Maura Shaftoe

I woke up the other morning holding my breath 

It's not the first time lately. 

It's an unsettling feeling. 

Like I am waiting for something to start or end.

I am grateful for my life.

I have my health.

I…

The Pursuit 

If we pursue our passions, happiness will be our constant reward. 

Why do we say that? Is happiness the only thing worth striving for?

I personally don’t think so. 

Dare I say happiness is overrated as a goal? 

…

The hijacking of hope 

On any given day, I might not consider hope at all. I might not be actively hoping for something. 

Could it be I am not giving myself the time to hope, or dream or even aspire…

I recently wrote these lyrics

We made a pact together

Stand firm and strong forever

They were written for our Life Into Song Project.  ( there will be more on this project coming soon).

Yes,there is the story of two…

March 2, 2019

When you don't measure up to your best version of you

You've let someone's petty comment land hard and knock you off your game.

You don't keep it together or otherwise lose your #$@t.

You find yourself…

May 13th, 2019

Failing Upwards

I heard a Thunder Levin interview the other day.  He was talking about his long career as a screenwriter.

"The years went by and success always seemed within reach, but never quite", he said. I…

There are going to be some struggles.  Even the best lives have some bumps and mistakes and doubts. 

There are going to be some people, some you know and some you don’t who will take you out at the knees…

When we can’t finish 

November 11, 2018 

At times in our lives, we think the road ahead stretches for ever. 

We have the time we need to accomplish everything. 

Or we have the time we need to start to think…

September, 2018

Decisions 

I’ve been wondering, pondering decisions, how they are made or not made. 

Not the decisions I’ve already made- I’ve found myself to be lacking the ability to acknowledge and praise my own good decision…

The things I pass by

July 24, 2018

There are so many things I pass by, physically or in some other plane.

I step over things, don’t notice they are there.

It’s almost worse than ignoring…

I recently changed the title of my blog page to “things I think about at 3 am”.

  
Really, it’s what I’m thinking of at anytime, anytime that I have created enough space in my day to think,…

Learning to say no 

Mar 18th, 2018 

It can be a difficult thing. 

Learning to say no 

We don’t say no. 

We don’t say no when we should. 

walk around not saying no…

February 13th, 2018

Get Your Hopes Up 

I was having a conversation not long ago with my son. He was making plans to set off on a new adventure which would dramatically change the trajectory of his life 

Inertia 

January 2nd, 2018

It’s not an accident that my first blog of the year is addressing something I find hard to comprehend or exercise control over. 

I have a lot of plans for this year…

Respect 

That is a loaded word, for some, perhaps many of us. 

What does it even mean? 

“a feeling of deep admiration for someone elicited by their abilities, qualities or achievements” 

“esteem, high regard, due regard…

October 9, 2017 

I wonder at the difference between persistence and stubbornness. 

Are they just two shades of the same colour? 

Does persistence imply a desire or a need? 

Is desire a wish or a want…

September 24, 2017 

What if it’s not on the list? 

I’ve written more than 1 blog about having many and varied hobbies, habits, things I do. Some things I do easily, some require effort. Doing 1…

September 4th, 2017 

Finding your way or caring less so you can care more 

Eventually, you need to find your way, the way you are in the world, the way you present, the way you build…

The things that can chip away… 

August 13, 2017 

There’s a thing that can happen. 

With subtlety or obvious effect. 

It’s a thing we do to ourselves mostly, without knowing it or not really on purpose…

April 9, 2017 

I'm multi-tasking.  I'm at the gym, trying to keep much needed cardio in my health and fitness routine.  There's music blaring, and the 5 televisions in front of the cardio area are each playing different shows…

April 30, 2017 

Spring keeps teasing us this year. 

The refreshing rain turns to sleet, freezes, turns to snow.  It's been overcast, seems like the sun has been hiding. 

The buds are on the trees, though, and…

April 23, 2017 

Regrets..Regret...Regretting. 

I've been thinking about regret. 

I have a line in one of my songs, "regrets and all they cost" 

Things I have and have not done. 

Things I have and have…

March 17, 2017 

A few years ago, my son and I took a road trip 

He had updated my Ipod with songs from Bob Marley and Johnny Cash to Years and Years, Frank Turner, Neon Trees. 

We…

November 21, 2011 

I have a myriad of interests to which I apply myself at times wholeheartedly with determination and focus and at times with the casual indifference with which you might treat a good friend, not intentionally ignoring…