A Motto for Life

At some point in life, we all realize that the challenges and adversities we face are not crises – they are life, real life. How we emerge from these challenges depends on attitude.

My Great Aunt Alida was irrepressibly cheerful, despite more than her share of trials. One day, long ago, she let her secret out. When Aunt Alida took ill and was hospitalized, my beloved cousin, Lynda, went to visit her. Lynda asked Alida if she would like to take a walk. She agreed, and then reached for her handbag to pull out her lipstick. As she expertly applied a fresh coat, she exclaimed, “Red lips for courage, that’s what I always say!” And so a family motto was coined.

When it came time to name this enterprise, it just seemed right to pay homage to Alida’s brave and spirited words. So, whatever challenges you face–whether it is the loss of a loved one or simply a case of writer’s block–remember to wear your

– Eileen Cannon Paulin