Author: Lisa

Lisa A. Listwa is a self-employed writer with experience in education, publishing, and the martial arts. Believing there was more to life than punching someone else’s time clock and inspired by the words of Henry David Thoreau, she traded her life as a high school educator for a life as a writer and hasn’t looked back. She is mother to one glorious handful of a daughter, wife to the nicest guy on the planet, and reluctant but devoted owner of three Rotten Cats. You can find her adventures and thoughts on living life deliberately here on the blog.

Always Thankful

Several years ago I found a wonderful group of people out here in the blogosphere who made a regular habit of listing ten things they were thankful for during their week. While I may not publish weekly “Ten Things of Thankful” or “TToT” posts anymore, I have made the practice of gratitude part of my…

By Lisa June 20, 2021 Off

TToT – A Long COVID Nap

Happy New Year, friends! I know, it’s not exactly the beginning of the year, but I’m a slow starter right now. It feels like everything has been in slow mode since the pandemic hit last winter. And here we are again, deep in the middle of winter and still in this mode. A day or two…

By Lisa January 31, 2021 Off

Seven Years of Thankful

It seems very hard to believe that it’s been a year since we celebrated the sixth anniversary of our Ten Things of Thankful blog hop. And what a year it has been! But here we are, celebrating seven years of focusing on the everyday moments of gratitude. Wow. In the last couple of years, I haven’t…

By Lisa June 9, 2020 Off

How Are You Coping?

How are you coping with all of this? That has been the ready question on everyone’s lips for the last several months. It’s become the new small talk – sort of like “Where are you from” or “What do you do?” How are you coping? The question was asked so many times by so many…

By Lisa June 8, 2020 Off

Forever Faithful

The driving rain sliced at Danny’s cheeks and hands as he lashed himself to the mast, prepared to ride out the storm. Another blade of lightning cut through the sky and he though thought of his military days before his present life, the years when he learned to love and respect the power of the…

By Lisa May 21, 2020 Off

Growth

Peg watched by the open door overlooking the deck where her container gardens stood in the moonlight. A cool spring breeze touched the young plant leaves as it passed. She pulled her sweater closer, sipped her tea, worried that the night air might prove too chilly. She thought of the time and care she spent…

By Lisa May 15, 2020 Off

Nightly Routine

Nearly every night after a mostly-quiet dinner, Nora and Vern assumed their usual positions seated in identical armchairs situated on either side of the fireplace that hadn’t hosted flames since the last Christmas any of the children were home during the holidays. His chair angled ever so slightly toward the television set on the other…

By Lisa May 7, 2020 Off

Grounded

When I chose my word of the year for 2020 – grounded – I didn’t think the universe would take it quite so literally. My original intention for the year was to remember to live life purposefully, rather than react to it. To find ways to process and savor life, to find the things that…

By Lisa May 6, 2020 Off

A Different Angle

“It’s all about perspective, Aunt Jane,” said her niece. “Try looking at it from a different angle and you might feel more positive about it.” “There is no way I can feel positive about living in a silly apartment and giving up the home I have built and loved for so many years.” They were…

By Lisa May 1, 2020 Off

Bridge into Darkness

The bridge ended exactly where the trees began. Although a few splashes of sunlight still played at the very edge of the woods, it was clear that these would be the last traces of light to grace the afternoon. Immediate darkness waited just beyond the final board, and yet I did not want to return…

By Lisa April 24, 2020 Off