Category Archives: Adversity

Two Strangers at the End of their Rope

Posted on December 15, 2013 by russtowne

Two strangers meet in the middle of the night on a dark and lonely road, one young and the other old, both at the end of their rope. Their meeting lasts mere minutes yet changes destinies… That briefly describes my … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Hope, Loss, Making the World a Better Place, My Written Works Misc., Writing, Youth | Tagged author, book, broken heart, choices, desperate, desperation, fiction, fictional, Harold Nashton, hopeless, mystery, short story, story, writer | Leave a comment

For My Daughter and Every Daughter…

Posted on December 6, 2013 by russtowne

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ruchikatulshyan/2013/12/06/this-amazing-hair-commercial-portrays-sexist-labels/?partner=yahootix …and for my sons and every son. With Love, Russ PS: My focus is on the message, not the product. I don’t care one way or another about the latter. But the former is a powerful reminder that I … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Strength | Tagged advertising, commercial, discrimination, gender challenges, strength | Leave a comment

Choices and Pain

Posted on December 3, 2013 by russtowne

I believe that when people go through awful experiences–especially situations where other folks hurt us–we have a choice. We can choose to let what we went through become an excuse to close our heart in an attempt to protect ourselves … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Challenges, Choices, Compassion, Courage, Dealing with Pain & Grief, Healing, LIfe Lessons, My Beliefs, My Written Works Misc., Non-Fiction Writing I've Done, Observations, Pain & Grief, Suffering | Tagged choices, courage, decisions, heart, I believe, joy, lasting joy, my beliefs, observations, pain, paths, suffering, will | 22 Comments

A Simple Act

Posted on December 3, 2013 by russtowne

Here is an excerpt from my soon-to-be-released non-fiction book, “Reflections of a Grateful Man”. A Simple Act When I was in my late teens I thought I was having a heart attack, but it proved to be a collapsed lung … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Compassion, Gratitude, Healing, Health, Heroes, Kindness, Non-fiction Stories I've Written, Non-Fiction Writing I've Done, True Stories I've Written, Writing | Tagged author, books, compassion, enhance, enhancers, fiance', gratitude, healing, inspiring, kindness, Life, life enhancers, lung problems, non-fiction, nurses, pain, writing | 23 Comments

Courage Nonetheless

Posted on October 7, 2013 by russtowne

“What may look like a small act of courage is courage nevertheless. The important thing is to be willing to take a step forward.” ~Daisaku Ikeda (Source: tinybuddha) Sources: Bicycle: Sent by a friend, but I don’t know who took … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Animals, Courage, Dogs & Other Wonderful Creatures, Quotes I Love | Tagged action, adversity, challenges, courage, Daisaku Ikeda, Eleanor Roosevelt, smile, tears, tinybuddha, troubles | 18 Comments

Abled

Posted on September 27, 2013 by russtowne

I’ve often found that “disabled” people are some of the most “abled” people I know. I’ve learned much about living and life from people who have been labeled disabled. I’ll bet that many of you have found the same. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Challenges, Choices | Tagged ability, abled, challenge, challenged, disability, disabled | 21 Comments

The Trouble Tree

Posted on September 19, 2013 by russtowne

A friend sent this story to me and I thought some of you would enjoy it as I did. With Love, Russ I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Choices, Family, Grace, Marriage, Stories That Touched Me, Traditions & Rituals | Tagged children, Family, Friend, marriage, Relationship, tree, trouble | 22 Comments

The Day the Girls Rescued Me

Posted on September 2, 2013 by russtowne

(A Re-post for newer readers to this site.) Many years ago I was in a high school Marine Corps JROTC program as the Vietnam War was coming to an end. It was not a real popular time to be in … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Anger, Bullying, Choices, Community, Friendship, Non-Fiction Writing I've Done, True Stories I've Written, Uncategorized | Tagged author, boys, bullies, bullying, girls, high school, JROTC, media, non-fiction, non-fiction stories, taunting, uniform, USMC, writer, writing | 11 Comments

A Gift of Trying Times

Posted on July 25, 2013 by russtowne

I love this quote and believe in the truth and wisdom of it. Sadly, the times I typically learn and re-learn this lesson are when I need friends the most. The great news is that those are the times that … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Awareness, Challenges, Friendship, My Beliefs, Observations, Quotes I Love, Quotos | Tagged adversity, challenges, freindship, friends, photo, quote, quoto, quotos | 6 Comments

Some Quotes I Love

Posted on June 20, 2013 by russtowne

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” –Theodore Roosevelt (Source: Online Wellness Network) “strength does not come from what you can do, it comes from overcoming the things you thought you once thought you couldn’t.” –Rikki Rogers (Source Online Wellness Network) … Continue reading →