Author Archives: Becky Dingle

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”

Thin Places and Thin Layers

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: This beautifully whimsical painting of St. Jude’s Chapel of Hope by New Zealand artist, Gerda Smit, always makes me smile. She actually saw a picture of the chapel on-line and then drew her creative interpretation of it. Later … Continue reading →

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So Lucky to Be in the Mountains!

Posted on June 21, 2018 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: After we got to Mike and Honey’s around 4:00 Monday afternoon (lots of roadwork on I-26) I went to one of their bathrooms to freshen up from the trip and on the side wall was this cute hanging … Continue reading →

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Collect Moments…Not Things

Posted on June 20, 2018 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: Tomorrow I will be home and there is no doubt that the collection of ‘moments’ will have far exceeded the collection of ‘things!‘ I can hardly wait to sort through this fast excursion of happy adventures into memory … Continue reading →

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You Didn’t Come This Far to Only Come This Far

Posted on June 19, 2018 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: Haven’t we all experienced those middle of the projects blues when we can’t decide whether to go forward or turn back? I remember the first time going to St. Jude’s Chapel of Hope thinking that this chapel had … Continue reading →

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When Was the Last Time You Did Something for the First Time?

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: God does work in mysterious ways. I am leaving today, along with Brooke and Jackson, to go see our our favorite mountain couple, Honey and Mike, to make our (long-awaited) pilgrimage return to St. Jude’s Chapel of Hope. … Continue reading →

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Watching Nature From My Windows

Posted on June 17, 2018 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: I now have my clear sugar water in my hummingbird feeder but, sadly to no avail, since I have not had one hummingbird “customer” at the ‘diner.’ I think I am going to have post directions at the … Continue reading →

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The Day We Finally See Ourselves

Posted on June 16, 2018 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: Can you reflect back on your past and remember the benchmarks in your life when you  finally saw yourself for whom you are becoming? A person no longer afraid…a quick glimpse into the new possibilities of your life? … Continue reading →

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‘Tis the Season of Mosquitoes and No-See-Ums

Posted on June 15, 2018 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: Yesterday morning when I went out into the garden to water everything ‘real good’ (Summerville hasn’t gotten any of the late afternoon thunderstorms the past two days so the high temps and humidity have already started drooping leaves … Continue reading →

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What Makes Us Happy Without…

Posted on June 14, 2018 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: I came across a little anecdote that made me pause and re-think happiness….with and without things. The anecdote was titled: Socrates and the Market Place True philosopher that he was, Socrates believed that the wise person would instinctively … Continue reading →

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When We Make Checks out to Faith

Posted on June 13, 2018 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: I know just about every time the Ya’s and I get together the subject of money or savings come up. Since all of us retired as state employees….teachers and social workers…we all live on a limited (popular phrase- fixed) … Continue reading →

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