if we sometimes … (13 comments)
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life lessons: Monday Lessons with Dorie ~ Happiness Is in the Doing
- 09/27/26 06:35 AM
“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”……. Dalai Lama XIV
I’ve always enjoyed quotes from the Dalai Lama XIV because so many of them make me stop and think about the way we live our lives. When I read this one recently, I immediately thought of my oldest granddaughter, Hailey, who ran the Berlin Marathon Sunday morning!
Running Berlin has been on Hailey’s bucket list for some time. She tried to get a spot in 2025 but wasn’t selected through the lottery. She tried again, and this year she got in!
Of course, getting into the race was only … (12 comments)
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life lessons: Monday Lessons with Dorie ~ Coming Home to Yourself
- 09/06/26 11:57 AM
“At the end of the day, it isn't where I came from. Maybe home is somewhere I'm going and I've never been before.” ....... Warsan Shire
Labor Day seems like the perfect time to think about where we’re going, not just where we’ve been.
We spend so much of our lives working toward something. A career. A family. A dream. A new chapter. We work hard, overcome challenges, celebrate milestones and sometimes wonder when we’ll finally arrive at that place where everything feels just right.
But maybe home isn’t a place we eventually reach.
Maybe home is a feeling.
It’s that feeling of belonging. Of being comfortable … (15 comments)
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life lessons: Monday Lessons with Dorie ~ Making Room for What’s Next
- 08/16/26 08:28 AM
We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”
— Joseph Campbell
Life is filled with beginnings and endings, but so much of life happens in the space in between.
We grow. We change. We meet challenges, build relationships, discover new interests and find opportunities that can take us in directions we never expected.
And sometimes, we get stalled because we're holding on too tightly to the life we thought we were supposed to have.
Letting go isn't always easy. We may have invested years, hopes and dreams into a particular path. … (18 comments)
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life lessons: Monday Lessons with Dorie ~ Embracing the Season You're In
- 08/09/26 09:41 AM
Embracing the Season You're In
"We do not think ourselves into new ways of living, we live ourselves into new ways of thinking."…… Father Richard Rohr
I recently celebrated a major birthday, and after all the fun, laughter, and celebrating, I found myself doing something I didn't expect...
Reflecting.
Not so much on the number of years, but on the season of life I'm living right now.
And I've realized something.
Life doesn't always unfold the way we imagine it will.
It's messy.
It's sometimes chaotic and confusing.
There are unexpected turns, difficult seasons, wonderful surprises, and moments that take our breath away.
And somehow, through all of it, we keep … (16 comments)
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life lessons: Monday Lessons from Dorie ~ Home is More Than A Place
- 08/02/26 07:34 AM
Home Is More Than a Place
"The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." ….. Maya Angelou
As I recently celebrated a milestone birthday, this quote stopped me in my tracks.
Home can be a place. Or a person. Or something that lives quietly inside us. It can be what we create, how we feel, or the people who make us feel completely accepted.
Home is a compelling four-letter word.
Say it out loud. Home.
Then sit with it for a moment. What comes to mind?
Sometimes, "home" is found in memories of … (12 comments)
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life lessons: Monday Lessons from Dorie ~ The Courage to Believe in Someone Else
- 07/25/26 02:15 PM
The Courage to Believe in Someone Else
"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." Audre Lorde
This quote made me stop and reflect.
At first, I thought it was about being fearless.
But the more I reread it, the more I realized it isn't.
It's about having a purpose that's greater than your fears.
It made me think about the people who matter most in my life.
As a mother and grandmother (they call me Nana), I've always believed one of the greatest gifts we can give those … (19 comments)
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life lessons: Monday Lessons with Dorie ~ 7.20.2026
- 07/19/26 09:30 AM
Celebrating the Journey, Not Just the Outcome
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
— Helen Keller
This quote stayed with me this week.
As many of you know, Norway lost its World Cup match to England.
But what happened when the team returned home captured my attention far more than the final score.
The entire country showed up.
Not for a victory parade.
Not to celebrate a championship.
But to celebrate a team that had given everything they had.
I learned that Norwegian fans have a tradition called the Viking Row. When their team needs encouragement, thousands of fans move their arms together as though … (20 comments)
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life lessons: Monday Lessons with Dorie ~ 07.13.2026
- 07/12/26 06:13 AM
The Unexpected Gift of Friendship
"A friend is a loved one who awakens your life in order to free the wild possibilities within you."— John O'Donohue
This quote made me stop and think.
