Category Archives: Breakthroughs

I Changed My View and It Changed Me

Posted on March 20, 2013 by russtowne

There were times many years ago when I thought my friends had abandoned me. I was wrong. I had only thought that they and I were friends. I hadn’t really been much of a friend to them so I shouldn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Breakthroughs, Friendship, Introspection, LIfe Lessons, My Beliefs, Observations | Tagged abandoned, change, changed, changed my view, friends, Friendship, it changed me, view | 15 Comments

Sometimes It Takes a Hero, A Leader, And Teamwork

Posted on March 16, 2013 by russtowne

A boy is drowning in the ocean. A crowd gathers on the beach. A man runs out to try to save the boy. Despite his best efforts, he can’t drag the boy and himself to safety and begins floundering. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Breakthroughs, Courage, Creativity, Fear, Ingenuity, Inspiring, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged boy, breaks, broken, drowning, help, Hero, human chain, leader, New Zealand, NZ, rescue, teamwork, undertow, waves | 10 Comments

The Choice

Posted on February 28, 2013 by russtowne

In response to a recent post titled, “One Of My Heroes And A Quote That Helps To Explain Why”, a reader asked, “How do you do that–leave it (Ed. note: hatred, bitterness, anger) behind? That is an excellent question. Here … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attittude, Breakthroughs, Dealing with Pain & Grief, Feelings/Emotions, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Growth/Learning, Healing | Tagged Anger, bitterness, chains, cling, Forgiveness, free, gifts, hatred, hppy, prison | 6 Comments

Becoming the Kind Of Friend I Wanted To Have

Posted on February 4, 2013 by russtowne

There was a time when I was lonely so I tried to make friends and invite more people into my life. Most people declined the invitation. I simply didn’t have enough positive things to offer to them and/or I had … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Breakthroughs, Challenges, LIfe Lessons | Tagged efforts, Friend, friends, great, Important, invitation, Life, loneliness, lonely, meaningful, time, works | 12 Comments

Truth Beckons

Posted on January 23, 2013 by russtowne

Dare I heed its call? I’ve fought it for so long Did all I could to stall But I see now I was wrong But when bigotry was all I knew It was safer with my own kind So I … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Breakthroughs, Courage, Freedom, Growth/Learning, Poetry I Wrote, Suffering, Truth | Tagged beauty, breakthroughs, courage, freedom, growth, healing, poem, poems, poetry, suffering, truth | 4 Comments

Regaining One’s Voice Via Technology

Posted on January 12, 2013 by russtowne

A year or two ago My Beloved had thyroid cancer and went through surgery, radiation treatments, etc. Vocal chords surround the thyroid and there is always a risk that when the thyroid is removed that temporary or permanent damage to … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Breakthroughs, Challenges, Stories That Touched Me | Tagged cancer, movie critic, Roger Ebert, thyroid, thyroid cancer, vocal chords, voice box | 12 Comments

The Change

Posted on January 3, 2013 by russtowne

The daunting gauntlet that was my life Was full of stress and strain and strife Felt only pain and misery Hope seemed a distant memory It was even hard to lift my head Or get myself out of bed Trouble … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Adversity, Attittude, Breakthroughs, Challenges, Dealing with Pain & Grief, Gratitude, Loneliness, Poetry I Wrote | Tagged amazed, bound, change, cocoon, gratitude, heart, kindness, Life, Love, misery, pain, room, sadness, self, trapped | 10 Comments

The Beginning of Love

Posted on December 16, 2012 by russtowne

“The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twistThoth to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.”. — Thomas Merton I got married … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Breakthroughs, LIfe Lessons, Marriage, Quotes I Love, Relationship Lessons Learned | Tagged find, image, Love, ourselves, perfectly, reflection, themselves, Thomas Merton, wist | 6 Comments

A Quiet Voice at the End of the Day

Posted on December 9, 2012 by russtowne

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow.” –Mary Anne Radmacher This post is dedicated to all who are struggling, facing fear, have fallen flat on … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Breakthroughs, Challenges, Courage, Dealing with Pain & Grief, Fear, Patience & Persistence, Quotes I Love | Tagged beauty, believe, courage, critically important, facing fear, falling down, fear, hearts, Mary Anne Radmacher, others, share, share with the world, sharing, spirits, tomorrow, Try, try again, we | 9 Comments

Awakening

Posted on December 8, 2012 by russtowne

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.” – Carl Jung This has certainly proven true for me. I used to dream a lot, and even made many … Continue reading →