AI - Friend or Foe?

This is a controversial subject, AI. The use of it, the love or hate of it, the usability of it, to the overpowering and world-dominating aspect of it, we all have different views.

There is a plethora of articles about AI and its benefits and detriments, so I'm not going into that. I'm curious how you, as the everyday person who likes the slow life, or writing, or anything arts-related, feel about it?

I've been an opponent from the beginning. Sure, there may be a few amazing things it can do, like taking any and all information from all over the world and delivering it to you in seconds, but do we really need that? Will science truly thrive from it? Will the world evolve more positively from it?

I don't think so. We already can't navigate our own roads without Google anymore. How is this going to help our brains? It can't.

Music written, composed, and sung by AI? Yep. We don't need musicians or music teachers anymore.

Art created and displayed for the world to ooh and ahh over? Yep, there go the artists. 

Actors, acting on television, movies, and in theaters, are created by AI, not actual human beings. No more real people acting. Isn't this the ultimate tragedy Shakespeare never saw coming!

Articles, stories, and books now written and emitted like a factory product, out in seconds? No reason for writers anymore, is there?

And that's why I can't stand AI. Our brains began stagnating with the start of the internet, and now, with AI, we will be perpetually lost. We are not smarter having everything at our fingertips; we've merely placed our brains into autopilot - more realistically, we have turned off our brains - and have stopped learning.

I write regularly for Chicken Soup for the Soul, and one of their "requirements" for a good story is to not use AI. Over the last two years, their wording about AI was rather congenial and said something to the effect of "It doesn't make your words sound that good anyway." How kind of them.

Now? I just looked at that paragraph placed at the end of their story guidelines page, and it says in the boldest letters possible, "DO NOT USE AI AT ALL." My, my, my ... how things have changed.

There is the misconception that using AI will improve a piece. It does not, apparently. I'd like to venture that the same concept can be said for music. Sure, it can spit out a piece of work, but is it that great? Is it not a conglomeration of regurgitated pieces from all over the world? 

In my opinion, if a human brain didn't work on it, it's not going to be ideal. It may be pretty, it may be packaged nicely, but it's not real, it's not whole, and it's not complete.

Yet, this is a Pandora's box that has been opened, never to be shut again. I suppose this post is a little too much, a little too late. We can't go back. The revenue generated from AI creation is what will propel AI to keep improving, if that's possible.

But I don't want art, music, acting, or writing from a machine. I want it from a human being. A being who was made in the image of God. AI is a machine made by man... it's a removal of ourselves further from God, more to the world of man-made "freedoms" and "rights."

AI is the dumbing down and numbing down of the whole world. Exactly where "they" want us to be (I'm still not sure who "they" is, but "they" certainly aren't for us.) "Trust AI," they say, "It's here to help you," - and with that, all I have to say is "no." I'm not saying no because I'm getting old and don't want change.

As I'm writing this post, my Grammarly software keeps telling me how to rewrite and "make better" the sentences I'm forming. I don't want that! I want my words. I use this software strictly to correct typos, not to rewrite paragraphs for me. How do I become a better writer if the software is doing it for me?

I'm saying no because by saying yes to AI, to a very powerful entity, it is trying to (and going to) succeed in taking the place of us God-made humans and ultimately, God himself. 

We don't need us; we don't need God; we only need AI.

I will write without AI, I will choose to listen to real artists, and I will watch real actors as often as possible. And to all of those others who love AI and will try to convince me otherwise to use it, I kindly but ever-fervently say, in my best Dr. Evil (from Austin Powers) voice, "How about no?"

Thankful for the Birds

"All the good birds are at the tops of the trees."

These were the words I said the other day on a walk as my husband and I watched a hawk survey our neighborhood. Because it's true. The biggest and the best ones seem to be in plain sight, yet often, we don't see them because we aren't looking up. 

My husband told me to write down those words, that they would make a great title for a book. And he's right, it would. It feels like a middle-grade/ young adult book by John Green, or even a thriller by James Patterson. Regardless, I said it because it's true and because it's taken me almost fifty years to figure this out.

Looking for a bald eagle? It's probably going to be at the top of a tree. We have them. They're rare, but such a fun sight to see. They hang out by the river and occasionally come inland (a few hundred yards to our house) searching for food. Looking for a hawk? Well, that's what we found, sitting all by himself, watching us walk along, his eyes piercing through the distance.