Before this summer, I had never watched a World Cup soccer match.
Now, I haven't wanted to miss one.
Of course, the athleticism is impressive. The competition is exciting. But what has captured my attention most isn't what happens on the field.
It's what's happening in the stands...and in the streets.
I've read story after story about strangers from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds gathering around one shared passion for the game. Complete strangers have … (15 comments)
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life lessons: The Gift of Friendship: New Worlds, New Perspectives
- 06/07/26 10:46 AM
I’ve been amazed by the friendships that have found their way back into my life, and the new ones that have entered in, over the past three to four years. Some are relationships rekindled after years apart, while others are connections through rekindling my old ones and others are just new ones not anticipated. Each one has added something unique and meaningful to my journey.
These friendships have expanded my horizons, introduced me to new experiences, and opened my heart to different perspectives. They have encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, laugh a little louder, learn a little more, and … (15 comments)
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life lessons: Strength in the Broken Places: Finding Resilience in a Changing World
- 06/01/25 07:43 PM
Ernest Hemingway’s quote, “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places,” speaks to the idea that adversity is inevitable, but it also has the power to forge strength and resilience in those who endure.
In today’s world, this quote feels especially timely. We're living through a period marked by uncertainty, change, and emotional strain, whether it’s global conflicts, climate challenges, economic pressures, personal losses, or mental health struggles. Nearly everyone carries invisible wounds from something. Yet, what Hemingway suggests is that these hardships don't necessarily destroy us. Instead, they can deepen our character, increase our empathy, and … (15 comments)
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life lessons: Motivational Monday ~ Life Lessons
- 07/11/22 03:59 PM
"Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." ….Steve Prefontaine
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”…Steve Prefontaine
Steve Prefontaine lived a short but celebrated life after being killed at age 24 in a car accident. Even today his hard work, discipline and determination are an inspiration to future generations.
… (13 comments)
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life lessons: Serendipity Sundays ~Opportunities
- 04/18/21 12:25 PM
Handsome Hudson was out on the field late yesterday practicing control of the soccer ball before the game. I love watching his team play because they are learning so many life lessons. They have an awesome coach who lifts each player up while teaching them how to work together and share in each other’s triumphs, successes and even failures.
Focusing on the mechanics of the game teaches these kids concentration. What an exhilarating feeling of accomplishment to experience by learning discipline through good work ethic to be the best they can. Opportunities like this are priceless.
“Do you know what my favorite part … (13 comments)
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life lessons: Tuesday's Treasures ~ Growth Spurts
- 02/28/21 10:43 AM
On February 27, 2021 Michael Jacobs post “Not taller…” made me smile as I just received a photo of Beautiful Beckett getting measured after five months. Physical growth spurts are definitely on going for this sweet granddaughter.
Growing more tolerant is also on going on so many fronts: dealing with big brother, practicing her gymnastics everyday, her Mandarin Immersion Program, dealing with being “right” and not always getting her way. Ahhhhhhh…life is full of learning lessons as we transition through these growth spurts in life.
"Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood." Ralph Waldo Emerson
… (15 comments)
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life lessons: Monday Morning Motivation ~ The ABC's of Life
- 03/14/11 06:48 AM
The ABC's of LifeI was holding an open house a while back and I loved this "ABC's of Life" framed and hanging on the side of the refrigerator. This is a good creed for all of us to look at, practice and make it a part of our daily life. Make this a great way to start out your week!Accept DifferencesBe KindCount Your BlessingsDreamExpress ThanksForgiveGive FreelyHarm No OneImagine MoreJettison AngerKeep ConfidencesLove TrulyMaster SomethingNurture HopeOpen Your MindPack LightlyQuell RumorsReciprocateSeek WisdomTouch HeartsUnderstandValue TruthWin GraciouslyXeriscapeYearn For PeaceZealously Support a Worthy Cause
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life lessons: Life Is Too Short....
- 10/02/09 03:49 AM
I can't remember where I came across this poem but it struck me that many of us should take heed and follow the message. We are always busy with appointments, blogging, showing property, going on listing appointments, setting goals, writing business plans etc. Of course these are all activities necessary to becoming a successful Realtor. However, friends and fmaily can be neglected and before we know it life is passing us by!
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life lessons: Lessons In Life
- 09/29/09 04:41 AM
Accept that some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue
Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them
If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague
It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others
Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, … (21 comments)
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“The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.” — Irving Berlin
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