Jennifer Hansen
Recent Stories by Jennifer Hansen
HEART & SOUL: Flexible attitude buoys the spirit
posted: 05/23/2012 3:37 a.m. Discuss
There are so many ways to make a positive difference in the world. Find one. Be selfless. Do something that challenges you. Be polite.
HEART & SOUL: A door closes as another opens up
posted: 05/16/2012 3:22 a.m. Discuss
To celebrate the last morning of my son’s high school career, I planned to surprise him by making him breakfast and seeing him off. This was a milestone in his 13-year journey through school, and until this year, I’d made him breakfast almost every day. It was often our best time together, and I wanted one more breakfast to mark the end of this journey.
HEART & SOUL: Bluebird is source of happy moments
posted: 05/09/2012 3:53 a.m. Discuss
The small bluebird in the large oak tree in my backyard darted to the ground. The flash of unmistakable blue pulled my attention to the brilliant creature. It was early evening. In the yard suffused with softening light, he seemed to glow.
HEART & SOUL: Marking endings is also a launch
posted: 05/02/2012 3:30 a.m. Discuss
Beginnings and endings are markers in how the human mind receives, sorts and recalls memories. Knowing this, the wise person pays particular attention to starts and finishes, because that’s where the power is. The first time we met our spouse, our first job interview, the first time we saw the ocean: These are memorable beginnings. How the marriage ended, the last time we saw our mother, the last game we played with our high school team; these are powerful endings.
HEART & SOUL: Counting off ways to relish weekends
posted: 04/25/2012 4:02 a.m. Comment 1
At the end of a tough day, there’s still a mountain of laundry to fold. The easy road past my laundry room leads straight to bed and much-needed sleep.
HEART & SOUL: Songs of life are sweet, if we listen
posted: 04/18/2012 3:38 a.m. Discuss
Late afternoon at the park, tucked onto a quiet bench to think about this column, I saw the sky come alive with a mass of birds.
HEART & SOUL: Rolling with the changes eases life
posted: 04/11/2012 3:33 a.m. Discuss
If you’re an adult, you’ve spent your life adapting to innovations in technology.
HEART & SOUL: Reading the green tree mist of spring
posted: 04/04/2012 3:05 a.m. Discuss
During a quiet spring break, a late winter rain nearly flooded our neck of the woods. When it stopped, my husband and I hiked up into the quiet woods behind the farm.
HEART & SOUL: Burnout means time to draw line
posted: 03/28/2012 2:06 a.m. Discuss
The burnout sneaked up on me. After years of writing about how to balance our lives, I should have spotted the severe imbalance in mine. Then one day I stared at the computer for way too long, and still had no clue where to begin or what to do. It was time for a vacation.
HEART & SOUL: Minutes in a life; lifetime lessons
posted: 03/21/2012 3:30 a.m. Comment 1
The gentleman I was to interview was delayed.
