A Brother's Words; A Sister's Thoughts by Cindy Campbell

You've likely heard this before, "it's the little things that matter most". When we were kids, this is one of the intangible gifts my mom gave us. She shared her observations and brought our attention to the almost imperceptible movements of life that occur in our natural world. Without realizing it, this was subtly incorporated into my own life by way of noticing the beauty around me. A chorus of birds greeting the day, the incessant activity of squirrels as they forage for their groceries, and discovering the first flower bud as the earth welcomes Spring are things that make my heart sing. Friendships have taken priority over chores, and somehow those always get done, too. One of the things I failed to make time for was visiting my brother. I thought we had plenty of time... in the future. Not too long after Chris died, I was given a pair of his boots. I remember hugging them so tight, just as I would have hugged him. I had no idea how much my brother's boots wo...

As I sat drinking my coffee out of a beautiful mug from Ireland this morning, I was listening to traditional Irish music and reminiscing. My mom had a little plaque with an Irish Blessing on it. Part of the blessing reads, "may the wind be always at your back". Over the years as my mom and I have revisited precious memories, she told me about the time she walked into the dining room and found Chris standing in front of a cabinet where this plaque was nestled among the other items. "What are you doing Chris?", she asked. He was reading the Irish Blessing and contemplating its message. He told my mom, "you always want the wind at your back". In true mom-style, she followed with, "if you like the plaque, Chris, take it".  I read somewhere recently the wind is the earth breathing. I loved this. Chris was right. It's so much easier when you have the support of Mother Nature. However, when I think of the times I have struggled to move forward in th...

 "Running has no finish line" - Joe Schlereth I saw this quote a few months ago, and it gave me pause. My first thought was, of course there is a finish line when you run, and it's determined by the number of miles you set out to complete. For those who participate in organized runs, a "gun" is fired at the start and signifies it's time to head towards the destination, usually indicated by a banner that reads, FINISH. I continued contemplating this cryptic message left for those of us who would find it. For me, the symbolism proved to be profound. __________ To me, it represents a commitment to good health that can be experienced by incorporating running into one's lifestyle. I have been sporadic in my running over the years, which is shameful for me to admit. In 2006, I was "pounding the pavement" consistently. That November, I had the following email exchange with Chris: I just wanted to tell you I was thinking about you. Hey, in spirit you r...