Stories & Blogs
Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 14, 2024
** As you know, Public Libraries have always been my safe place. My mother took me to the Fort Worth library for my 1st library card when I was 7 or 8. The library encouraged me to be curious, to explore and to learn. In 2024, (rural and urban) libraries are still community hubs for…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 7, 2024
** Sunday Letter readers live coast to coast. Each of you bring a unique perspective and background to your comments and email follow-ups. One observant reader responded via email: “There are Land people and there are Ocean people.” It seems to me that Ocean people see different colors of green, brown, ocean and sky blues,…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 30, 2024
Nature report from Pershing: Our street is blessed with an abundance of trees, and birds. Two Common Flicker Woodpeckers come daily to the suet basket on our front yard Red Oak. A Red Headed Woodpecker, my first, is finding food in our neighbor’s large but aging tree…Stunning! A neighbor joined us in taking down their…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for Jun3 23, 2024
I am writing about fathers for a 3rd Sunday, as I have truly reflected on your comments. Many readers wrote about the teachings, love, and importance of fathers. I was also taken by readers comments about the missing of a father due to an early death, divorce, or addictions. This missing was supported by the…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 16, 2024
** Father’s Day is an opportunity for memories and connecting in meaningful ways between daughters, sons, wives and dads. Sometimes, we honor our dads for all they do or accomplish as well as, and especially, strengthening the family. It is even more important to honor our dads for who they are and are still becoming….
Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 9, 2024
Sunday, June 16, is Father’s Day. I am posting a Father’s Day thought, early, to promote connections within a family, a call, maybe sharing food and a memory or two. If not near, slow mail a personal note. Mostly, pay attention and allow a special weekend to not slip past. We may go to the…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 2, 2024
A calendar turned my page to 80 on Friday. Grateful for Beth’s grace, memories, the giving of herself with others by her caring, art, and meditations. Alongside photos of younger days, I am curious about my tomorrows. I know I/we are not through. Our determined efforts today are focused on eating better environmentally friendly foods,…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 26, 2024
** In his 500-page print book “UNDO IT,” Dean Ornish, MD, summarizes his Lifestyle Medicine Plan this way: 1) A whole foods, plant-based diet 2) Moderate exercise including flexibility, walking, & strengthening 3) Stress management including meditation, Tai Chi, pauses, and 4) Social connections and support, and healthy relationships. Ornish believes Lifestyle Medicine is less…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 19, 2024
Last week the most responses and comments resulted from the concept of Pocket Forests. I learned that many of us do have Pockets of joy…maybe in the garden, a nature walks and lunches with family and friends. Maybe the next time I reach into my pocket for my keys, I will remember to include a…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 12, 2024
** White bison calves are rare, 1 in 10 million. Two white bison calves were recently birthed, one in Kansas and one in Texas. Lakota and other native tribes see the white bison as a sign of better times to come, of hope for improved relationships with Mother Earth for all of us, and the…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 29, 2025
READER SUGGTSIONS OF TOPICS AND AREAS OF INTEREST Last week, I asked readers of the Sunday Letter to suggest topics and areas of interest. I received wonderful suggestions and challenges to include in this week’s Sunday Letter. Jerry E. and Marcia would like to know what books, magazines, or podcasts you read or listened to…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 22, 2025
INDIVIDUAL AND DAILY LIFE LIMITATIONS Limitations come to us all…they can be physical, emotional, mental, financial, spiritual, as well as phones and digital technology. Limitations can be challenges to overcome, each brings learning, broadening and changing who we are. Perhaps the most meaningful learning comes when we accept and invite life limitations to live alongside…
Roy’s Sunday Letter June 15, 2025
MEMORIES, OF LONG AGO AND NOW In so many ways, we are our memories, both the ones from our childhood and the newest, for example, from Thursday’s lunch with a friend. There are some that come with “Do Not Disturb Signs.” As we know those are in the past and it is really ok to…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 8, 2025
WHO INSPIRES YOU & WHO DO YOU INSPIRE? My Sunday question: Who Inspired you at the different stages of your life: youth – emerging adulthood – mid-life – senior or elder years? In what ways did Inspiration change your achievements or help you to face and over-come challenges. What or who is an Inspiration to…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 1, 2025
ROY AT 81 YEARS Somewhere, I have a copy of 1944 “Shore to Ship” cable to my Navy Officer father, on a ship somewhere off Normandy. The cable announced my birth. My mother was living with her parents on their east Texas farm in Gladewater. And yes, 81 is just a number, but also a…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 25, 2025
ALL ABOUT FRIENDS AND FRIENDSHIPS Richard left a brief voice mail as Wendi and he were driving back to North Carolina after visiting nearby family. When I connected with Richard his words defined long term friendship for us all. “I just wanted to hear your voice.” I treasure Richard’s words, as I consider the voices…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 18, 2025
PAGES FROM A FULL NOTEBOOK Each week I make notes of what might be included in the Sunday Letter. Here are the ones thar made the selection from notebook to screen. ** It is not with joy; I share Fort Worth has reached a citizenship of one million. I am not confident in the positive…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 11, 2025
BEING AWARE BUT NOT OVER-WHELMED BY ALL THINGS MONEY The 2021 online movie “Saving Paradise” portrays the role and the power of money in the lives of individuals, families, small businesses and communities. The founding owner of a small-town wooden pencil business dies suddenly. His son, a New York corporate raider, must decide to sell…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 4, 2025
AN ANCIENT BUDDHIST TEACHING, THE NOBLE EIGHTFUL PATH, UPDATED FOR 2025 The Eightfold Path teaches Right Understanding, Right Intent, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, and Right Mindfulness. In full and humble respect for ancient teachers and teachings, I offer this Sunday Letter with words and meaning to bring these truths forward into…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 27, 2025
NAVIGATING THE PATH TO AGING WELL #1 I am surprised to now find myself an elder of 80, and in May 81. All of this too fast and too soon. I need more time to prepare, to be ready for the physical, emotional, economic, and spiritual changes, challenges. As I lift my eyes and heart…