Looking for a group of vultures? (Also known as a committee). They live in our neighbor's backyard too, especially in the evenings, up to ten of them, and all toward the tops of the trees waiting for the next meal to show up, maybe on our street, or the next street over. Who knows.

I was lucky to spot a pair of beautiful barn owls the other morning at the top of two sequoia trees next to our house. They were hooting to each other and probably heading to bed. But there they were, just as I woke up, and the phrase rang out true again: All the good birds are at the tops of the trees.

Now, can I say this of turkeys? Well, as it turns out, yes. We have a ridiculous number of wild turkeys in our neighborhood. Rafters of them. And they take turns in groups, trotting through the neighborhood, messing up our lawns and sidewalks, only to act shocked that we might run them over as they nonchalantly cross the street. The toms are the worst, fluffing their feathers and acting tough - as though the car were just another turkey to fend off.

These turkeys also sleep in the trees! I've seen them morning after morning cawing out something that sounds like a dying duck, as they take turns flapping out of the tree to the road to take control of the roads again. They're not smart, yet they're rather noble. And also happen to make a good meal.

Where am I going with this? Only to make sure you enjoy your turkey dinner. Truly, enjoy it. They won't be missed (too much). And two, next time you take a walk, look up. There's a host of wildlife perched at the tops of trees. If you're not paying attention, like I haven't, you'll miss a simple thing that's been going on for thousands of years: All the good birds are at the tops of trees.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Slow down and enjoy it all.

-Heather

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Pets, Pets, Pets

I am an animal lover.

There is no doubt about it, I love all animals (but especially dogs), and Chicken Soup for the Soul's latest book, released today, Pets, Pets, Pets, is proof of it.

I have not one but two stories in it! One about my resident owl (which I wrote about here as well) and one story about my late dog, which also happens to include my "niece" dog in the story, too.

As always, each book has 101 stories, and my two are a small fraction of them. The truth is, I'm always thrilled to be in these books, as it allows me to read all the other stories. 

I've just started the book, and I look forward to working my way through it. There are heart-warming stories, heart-breaking stories, and stories that will literally make you laugh out loud.

But as an animal lover, this book is perfection. The title alone makes me smile.

I'm honored to be a part of it, and in a small way, it keeps the memory of my beloved Sierra alive. This world is a better place because of our animals, and I'm so glad others feel the same way. To our pets!

Get the book here...

-Heather

PS. Chicken Soup for the Soul is always looking for pet stories, particularly about dogs and cats. If you have a good one you think others need to hear, try submitting it here on their website. The world needs your story, too. ♥

Living the Fall Life

As I took a walk yesterday morning, crunching through the acorns and leaves, I realized I was in the middle of a dream come true: Fall is on the way, the days are getting cooler, but the season hasn't passed yet. I am thick in the throes of the beauty of the season, but I still have time for the actual season to come. What a place to be: anticipating and also enjoying at the same time.

Fall is, without a doubt, my favorite time of year. It happens in just a couple of days, Monday the 22nd. And as always, particularly because living in California means our summers last very long, I'm ready for it. 

I also love spring - it comes in a close second. But fall, with its giving way to letting go, changing, altering, and moving on... yet knowing a new future is coming to bring you more good things, feels like the most refreshing feeling in the world.

To make me truly feel connected to the season, I'm one of those who need to get into the spirit of the season. I haven't always lived the slow life, but I do now, and I realize that years ago, when I first fell in love with the autumnal season, it was because it was a return to slowing down. It was calling me all these years. Fall feels like I'm coming home every time she comes to visit.

The days are shorter, meaning more time at home. The nights are colder, which means more time cozying up in a blanket and reading. The weather means cooking, baking, creating, and mellowing. Fall is the season for those who love a slow-living lifestyle, as it marks a return to creation within the home.

As we carry through the next few months, if you're yearning to hold onto the season for as long as possible (like I am), do the things that nestle you further into that feeling. Create that home you long to be in. That world of wonder and enchantment to letting things change and enjoying it. 

