Category Archives: stories

Books And Words As Containers

Posted on March 20, 2013 by jzrart

“If it is a human thing to do to put something you want, because it’s useful, edible, or beautiful, into a bag, or a basket, or a bit of rolled bark or leaf, or a net woven of your own … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Memoir, Poetry, Quotes, stories, Wise Words, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

On Burning My Journals

Posted on February 22, 2013 by jzrart

When we decided to move from our house on the banks of the South Fork Rivanna River Reservoir almost three years ago, I was in a hurry to get out and move into a smaller place in town, rather than … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, family, Gratefulness, Memoir, Navigating Through Life, Perfectionism, stories, Trauma, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Getting Lost

Posted on February 16, 2013 by jzrart

“When we lose our map, our real knowledge of the path begins.” Mark Nepo, Seven Thousand Ways To Listen One Halloween evening, a very long time ago, when I was maybe in second grade, my mom helped me get dressed … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Fear, Kindness, Life, Memoir, Navigating Through Life, Quotes, stories, Travels, Wise Words | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Dogs In My Toolbox

Posted on February 9, 2013 by jzrart

There is a toolbox in my heart.  It’s filled with all sorts of things that help me navigate through my days and keep my life on the straight and narrow. When I begin to feel a bit off, anxious, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals I Love, Books, Dogs, Friendships, Gratefulness, Healthy Living, love, Matters of the Spirit, Mental Health, Navigating Through Life, stories | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

THE SENSATION OF BLISS

Posted on February 6, 2013 by jzrart

“A few years ago I was overwhelmed by deep anxiety, a fundamental, intense anxiety with no storyline attached. I felt very vulnerable, very afraid and raw. While I sat and breathed with it, relaxed into it, stayed with it, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Matters of the Spirit, Mental Health, Navigating Through Life, Quotes, stories, The Garden, Uncategorized, Wise Words | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stories As Healing

Posted on January 29, 2013 by jzrart

“Although some use stories as entertainment alone, tales are, in their oldest sense a healing art; and the best, to my lights, are those who have lain with the story and found all its matching parts inside themselves and at … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Memoir, Quotes, stories, Wise Words, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

A Work In Progress

Posted on January 19, 2013 by jzrart

“This is a work in progress, a process of uncovering our natural openness, uncovering our natural intelligence and warmth. I have discovered, just as my teachers always told me, that we already have what we need. The wisdom, the strength, … Continue reading →

Posted in Gratefulness, Memoir, Navigating Through Life, Quotes, stories, Time, Wise Words, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

A Gift For Myself

Posted on November 30, 2012 by jzrart

I’m on retreat, at the beach in Duck, North Carolina. Today is my last day here.  We’ll head on home tomorrow, leaving the calming sound of the ocean right outside our door. It’s a great time to be here. There … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Christmas, Memoir, Navigating Through Life, Retreats, stories, The Sea, Time, Travels, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Writing My Life

Posted on September 22, 2012 by jzrart

When I told a friend a while back that I’m in the process of writing a memoir, she asked me what it was going to write about. I struggled with what to tell her. I wasn’t very clear yet myself, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Childhood, family, Gratefulness, Life, love, Memoir, Navigating Through Life, stories, Time, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

A Whirlwind Trip Down Memory Lane

Posted on June 16, 2012 by jzrart

Last week Bill and I flew up to Vermont to do a tour of our old stomping grounds.  We visited family and friends, made new friends, and revisited homes we once lived in. We spent every minute living in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals I Love, family, Friendships, Gratefulness, marriage, Memoir, stories, Travels, Vermont | Tagged | 8 Comments