jeff's blog
jeff's blog
Jeff Delp
My blog is a little bit of everything -- random thoughts, adventures, and encouragement ;)
Latest Posts
I'm not one to rush time, or wish away the days. They pass with sufficient speed on their own. I get frustrated when I see Halloween decorations in August, or pumpkin spice anything before we are solidly into sweater weather. It seems...
I'm writing this from the airport in Phoenix. Waiting for a flight to Kansas. Something I've had planned for several months. I'm headed back to my hometown to help for a few days on my family's Christmas tree farm. Yesterday, my original...
Today I was thinking about things, or experiences, I believe are under appreciated. Here are just a few on my list: fresh popcorn a book you can't put down the bubbling sound of a stream "sweatshirt" weather the smell of the forest after...
Today I tried to complete a "simple" lawn irrigation repair for my brother. I'm not a very "handy" person, but I was confident this was within the scope of my abilities. I was wrong. After three trips to the hardware store, and several...
When my nephew was three years old, he went to a local park with his dad. They returned sooner than expected. Ezra was asked how the trip to the park went, and he provided a one word response -- with some exasperation. "People!?" Indeed....
I was too ambitious with my initial weekly sharing (weekly 15). I’ve decided to make it a bit more achievable — without a specific number. The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world. - Dr. Paul...
I've done a lot of quitting in my lifetime. Most incidents of throwing in the towel were rather insignificant. A fishing trip that wasn't going well. A round of golf (I'm a terrible golfer). A new year's resolution. A book that didn't...
Sometimes I feel a little off. Discombobulated. Struggling to find my rhythm. There is no shortage of advice on what to do in these situations, but here is a simple plan that has consistently worked for me. Take out a pen and paper (I...
This morning I was texting with my uncle. In response to a query about how he was doing, he responded, “Hanging in there. Trying to obey the yellow light” Obey the yellow light. Indeed! Slow. Down. In a world that is addicted to worry...
A raven I photographed (on Halloween) while walking the dog. It has nothing to do with my post, except that I now have time to take the picture and post it. As previously mentioned, I retired at the end of the last school year after 25+...
Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another. - Alfred Adler The world seems to be operating on a shortage of empathy these days. Empathy requires a level of...
Yesterday I was driving home, in silence, and began to take notice of other drivers and people walking. Given just a few seconds in passing, it is difficult to ascertain how that person might be feeling — or what they are thinking. You...
15 things: 1 quote, 2 random thoughts, 3 things I'm working on, 4 gratitudes, and 5 things to share. Choosing to have joy is not naively thinking everything will be easy. It is courageously believing that there is still hope, even when...
Sunset on a dirt road, near my home. Today, I feel like writing about home. I have lived in Arizona for nearly half of my life, but I "grew up" in rural Kansas. For me, Kansas is home. Fields of wheat, alfalfa, and corn. The cold air and...
The world is loud. Sometimes we need a break. Peace and quiet. But, not all that is quiet is calm. Some of what we consume is nearly silent, but percussively loud. Social media. Mindless chatter. News reports. Advertisements....