1. Bake: Yes, bake that pie, or make the cupcakes, or cookies. I'm not much of a sugar-eater these days, nor do I eat much gluten, but that doesn't mean I don't occasionally indulge. Baking takes me back to when I was young, creating confectionery concoctions with my mom and sisters with every season. If you're like me, you can still bake without gluten or lessen the sugar. There are still ways to create that baking atmosphere without having to give up restrictions. But, it's also a small window to enjoy the treats you've always loved, too.

2. Create: For me, reading and writing are the biggest additions to the season. Don't get me wrong, I read and write year-round. But when the days are cooler, I want to do more of those things. My husband plays guitar, so when he's home, he's in our music room playing music. There's nothing like a home filled with live music to not only indulge the senses but take me to a place back in time where music and the arts filled every home, every day.

3. Recreate: Walking should be at the forefront of your exercise routine for the fall. Why? because of the bounty of beauty just outside your door. Every day, you can document the changing of the leaves' colors and watch the apples ripen. The darker mornings give you a chance to see the sun rise in its brilliant morning shades of magnificent to sublime. Watch new wildlife appear, new autumnal birds versus the summer birds that have cleared out. Everything is changing, and it's up to you to notice it before it changes again.

4. Make: With a new season comes a new wardrobe. It's time to put away the shorts and t-shirts and add in the sweaters, corduroy, wool, and boots. If you need a new sweater or jacket, let me suggest second-hand sweaters, preferably vintage. Vintage clothing is almost always better quality, and with better-made and better quality clothing, you also have items that will last far longer than any modern equivalent. Having sold vintage clothing for fifteen years, the quality, in my book, is incomparable. Thrift for a fall piece for your wardrobe, and if you're like me, who wants to keep their closet minimal, then donate one that no longer fits or you no longer wear. Let the circle of life within the textile world carry on.

5. Take: If there's anything to truly take with the season, it's the beauty of it. The leaves and their insane hues, magentas and pumpkin colors. Go pick apples at an orchard, find a pumpkin patch, or grab a natural and organic collection of leaves and nuts just outside your front door. Nature is leaving us gifts everywhere we turn. I even have collected a small bouquet of turkey feathers! 

Fall comes once a year. It's up to us to appreciate each season. And to do that, we have to deliberately notice the season's special attributes, whether we are inside or outside. Living the fall life means going back to our old ways of slow living and enjoying the bounty of color, smells, tastes, and sounds of the season, no matter where we live.

Happy Autumn.

All God's Creatures 2026 Devotional by Guidposts

Today, Guideposts releases a beautiful devotional book filled with stories of animals. What a fun and inspirational concept! The title says it all: Daily Devotions for Animal Lovers.

I was blessed to be a part of last year's All God's Creatures devotional (2025), and I've been doubly blessed to be a part of  All God's Creatures, 2026 as well.

In it, I have five devotions about various animal encounters, which, for me, happen quite regularly, living just across the street from a proverbial nature preserve. 

It's been a dream of mine to be part of Guideposts devotional books for years, and now that I'm doing it, I can't help but be grateful.

Get your copy of All God's Creatures, 2026, and have something fun and inspirational to read every single day... something that can set the tone for your day; one full of gratitude, a slower pace, and creature curiosities.

A Life Chosen

Just a couple of weeks ago, our internet was down, which also meant our television was down too. Our internet/ TV provider was working on the infrastructure, so the entire neighborhood was offline for the better part of a day. 

For most of us, me included, this was a bit frustrating. Most of my work is online, so not being able to get there sidetracked my day. But only sort of.

While we knew in advance that this day would be an offline kind of day, so much of what we do revolves around the use of our Wi-Fi and television. But I also decided that this would be a day of slow living for me. And I knew exactly what that would entail.

Reading, writing, gardening, and taking a very long walk. All of those things happened. 

The day was decidedly old-school in that there was no morning news on the television, there was no evening news, and the distraction of the internet wasn't available. So it was up to me to be productive the way people used to be productive.

It was interesting to write with only my writing software, knowing my internet wasn't there to distract me. It was nice to read a physical book, rather than my Kindle (because I'd forgotten to upload a book I had borrowed through Libby and couldn't read it). The garden is always wonderful, and I transplanted a succulent and tended to the weeds in my herb garden. As for the walk? It was perfect.

But I did tend to keep checking if the wi-fi was back up. I used our 5G, making sure I didn't miss important emails or orders from my business. There is a habitual online way of living that we have acquired that makes it feel like we're functioning abnormally if we don't have it.

