One Dollar Glasses

The other day, I got my first pair of reading glasses. All of a sudden, reading, computers, knitting–even the fine print at the store–is SO much clearer. I’ve had regular glasses since the third grade, so you’d think I wouldn’t be surprised, but it’s easy to forget how much difference a new pair of glasses […]

Beauty and an Escape from Death

Note: This post was written in 2017, but it’s always a good reminder for me. Hopefully, it will help someone else. People look beautiful and shiny to me just now. When I look at families pushing baby strollers or see young couples deciding how to spend their money in the grocery store, or older couples […]

The Good Earth: International Gardens

In 2017, I participated in the local community garden for the first time. A new growing season is always a hopeful time for me. No weeds. The dream of the perfect garden unmarred. Since then, the garden has thrived. The Good Earth: International Gardens. Paydirt. The classic rich soil of the Rhineland. © Laurel Decher, […]

Writing Gratitude Countdown (6): The Gift of a Professional Eye

Ferris Wheel In Progress. Dresden, Germany. © Laurel Decher, 2016. Writing Gratitude Countdown This is the sixth post in my Writing Gratitude Countdown. As we gain more experience as writers, we learn to value different things. (The earlier posts are: 1. The Gift of Attention , 2. The Gift of Permission, and 3. The Gift […]

Writing Gratitude Countdown (5): The Gift of a Deadline

This is the fifth post in my Writing Gratitude Countdown. (Find all the posts: 1. The Gift of Attention , 2. The Gift of Permission, and 3. The Gift of Hospitality, and 4. The Gift of Feedback, 5. The Gift of a Deadline.) I keep finding more things to appreciate about the writing life. It’s […]

Writing Gratitude Countdown (4): The Gift of Feedback

Who helps you see your work clearly? © Laurel Decher, 2016. This is the fourth post in my Writing Gratitude Countdown. It’s a series about people who’ve helped me on my writing journey so far. I’m taking a moment to say a heartfelt thank you! (Find all the posts: 1. The Gift of Attention , […]

Writing Gratitude Countdown (2) The Gift of Permission

This is the second post in my Writing Gratitude Countdown. It’s my way of re-discovering the richness of the creative life. (Find all the posts: 1. The Gift of Attention , 2. The Gift of Permission, and 3. The Gift of Hospitality, and 4. The Gift of Feedback, 5. The Gift of a Deadline.) 2. […]

Writing Gratitude Count-down: (1) The Gift of Attention

Pothole in the road full of cherry blossom petals. © Laurel Decher, 2016. I keep realizing how many people have generously encouraged my writing. It’s so easy to send out queries and focus on the–sometimes deafening–silence, but when I look back on my writing journey, I see so many people who have gone out of […]

Marc Chagall’s stunning gift of reconciliation

St. Stephan’s church in Mainz, Germany has stunning stained glass windows. The church burned on February 27, 1945 and Marc Chagall designed most of the current windows in the late 1970’s.

The windows show love stories of all kinds: Colorful people and angels float in a sea of blue glass. In light of the Holocaust, I was especially touched by the window of Abraham pleading with three angels to spare Sodom and Gomorrah.