When I first started blogging, I ended each post with a writing/reflection prompt, and continued that practice over the years. Most of the writing prompts were questions based on a particular blog post, but sometimes I would include a suggested writing exercise: What helps you rest from your work? Are your neighbours strangers, acquaintances, or … Continue reading Prompts to Get You Writing
When I started this website, I used the tagline “Spiritual Practice, Faith, and Life.” I really didn’t know what to call my new blogging venture, but I figured I had to start with something, and I could always change my title later. As it turned out, “later” came sooner than I expected, for the following … Continue reading Resting in the One Who Is Faithful
This week I received a free calendar in the mail along with this note: I've never once felt the need to urge you to throw away something I sent you. But this year, PLEASE, throw away your 2020 calendar. Let's do our part to put this year behind us. In many ways it's been a … Continue reading The Top 10 of 2020 from April Yamasaki
Thank you to everyone who took the time to answer my reader survey via surveymonkey. Your responses are a great encouragement to me and help shape the way I seek to engage readers and to contribute positively to our shared life of faith. Given the volume of responses, I'm not able to include all of the comments … Continue reading What Readers are Saying
I'm always looking to increase my engagement with readers both in real life and on-line. So for this year I re-designed this blog and created my first e-book as a subscriber bonus. More recently I returned to posting a new article each week instead of alternate weeks. But do these things truly engage and add … Continue reading I Value Your Feedback
I never thought I would start a second blog. Just this one blog, posting once a week, keeps me busy enough--sometimes busier than I mean to be. And my current tagline--"Writing and Other Acts of Faith"--covers everything, doesn't it? On this blog I've written book reviews and retreat notes, pondered social media and spiritual practice, … Continue reading When You Work for the Church: the good, the bad, and the ugly, and how we can all do better
One of the benefits of blogging is getting free books, although as other bloggers have already discovered, I'm learning that sometimes that can be too much of a good thing. I love reading, and I can read fast when I want to, but it's just not possible to keep up with all of the requests … Continue reading The Confidence and Courage of a Quiet Spirit
According to a recent study, Facebook makes people unhappy. Some say that everyone else on Facebook and Twitter seems to be having a wonderful time which makes their own life seem rather drab in comparison. Others report trouble concentrating or struggle with FOMO (the Fear Of Missing Out). When I use social media to compare myself … Continue reading Why Social Media Makes Me Happy
April Yamasaki 