Susan Harris Howell's Blog

Photo by Michele Bergami on Unsplash

I used to play a game on my Kindle reader in which the player makes as many words as possible from the five letters provided. If you get stuck, tapping a button will rearrange the letters and often a new word you hadn’t thought of becomes obvious.

One evening while playing, I got the letters O-D-E-L-N. I quickly found several words. LED. NODE. DONE. OLDEN. I’d tap the button occasionally; the letters would rearrange, and I’d find more words. As I played the g...

Photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash

I enjoy social media. Instagram, TikTok, BlueSky – they all have their place. But being a woman of a certain age, Facebook is my go-to, my favorite platform to scroll and post my thoughts.

And while it has become more combative over the past decade, I make it a practice to not unfriend those with whom I disagree.

I know many people who do, and I certainly understand why. If those you interact with on social media are friends in the traditional sense – that is, peo...

Photo by Mollie Sivaram on Unsplash

“God did not save you to be an introvert!” read the sign outside a church in my small town.

If you are a card-carrying introvert as I am, you might be offended. You might find yourself dodging other vehicles and pedestrians as you do a doubletake. You later report your outrage to an introverted friend, who reminds you that introversion is not a diagnosis in search of a treatment.

Thus affirmed, you remember you are not second-rate and those who put up church sign...

Photo by Konrad Bednarek on Unsplash

“Do something outside the norms of your own gender and notice the reactions of those around you.” That was one of the first assignments I gave my students when I taught a gender studies course.

Their responses were creative.

One young woman parked in the lot of a local department store, opened the hood, and began looking for “the problem.” She assured each would-be helper that while she appreciated their offers she had it under control.

Most believed her; one a...

Photo by Felipe Salgado on UnsplashText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedRaindrops on roses, opportunities for speaking, All of this leads to my happiness peaking.To contact me now is attached to no strings,'Cause speaking is one of my favorite things!Cream-colored invites are not necessary.I'll come to your club or your church sanctuary, Your dinner or class - any one of these things,'Cause speaking is one of my favorite things! If you need a ...

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

“What pushes someone toward becoming a workaholic?”

“What do we get out of spending too much time at work at the expense of our families?”

These are the questions pondered several years ago in a Sunday School class I attended.

Answers ranged from the desire to provide for a family to employment insecurities to a desire to contribute to creative, meaningful work. What stood out to me, however, was even though the group was comprised of equal number...

Photo by Tolu Akinyemi 🇳🇬 on Unsplash

One morning when I was teenager, I was the first one up at the Harris household getting ready for school. Since it was winter, it was still dark outside as I flipped off the bathroom light and stepped into the hallway to go the few steps to my bedroom.

Unbeknownst to me, my dad had just left his bedroom and was standing at the end of the hall as I turned toward my room.

I jumped and yelled as my autonomic nervous system went into overdrive. I choked out a quest...

Photo by Guzel Maksutova on Unsplash

I have been borrowing library books for as long as I can remember. And while I do buy books occasionally - to support a new author or if the book has information I’ll want to reference later - most of my reading today comes to me in digital form from my library.

I used to wonder how authors felt about people borrowing rather than buying their books. But considering the number of books purchased by libraries and the number of people who wouldn't read their book...

Photo by Tim Bernhard on Unsplash

I’m a safe driver. I really am.

But on one Saturday evening circa 1977, I made the embarrassing mistake of stopping at a red light and then proceeding to make a left-hand turn while said light was still red.

While no accidents ensued (thankfully), there was a police car at the same intersection whose path I crossed while making this turn.

The police officer was unhappy.

So was I.

So was my dad. (But that’s another story for another post.)

Why did I make a left-ha...

Photo by Muhammad Asyfaul on Unsplash

I would really appreciate it if you’d take this survey. Won’t take you more than a few seconds and will really help me out.

Thank you!

Start Survey