Author: Lisa

Lisa A. Listwa is a self-employed writer with experience in education, publishing, and the martial arts. Believing there was more to life than punching someone else’s time clock and inspired by the words of Henry David Thoreau, she traded her life as a high school educator for a life as a writer and hasn’t looked back. She is mother to one glorious handful of a daughter, wife to the nicest guy on the planet, and reluctant but devoted owner of three Rotten Cats. You can find her adventures and thoughts on living life deliberately here on the blog.

Six Sentence Stories: Scenes from a Convenience Store

I don’t come here nearly often enough to qualify for “regular” status, but I’ve been here enough to know how things work, that there is an order and a system to everything, and everyone knows their role. At this time of day, most people are here for a jump start to their day, ignoring everything that isn’t at…

By Lisa January 6, 2016 Off

1000 Voices Speak for Compassion – December Link-Up

It’s that time again, friends! This month, 1000 Voices Speak for Compassion continues to work toward a better world with a particular focus on the broad topic of compassion. Write a post relevant to this month’s focus – compassion – and add it to the link-up by clicking the blue button below. Here’s how to get involved: Join 1000 Voices…

By Lisa December 21, 2015 Off

TToT – Lights!

Time is really getting away from me this week. I definitely don’t like when it gets to be Sunday afternoon and I still haven’t done my TToT. So I’m thankful that I’m finally getting this done, even if it is a very weak effort. For this week, can I just say I’m thankful that we finally…

By Lisa December 20, 2015 Off

Six Sentence Stories – The Lie, Part 2

The scope of his ignorance was stultifying. Jack could not have been more unprepared for what awaited him outside the relative safety of the shuttle…the unbearable heat, the desolate landscape, the suffocating oppressive atmosphere that made breathing practically impossible. He wouldn’t have to worry about anything else killing him if the very act of his…

By Lisa December 18, 2015 Off

TToT – To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

Oh, I need to sleep. But fear not, friends. Unlike our friend Hamlet who contemplates suicide with those words in my title, I have no such morbid thoughts of ending my time here on this earth. Hamlet was a messed up dude. I’m just really tired and will take my leave here to enjoy an…

By Lisa December 13, 2015 Off

Six Sentence Stories – Standard Drill

“Standard drill, Maggie. Please.” She took her usual seat at the diner counter as she ordered and sat staring, unseeing, at yesterday’s newspaper; the regulars knew better than to try and engage her in conversation and anyone unfamiliar with this routine would be quickly convinced to move along by her distinct antisocial air. The old man…

By Lisa December 10, 2015 Off

Why I Seriously Need Advent This Year

I hate people. No, seriously. I do. OK, maybe I don’t hate people so much as I really hate how much negative crap people manage to spew into the world. Maybe I’m just over reading about all the bad shit people do to one another. It is really hard to have Christmas spirit and feel peace and…

By Lisa December 7, 2015 Off

TToT – I Think I Can!

This has been one heck of a week! I feel like The Little Engine That Could. Except at the moment, I’m so tired and I really need a nap. But I’m determined to get my TToT in FRIDAY because if I don’t, it won’t happen at all. So let’s get right to it…thankfuls ahead!

By Lisa December 4, 2015 Off

Six Sentence Stories – The Lie

He almost never thought about Earth anymore. There was no point, since you could hardly even call it a planet now, he thought as he caught sight of what remained drifting into view at the corner of his window, shadowed against the backdrop of blazing swirls of vermilion, persimmon, marigold that would complete its inevitable…

By Lisa December 4, 2015 Off

TToT – We’re Here Already?

I can’t believe it’s the weekend again already. I also can’t believe that Halloween and Thanksgiving have come and gone, that autumn is now two-thirds past, and we’re heading rapidly toward Hanukkah next weekend and Christmas not far behind. Time moves so fast… What is it that Ferris Bueller said? “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t…

By Lisa November 29, 2015 Off