Which, from what I'm seeing, is backwards to true living. Do we really feel it's so necessary to be tied to the internet? What would we do if the internet were broken forever? Surely we are more than humans ball-and-chained to our phones.

The next day, my husband and I walked by our elderly neighbor, who was out front picking up errant leaves on her driveway. "So, did you like that day of no internet? I was so lost at what to do without having my television," she said. "I do have a book that I've been ignoring for a year... I suppose it was time to finish it." She laughed, and we laughed, but deep down, her words resonated with me. And maybe depressed me.

Mind you, this is a nearly 80-year-old woman who knew what life used to be without the internet and television. Even she has forgotten what it's like to live without either of them. 

I don't want to live like that, where I'm completely lost if I don't have my television or internet working. The arts have diminished over the last few decades because people aren't writing, reading, painting, sewing, sculpting, playing an instrument, composing music, and myriad of other artistic and creative endeavors. 

We're "influencers" and observers of the arts, rather than partakers, and now we have AI to take care of all of those arts we once knew how to do. (AI, I am not a fan of you in any way.) But, when we take creative liberties and shift away from television or the internet, we are foregoing a life that advertises, entices, and dictates how we're to live; one that forces me to conform.

In reality, we choose our lives. We can live without dependence on the internet, but still use it when we need it. We can live without the television, only watching when we've done the rest of our artistic activities. We can strike a balance by bringing in activities that don't require either of those devices for most of our lives, leaving the internet and television as last resorts.

A life chosen or one chosen for you?

You get to decide.

Memories of the Hound

The thing about owning a dog, a dog you love, is that when they leave, unless you get another one, you never quite recover from it.

It's been a year and a half since my dog of nearly 14 years left us to go to the great doggie daycare in the sky. I think of her the most during the 4th of July because that date, as well as New Year's Eve, was the worst for her. Fireworks were not her friend. 

For those who haven't owned a dog they love, I'm sorry. You're missing out on an irreplaceable feeling. It's powerful. And at times, it's too powerful. It's a feeling I wish could be replaced.

I'm in a much better place now than when she first left, but just like with people whom we love that die, you don't stop missing them because time has passed. Sure, feelings fade, memories fade, but that love - that deep, inner soul-taking love you have - will always be there.

And that's where I'm at these days. I miss her, but I'm okay.

My life looks different, not having to clean and care for her, and there's freedom in that. But her love for me is gone. I don't have to take her to the vet, and calm her nerves at all the smells and sounds, but I would trade that stress to have her back.

This recent Fourth of July was only the second since losing her that I haven't had to cower with her as the fireworks take over the neighborhood. It was always an all-night battle of dealing with her fright. It felt traumatic to both her and me. This holiday was always under a cloud of worry because of the immense fear she dealt with in the war-like sounds that pervaded the neighborhood.

I don't have to worry about that anymore. 

It took me five months to clean off her doggy drool on one particular part of our floor. This was where she would stand with her evening treat and drool, not wanting to eat it too quickly, yet still holding it in her mouth. I cleaned up that drool every day when she was alive, and complained about it. Because that's what we humans do. But after she left, I didn't want to change it; it felt like she was here as long as that drool was there. So I left it for a while. 

It took six months for me to clean the nose prints off the sliding glass door, too.

Memories of my dog are everywhere, all the time, and I can't tell you how overjoyed I am at getting to pet neighbors' dogs, family dogs, friends' dogs, and random dogs out of nowhere. 

I got to visit with a beautiful golden retriever just a few days ago, on the 4th, named Peaches. She was beautiful, old, happy, and smelled just like my golden doodle. She was heaven-sent. All I could think about when petting her was how wonderful it felt to hug her, and then, "Would she sleep tonight?"

Maybe one day I'll get a new dog. But, a part of me doesn't want to forget what I had with my dog. People say to get a new one, and yet, that doesn't bring back my old dog. It's like having a friend die and someone saying, "All you have to do is find a new friend." Well, yeah. But I want the old one back.

I'm glad to have the memories, though. My love for her and her love for me is a beautiful memory. And now, I kinda wish we still had nose prints on the window. 

If you have a pup or friend, or a family member you love, make sure you tell them. Document everything. Write things down. Take lots of photos.

Nothing is forever, but that love in our heart sure is.