Tag: self improvement

• in the in-between

  I read an interesting description of Advent this morning in Common Prayer. While describing Advent as a time of waiting and expectation, the author wrote that ‘we are the midwives of another world.’ That sent me into a quick Google search of what a midwife’s responsibilities are: educating the parents before labor, nurturing the mother…

  Greta Sutherland

  December 1, 2021

  essays, everyday life

  culture, equality, faith, grace, humanity, inspiration, kindness, life, living with intention, purpose, relationships, sacred spaces, self improvement, servanthood, social justice

• commonality

  In a world of disconnection, it has felt even more comforting to gather with people all over the world as we circle the same scripture on the same day. That is the beauty of the liturgy, for me. Similar thoughts are being mulled over. Time of year is being considered. The great joining together happens…

  Greta Sutherland

  April 14, 2021

  everyday life

  Book of Common Prayer, books, comfort, encouragement, faith, grace, hope, humanity, inspiration, liturgy, purpose, reading, self improvement, slowing down

• Finding Calm

  These are a few books that have meant a lot to me personally during this pandemic season. I find reliance on the liturgy comforting when you don’t feel like praying. Leaning into ancient traditions (even rote memorization) gets you through at times when your heart just isn’t in it. I especially recommend the book, Flee.…

  Greta Sutherland

  September 17, 2020

  book reviews

  ancient prayers, book review, books, faith, humanity, inspiration, letting go, life, liturgy, living with intention, prayer, purpose, quarantine, reading, relationships, sacred spaces, self improvement, slowing down

• My New Life as a Book Reviewer

  During the last few months of 2019 I decided I wanted to get serious about reviewing books and working with publishing companies to do reviews for upcoming and newly-released books. I made it my goal toward the end of the year to research and find out as much as I could about the craft before…

  Greta Sutherland

  January 22, 2020

  book reviews

  androgynous style, book publishing companies, book review, book reviewer, bookish life, collegiate writing, heros, literary, new hobby, new job, Rachel Maddow, reading, self improvement, writing

• THE GIVER OF STARS by Jojo Moyes

  Books celebrating books. Authors paying homage to readers. This enticing concoction of book-celebrating is an intoxicating elixir when it occurs in a storyline and The Giver of Stars is no exception. This book is based on a true story in American history. Historical reference: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Works Progress Administration created librarians – primarily…

  Greta Sutherland

  December 14, 2019

  book reviews

  American history, book review, Depression Era, education, Eleanor Roosevelt, encouragement, environment, family, feminism, fiction, friends, friendship, historical fiction, hope, humanity, inspiration, Jojo Moyes, journey, Kentucky, libraries, nature, purpose, reading, relationships, rural life, self improvement, The Giver of Stars, WPA

• Learning the rhythm of relaxation…

  It was an unseasonably cool day today. I know I have a long way to go with the California heat (and truly, I’ve enjoyed the warmth of it) but it’s also nice to have an incredibly cool day with the windows open wide. We are excitedly anticipating a big group of family coming to see…

  Greta Sutherland

  May 6, 2019

  everyday life

  authenticity, comfort, creativity, encouragement, faith, grace, grief, inspiration, journey, kindness, letting go, life changes, living with intention, love, midlife, online community, purpose, Rachel Held Evans, relationships, sacred spaces, self improvement, slow living, slowing down, social media

• Can I tell you about something kind of cool that happened to me?…

  Let me first say that I’m not posting any of this for sympathy or trumped-up praise. Please know that from my heart. There are areas in all of our lives where we feel confident and strong – and other areas in which we lack inner strength. I’m not sure if it’s my personality or the…

  Greta Sutherland

  February 1, 2019

  creative work

  book review, creativity, encouragement, fear, inspiration, kindness, online community, peer review, published author, purpose, reading, sacred spaces, self improvement, self-doubt, writing

• Clean(er)

  I would venture to bet that the majority of people can’t rid their homes of all toxins immediately and right.this.very.instant. Man, would I love to. Had I only won that last lottery drawing…⠀ It’s hard to make choices for a clean, ethically-centered, toxin-free home. Clean cleaning supplies. Clean beauty products. Slow fashion. Slow living. ⠀…

  Greta Sutherland

  November 18, 2018

  slow living

  clean home, clean living, environment, letting go, life changes, life choices, living with intention, natural product, not an ad, self improvement, slow living, slowing down

• Faster and faster!

  She climbed the stairs two at a time, racing against the clock. Her breath was labored and her heart was beating far too fast. She paused for only a second on the landing but knew she must keep going. Red-faced and exhausted, muscles screaming and pulse racing, she pushed herself further. There was a goal…

  Greta Sutherland

  October 30, 2018

  slow living

  California, influencer programs, life changes, living with intention, moving cross-country, new adventure, purpose, self improvement, slow living, slowing down, social media