Practically speaking blog by Jill Donovan

Don’t Pour Your Tea Into The Cup Of Someone Else’s Opinion

Last week, I excitedly shared an idea with a stranger seated next to me on an airplane, convinced I had a captive audience. But when they promptly slipped on their noise-canceling headphones, I rea...

It’s Not Me. It’s You.

There is nothing like the slightly claustrophobic feeling of a middle seat on an airplane. You neither possess the liberty of the window view nor the freedom to use the restroom without playing a g...

FedEx Your Fears

Last week, I got one of those early morning calls from my daughter, who was miles away at a summer program. The thing is, when your children are far from home, any call can feel like a crisis. It d...

Why Are You Holding Broken Glass?

In a video that recently captured my attention, a girl stood, clasping a broken piece of glass in her hands. Her palms bled from the sharp edges. I watched as she stubbornly refused to relinquish h...

Naked We Came. Naked We Will go.

This weekend I walked into my garage, stared at the chaos, and thought, “Whose idea was it to open a second-hand store here?” Retreating from the chaos, I ventured into our all-purpose utility ro...

You Can Run But You Can’t Hide

There is a crazy statistic that 75% of people fear public speaking more than they fear death. Whether those exact numbers line up, I know of several people who would almost rather die than do a spe...

Honey, I Lost The Instructions

One of my favorite things about being a patient in a hospital (and there are very few) is that after you give birth, they will provide you with a ride in a wheelchair straight to the door of your c...

Survivor: Your Own Reality Series

When I think of the term ‘Survivor,’ my mind paints several vivid pictures. I think of the people who have waged fierce battles against devastating illnesses like cancer, emerging victorious. I c...

The Etch-A-Sketch Method For Moving On

Have you ever left a conversation with someone only to find yourself asking, “Why on earth did I say that?” Or perhaps you were in a situation where you had to console someone, and despite your b...

Finding Favor Without Striving

Imagine this:You are seated comfortably on an extraordinary train.In a compartment uniquely yours.You are headed towards a thoughtfully prepared destination.Also created just for you. Now picture y...