Author: Angelina Lee

I was taking a stroll in the Botanical Gardens one evening last week and sat for a moment on a bench. I could hardly believe that just a few hundred feet from where I sat was one of the busiest roadways on the outskirts of our capital city, yet I could hear nothing but the wind gently rustling the leaves in the surrounding trees and the birds sweetly harmonising together.

I had traversed that busy roadway so many times in my life, hurriedly going about my business, and never once gave a thought to visiting the Gardens. I was too busy. I was too rushed. Perhaps I was disillusioned enough to think that anyone who had time to simply stroll in the Gardens on any given evening had nothing productive to do.

Continue reading “Peculiar Beauty”

A full week into the new year and the hot and sweaty resolutions of the past few days tend to simmer when faced with one unavoidable fact of life: it’s back to the grind for most of us.

The twinkling lights and cozy festivities of the past few weeks, for many, may have numbed inner turmoil and general discontent and inspired bright new aspirations for the year yet to unfold.

But, rather suddenly, these high hopes and dreams give way to a blatant reality: New Year. Same Old, Same Old.

Same old job. Same old schedule. Same old routine.

Continue reading “New Year. Same Old.”

As the old adage goes: hindsight is 20/20. I’m sure that we have all wished at some point that we could turn back time.  That we could somehow get a ‘do over’. That we could do or say something differently and therefore avoid regret. But we don’t get ‘do overs’. What we do get, however, is experience.  

These words suggest that instead of longing to change the past, I can use the experience and lessons from my mistakes and shortcomings to inform my decisions, intentions and responses in the future.

Continue reading “My 2020 Vision”

When the big ball drops…
Signalling the end of another day, another year, another decade, I will relish the opportunity for new beginnings, knowing that journeys are travelled one step at a time and that lives are lived from one day to the next, each day bringing with it the chance to begin again.

Continue reading “When the Big Ball Drops”

I hadn’t intended to write anything this week, but I really want to share what’s on my heart. 

It would seem that my newfound deference for intentional living has made a difference in my life, including how I have experienced this holiday season. 

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a childlike love for Christmas. There is something both magical and nostalgic about the lights, music and traditions that I absolutely love. Our local Christmas rhythms can be heard in my house as early as September and my tree is always up before October ends. One would think, therefore, that I would have enough time to truly take in and enjoy the season.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. 

Continue reading “Presence under the Tree”

Today was the first time in a long time that I felt scared. Not the usual fear that comes with worry and overwhelm. I was fully and thoroughly frightened.

I had gone to drop my daughter to a friend’s home high on a hill. I reversed into the driveway at an angle as I figured that this was the best way to manoeuvre around a car parked right across the road. Clearly I miscalculated.

Continue reading “Find Your Grounding”

I want to share something that has been weighing heavily on my heart for the last few days.

I recently shared about my experience in overcoming a very trying situation by carefully choosing my response. The very next day proved to be equally as challenging.

Continue reading “A Work in Progress”

The last few days have been trying, to say the least.

Amidst the usual December rush and growing list of things undone, I have a sick child at home.

Continue reading “A Lesson in Inconvenience”

Last weekend I was asked to share briefly at a Thanksgiving gathering. As I thought about my speaking points, it was easy to list the things for which I am grateful. I am grateful for my husband and my kids. I am grateful for our respective families and friends. I am grateful for health, security and for provision… and the list goes on. I have found that if you take the time to compile a gratitude list, you will quickly see that you have so much to be thankful for.

That’s not what I wanted to talk about, however.

Continue reading “Thankful In All Things”

“People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.” – Thomas Merton

I remember the first time I heard these words. Heard? No. Felt. I felt them. And I don’t mean a soft nudging or gentle tugging at my heart. These words slapped me across the face.

Continue reading “When the Ladder of Success Fails You”