Well, today I'm inspired by Mary Chapin Carpenter, and her story of The Learning Curve of Gratitude, which she wrote as an essay for NPR. Recovering from a life threatening pulmonary embolism, she found it challenging to deal with the fear and depression that followed during her recovery. If you are interested, I highly recommend you listen to the podcast, which you can access by clicking here. I also highly recommend her beautiful music. It always touches the inner quiet spaces in my heart, the places that need gentle touching, and I find it so satisfying. If you click here, you can listen to a live recording of "I Have A Need For Solitude". It's just lovely. I'm downloading her album right now. I just can't help myself. Must be my need for solitude... just needing a moment of peace after a busy day filled with kids, work, noise. Just needing a little quiet touch in the inner place in my heart.