As a pickleball player, I like to encourage the other three players on the court. "Good shot" ... "Great serve" ... "Nice try" ... "Almost got it," etc. When my partner whiffs the ball or hits it into the net or way out of bounds (and sometimes they apologize unnecessarily), I usually say, "Hey, we all do it."

In other words, don't worry about it. You're not alone. We all make mistakes. We're all on the same court with the same goal playing the same game with the same ball.

Because we DO all do it. Out of the dozens and dozens and dozens of people I've ever pickled with in Florida, New Jersey, and Maryland, ALL of them have made mistakes on the court. Me, too - certainly!

None of us are perfect pickleball players. (We know this because that's how the other team scores points!) We blunder and simply move on to the next shot - and go again.

Same with life, snippeteers, none of us can claim perfection. So when you fumble, when you err, when you trip up ... do not berate yourself. Do not feel embarrassed. Do not apologize. We all do it.

In other words, don't worry about it. You're not alone. We all make mistakes. We're all on the same court of life with the same goal of living our best lives. Errors are bound to happen.

We all do it.

We blunder and simply move on to the next shot - and go again.

"Really nice issue, Suzanne!"

~ Jenn W. in Maryland

"Suzanna, you have opened a beautiful healing pathway for so many."

~ Linda R.B. in Maryland

"Happy Friday! You shared Ken’s head!!! It’s so nice to read the outpouring!"

~ Ang W

"DEFINITELY enjoy the backtalk section. I always get the feeling I wish I could get to know these women!! I loved the picture of the couch! [good to giggle] I took both of your [grief-related] passages and copied them to use in my hospice-related bereavement groups. Thank you for sharing."

~ Joanne W in New York

I don’t think you’re simply tired, I think you’re regenerating. 

Like all of mother nature’s children in winter,

your instinct is to curl up, hunker down and reset.

You’re not less. You’re simply in tune with the sun. 

And as the dark days begin to wane, your inner wild

fortifies and evolves, bolstered and renewed, cocoon-style. 

Ready for the new beginnings, ready for the reinvent. 

Ready.

Simply ready.

So, let yourself be led down the rabbit hole,

when the weariness washes over and your body begs to rest.

I don’t think you’re simply tired. 

I think you’re regenerating. 

~ Donna Ashworth

The time between Friday afternoon and Monday morning has been called “The Hunger Gap" ... the time when homeless children and those living in poverty lack reliable access to food. Many children in Baltimore City & County rely on free breakfasts & lunches provided at school. But when school is closed on weekends and holidays, some of these children go hungry. :-(

Nearly 94% of Baltimore City students (71,581 children) and 66% of Baltimore County students (73,677 children) are considered food insecure, which equates to more than 145,000 students in our region who may struggle with hunger when school is not in session. :-(