Author Archives: Shay

Homeschooling as a UU Journey

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Shay

Delivered August 8, 2004 at Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church, Burke, VA Take a moment to think on a time, maybe not too long ago, when you were excited about learning something that interests you—perhaps a new hobby or a craft, … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Fingerprints on the land

Posted on December 19, 2016 by Shay

Ralph Waldo Emerson was right in his assertion that success includes, “To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch…” Last year as I winnowed my belongings when I downsized to “two bags and … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Star of wonder

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Shay

A concept I came across in recovery from childhood abuse and trauma is that of going back to one’s childhood, to meet the child you were, and give her a gift with some words to go with it. Tell her … Continue reading →

Posted in Kindness | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This ain’t no bro joke

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Shay

A recently created meme on Facebook asks “If American women are outraged at Trump’s use of naughty words, who in the hell bought 80 million copies of 50 Shades of Grey?” This equates the choice to read erotica with deserving to be sexually … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The truth about Cheryl

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Shay

What do Christian pharisees do when their target, a single mother and successful businesswoman, will not shrink in fear of their highly abusive demands and submit to their delusional self-appointed authority? They collude to defame her and deprive her of … Continue reading →

Posted in homeschooling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Heart like a feather

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Shay

When my kids were little, I took them to visit a special museum exhibition on ancient Egypt. We learned was that Egyptians believed that only those, who have a heart that weighs no more than a feather, can enter heaven. That means this is … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The great give-away

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Shay

In some Native American cultures, people perform a ceremony called a “give-away” as a public recognition of a new personal status–such as through a wedding, or the naming of a baby–or to express thanks for blessings received. Last year, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Kindness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

When pinched for time, slow down

Posted on June 24, 2016 by Shay

I was running late for an appointment in another state, and realized there was no way I could make it on time. Not even close. Instead of stressing and trying to get there as fast as possible but still failing … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Picking all the flowers

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Shay

Picking flowers can be a radical act. My former husband would “forget” my birthday and other occasions, long before the formal divorce process began. About 10 years ago, a friend, who knew this about my then husband, asked me what I was going … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun & Magic, Kindness | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Leap into the void

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Shay

During my transition from single-parent-homeowner-commuter-office-worker to itinerant sailor, I often said that the process was a kind of suicide, a killing off of an old life, of what no longer served me, of the person I had been. Like one … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, sailing, Thriving | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments