Category Archives: Adversity

“I Saw His Heart”

Posted on June 1, 2014 by russtowne

This story moved me deeply on several levels, and I’ll bet it does the same for many of you, my friends. http://news.distractify.com/people/a-man-with-alzheimers-vanished-but-where-police-found-him-will-bring-tears-to-your-eyes/?v=1 With Love, Russ

Posted in Adversity, Challenges, Compassion, Love, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged Alzheimer's, Love, video | 17 Comments

I found the information linked below to be worth every second I invested in experiencing it, and believe some of you will too. http://www.businessinsider.com/bill-mcraven-commencement-speech-at-ut-2014-5 With Love, Russ

Posted in Adversity, Bullying, Challenges, Community, Discipline & Consequences, Growth/Learning, Hope, LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place, Mistakes, Patience & Persistence, Spirit, Strength, Suffering, Teamwork, Traditions & Rituals, Wisdom | Tagged challenges, Hope, Life, life lessons, Navy Seals, Seals, strength, teamwork, unity, willpower | 2 Comments

A Beautiful Solution to a Heart-breaking Problem

Posted on May 21, 2014 by russtowne

I’ll bet it’s not often that a tough-looking biker club gets called beautiful, but I’m doing it now. Please click on the link to see why. So many of life’s difficult problems can be dealt with in such creative ways. … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Beauty, Bullying, Children, Commitment, Compassion, Courage, Creativity, Dealing with Pain & Grief, Fear, Goodness, Honor, Kindness, Making the World a Better Place, Strength, Suffering, Teamwork, Youth | Tagged abuse, bikers, child abuse, courage, fear, goodness, Hope, kindness, Love, safe, safety, tough | 8 Comments

What it Feels Like to Walk and Be Loved

Posted on May 17, 2014 by russtowne

Source: KBON 101.1 FM’s photo With Love, Russ

Posted in Adversity, Challenges, Children, Family, Love, Parenting, Photos That Touched Me, Spirit, Stories That Touched Me | Tagged daughter, Family, father, how it feels to walk, Love, photo, shoes, walking | 22 Comments

“Blood”

Posted on March 8, 2014 by russtowne

While my posts on this blog tend to be up-beat, I also have a darker side. It comes out in my writing of fiction. To avoid reader whiplash between the lighter and darker sides of my writing, I created a … Continue reading →

Posted in Action, Adventure, Adversity, Choices, Death, Fear, Imagination, Pain & Grief, Story Writing Adventures, Writing | Tagged action, author, dark, death, fiction, gritty, mysteries, mystery, short stories, stories, thriller, writer | 8 Comments

When Words Fail Hugs Often Help

Posted on January 30, 2014 by russtowne

It can be frustrating to want to help someone and not know what to do or say. Sometimes when words fail, My Beloved and I just hug each other tightly for as long as it takes, letting the hug do … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Challenges, Communicating, Compassion, Connection/Connecting, Healing, Love, Marriage, Observations, Relationship Lessons Learned | Tagged healing, hug, hugs, Love, overhealm, pain, patience, Relationship | 18 Comments

Falling

Posted on January 2, 2014 by russtowne

My mind often flows in mysterious ways. I’m in Illinois visiting family. Snow fell last night. Outside my window is a beautiful white vista. My grandtwins are making delightful experimental sounds with their mouths in the background. One crawled for … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Challenges, Dealing with Pain & Grief, Friendship, Gratitude, Healing | Tagged Anger, compassion, daughter, despair, desperation, frindship, Grief, Illinois, illness, kindness, Love, man, men, parenting, poison, power, strength, wretch | 21 Comments

Sliding Backwards

Posted on January 2, 2014 by russtowne

The holidays and new year can be especially difficult for those who are experiencing difficult times and relationships, or no relationships at all, health problems, etc. Some people I love are dealing with depression and struggling to cling to hope. … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Challenges, Change, Choices, Forgiveness, Growth/Learning, LIfe Lessons, Loneliness, Observations | Tagged Anger, depression, Forgiveness, growth, self-help, writer, writing | 23 Comments

I’ve Begun a New Fictional Serial Short Story

Posted on January 1, 2014 by russtowne

Happy New Year! I’ve begun a draft of a new fictional serial short story under development. Working title: Blood. Below are the first few lines of the first installment. You can read the whole serial story over time at http://imaginingsofagratefulman.com. … Continue reading →

Posted in Action, Adventure, Adversity, Story Writing Adventures, Writing | Tagged action, adventure, author, fiction, mystery, short stories, stories, thriller, writer | 9 Comments

No Star In All the Heavens

Posted on December 18, 2013 by russtowne

A Most Unusual Christmas Tree Visitors who come to our home near the holidays are often struck by the sight of a most unusual Christmas tree. Instead of a fir or some other traditional kind, we have a palm tree … Continue reading →