The topic on the I.M. Heart Show today, Wednesday, September 8, 2010 is: “How Do You Know Love?”  You can listen to this on World Talk Radio/Voice of America at: http://www.voiceamerica.com/worldtalkradio/vshow.aspx?sid=1765.

It takes courage to speak your truth. In childhood we are often taught to be seen and not heard, to be obedient and good little children.  In recent days, I’ve had several conversations with friends about these residual patterns of belief and behavior that live on even though we are adults.  It is absolutely amazing [...]

Multiple sclerosis. Darryl could not believe it. As he spoke to the crowd, sharing his story, there was an absolute hush. He talked about the prognosis from the doctors. They could do nothing more for him and he was told he would not live long.  What was he going to do?  Give up and give [...]

The following is a true story — tearfully shared by a friend.  Seems Eileen has loved Paul for a very long time and has shared travel and work with him for many years. However, time and circumstances have kept them apart and this last week afforded an opportunity to see each other.  Eileen was uncertain [...]

When life presents traumatic experiences, we have a choice. We can crumble, cave in, and go hide in a hole.  Another choice is to buckle down, hang tight and ride it out.  It is much like walking through a thick jungle covered in vegetation, with wild animals and screeches in the dark. The intensity of [...]

Picture this scene.  Three young children are playing in the front yard with Dad sitting in a chair watching them. Two of them are playing an outside game with balls and the other one is riding the bike up and down the sidewalk.  Dad often walks along beside the bike riders as they are allowed [...]

The following is a true story, shared by a friend.  It is also my story and yours.  We often think we have left the past behind only to have it jump up and come to life in the most unexpected of times. This story reflects how the imprint of a childhood experience can have a [...]

Sometimes we get our priorities mixed up. We get caught up in the importance of the trappings of the world —- money, status, material things or culture.  When this happens they rise to the top of the heap in importance.  Then for some of us, our own self-importance or ego is the highest priority.  In [...]

I was reading an article by Ross Bishop on “Giving Love” and he made some good points on this most special, wanted and painful of all feelings. We’ve all felt as if our hearts have been broken into tiny pieces.  We can feel crushed, beaten and bruised when we‘re hurt.  However, when we love and [...]

“I’m a work in progress.”  This remark struck a cord with me as it was spoken by a very bright young man who has had his share of ups and downs in life.  It was a very insightful and honest statement from a person I have learned to respect.  He spoke a great truth for [...]

We often get involved —- way too involved —- in taking care of everything and everyone, controlling situations so they unfold exactly as we think they should play out, or fixing not only our lives, but the lives of everyone around us.  There are times when giving and caring is the right thing to do. [...]

The phrase, “TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE” is often heard. People talk about wanting to in some way make life better, help or improve the way we live. For many people this is an everyday habit that they don’t even think about.  It is a way of life.

This week I had overnight guests.  I was the bed and breakfast for the night. These friends are walking, not biking, The Katy Trail across Missouri.  The Katy Trail is a 225 mile (365 km) bike path stretching across most of the state. Over half of it follows Lewis and Clark’s path up the Missouri [...]

Do you know what a tuxedo cat is? It is a black cat with a white neck and chest – as if it had on a tuxedo. They look very dignified and formal. One of these cats has made his home with us.  Last winter in the worst snow and cold, I observed him wandering [...]

I’ve heard numerous stories and had several conversations in the last few days about –“TO BE OR NOT TO BE.” This famous question originally came from Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  However it was interpreted in that famous play, it has a very definite application to our lives today. Seems that we are so busy racing around and [...]

Did you ever work and work to accomplish a goal, maintain a relationship, or build a team?  Did you ever want something so bad that you would do anything to make it happen?  Sometimes things fall in place and you get exactly what you wanted. At other times, you work, try, push and negotiate and [...]

It is Spring – time for washing windows, cleaning the hidey holes in the house of their secret treasures as well as clearing the yard of dried up foliage. Emptying means stripping away what we don’t need or want any more. It means de-cluttering as we do in spring cleaning or when we gather articles [...]

Have you ever found yourself running in opposite directions – toward someone and at the same time away from them?   Many people want real, honest, loving, committed relationships, but are terrified of really having them. They feel that they have opened their heart and it was broken. They never want to hurt that bad again, [...]

Sometimes things that happen to us in our childhood leave invisible marks that cannot be seen on our skin, but leave an indelible image in our hearts and minds.  We may carry the experience around with us and vow never to be hurt again.  Our awareness of the incident and the decision may be buried [...]

Not long ago I was angry and someone said to me “That’s not I.M. Heart!”  My response was, “Oh, yes it is!”  What that person didn’t understand is that I.M. Heart is all feelings — those that are warm, loving and happy as well as those that are angry, hurt and sad.  I.M. Heart is [...]