Lessons in listening
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Lessons in listening: Appreciating unexpected gifts
The peeling paint on the exterior of my house first caught my eye three years ago. As a first time homeowner my DIY skill set was dismal and…
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Lessons in listening: Leaning into learning
My daughter, Ellie, is nearing her last days as a student at Vergennes Union Elementary School. Earlier this week she received a welcome video from the Middle School,…
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Lessons in listening: Balancing adversity with joy
Knowing someone well inevitably means intimately knowing their habits as well. Each morning, my partner pours his coffee up to the very edge of his cup’s rim. Next…
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Lessons in listening: Can’t go around it, gotta go through it
Spring has officially arrived from an astronomical standpoint. As a person who shares her birthday with the Vernal Equinox, this yearly milestone has historically borne a quality of…
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Lessons in listening: The lessons of Veruca Salt
Having grown up as a child of the 1970s, one of my favorite movies was Gene Wilder’s “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” I was captivated by the…
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Lessons in listening: Speeding up to slow down
In the periodic occurrence of exceeding the speed limit, I have historically had the propensity to be ticketed. My most noteworthy offense occurred a number of years ago…
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Lessons in listening: Unexpected joys
The chill of winter has settled firmly in my bones. My daughter, Ellie, plays U12 girls’ hockey, so much of my leisure time is spent standing in various…
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Lessons in Listening: Holiday season reminds us to evaluate our values
Thanksgiving has passed and the drugstore aisles and radio stations have now fully committed to the impending Christmas season. Pumpkin lattes have been replaced by peppermint hot chocolate…
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Lessons in listening: Create love and community
The first dusting of snow signals the beginning of a special tradition in our home: the season of “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas.” For those not familiar, this Jim…
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Lessons in listening: Gratitude for fall opportunities
As a native Vermonter, I am no stranger to the beauty of fall. Just as I delight in the opening of an early spring flower or the first…
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Lessons in listening: ‘Add-in’ some fun and kindness
I had my first tennis dream last week. Although the particulars faded as my alarm chimed, I woke with a feeling of contentment. I am fairly certain that…
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Lessons in listening: Hold worry and attachment lightly
This season of late summer’s harvest settles my memory back to my childhood grandparents’ kitchen. My recollection is of the counters and formica table piled high with beets,…
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Lessons in listening: Loosen your grip on life
This past weekend marked my family’s annual pilgrimage to Oak Hill, N.Y., for one of the best kept secrets in the Northeast — Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. This…
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Lessons in listening: The art of receiving
With the final dismissal of 2018-2019 school year complete, summer vacation has officially begun. My daughter, Ellie, had been counting down the days on her dry erase board…
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Lessons in listening: The diet for life
Just recently, I traveled to Napa for a culinary medicine conference. Culinary medicine is a relatively new field that integrates scientific principles related to nutrition, behavior and medicine. In…