writing : blog
A month ago, I wrote about a wonderful young woman named Kala and her high school newspaper, The Hoofprint. I asked readers to help this group of students fulfill their dream of printing the newspaper throughout the school year in spite of budget cuts that had taken away their money to do so. Together, you and I raised $1,360.74–more than…
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Oddly, I posted this photo as my Facebook profile shot yesterday. It was taken to commemorate my lunch date with Carlos Fuentes, the brilliant, charming, and beautiful Mexican novelist who gave us The Death of Artemio Cruz, Aura, The Good Conscience, The Hydra Head, and more. I was thinking about him, and posted it. He died today. (I feel fairly…
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It started late last night with a call from Emma. “She’s calling to wish you a Happy Mother’s Day,” John said as he handed me the phone. “But it’s only 11:57!” I joked. “Hi, honey,” I said. “Happy Mother’s Day!” she said. “How’s your new apartment?” I asked. We chatted for a moment, and then, suddenly, she appeared around the…
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One Year When I got to his marker, I sat on it, like sitting on the edge of someone’s bed and I rubbed the smooth, speckled granite. I took some tears from my jaw and neck and started to wash a corner of his stone. Then a black and amber ant ran out onto the granite, and off it, and…
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I was deeply honored to wear a Harry Potter robe on Saturday morning and march onto the gorgeous lawn of Guilford College to give the commencement address 30 years after I received my own diploma from there. Here are some photos from that special day, some 3x3x365 posts about it, and a link to my remarks, “The Geography of Verbs,”…
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Intangible I am in love With the light that illuminates the dust Resting on her hair Convinced that those diamonds are god’s way of saying hello And reminding me that this very common is not so common at all But part of something bigger and much older than Floors I haven’t had time to sweep I am in love With…
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My friend Amy McCracken (Richmond on our 3x3x365 blog) has declared today to be the National Day of Tess Ptak. Here’s what she wrote on her Facebook wall this morning: I love the responses that are pouring in: Folks are making suggestions for how to celebrate: Singer/Songwriter Tamara Bailie even wrote a song for Tess, a beautiful paean to kids…
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After Years Today, from a distance, I saw you walking away, and without a sound the glittering face of a glacier slid into the sea. An ancient oak fell in the Cumberlands, holding only a handful of leaves, and an old woman scattering corn to her chickens looked up for an instant. At the other side of the galaxy, a…
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I “met” high school senior Kala Czanstkowski when she wrote me an email: Hello! My name is Kala Czanstkowski and I am a Senior at Buffalo High School in Buffalo, MN. I’m a journalist/comfort writer and a happy reader (at times) and I just bought your book “Life is a Verb” literally yesterday and I can’t put it down! I’m…
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A Prayer for Children We pray for children Who sneak popsicles before supper, Who erase holes in math workbooks, Who can never find their shoes. And we pray for those Who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire, Who can’t bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers, Who never “counted…
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Patti Digh is the author of six books, including bestsellers Life is a Verb and Creative is a Verb. She travels the world teaching others about mindfulness: to live fully, love well, let go deeply, and make a difference. Patti's comments have appeared on PBS and in The New York Times, Fortune, the Wall Street Journal, the London Financial Times, and many other international publications. She writes a thank you note every morning.
