Close to eleven years ago, I was in a new role. Everything was new and different for me. I’ll just say it — I felt out of my league. Many of my peers had more experience and different backgrounds. They dressed nicer and wore expensive jewelry. They were just different than me. When we chatted … More You don’t have to try
I love a good Ralph Waldo Emerson quote, don’t you? There are many gems to choose from but when I stumbled across these words recently they gave me pause when I needed it. It’s been nearly two years since I wrote about my love of the quote. Nice to visit you again, old friend: “The … More A Sanity-Saving Hack
From across the office, I saw my manager get up to leave. I sped up to try to catch him. I could tell that the changes he had made to his diet and his exercise program at the start of the year were working because he had already made it to the parking lot. When … More Before you judge
I filled up my coffee cup at convenience store counter and reached for the creamer. When I looked up, I saw out of the periphery of my eye an old man with a walker. He was hunched over and looked vaguely familiar, like one of my old high school teachers. I could tell right away … More Kindness all around us!
Yesterday, my daughter, nine-year-old Miss O said something that provoked her five-year-old brother. But I wasn’t intentional. So when everything quieted down I said to her, “It really helps when you think before you speak.” She turned to me incredulously and said, “Every time??” I had to giggle at that one. It’s a hard practice, … More Think Before You Speak
Last week a former client gave me a beautiful gift. To most anyone’s eyes it probably looks like a simple basket, but she knew better. After spending arduous days cleaning out her mother-in-law’s house, she kept returning to a pile of baskets. Well-worn and used with a patina earned over time, carrying household objects, fruit, … More A-Tisket, A-Tasket
I lifted the axe high in the air and took a swing at the log. I swung again and again. With each new chunk of wood that went flying, I could feel the anger seep out of my pores. I would be a college sophomore in the fall and was working the summer, helping a … More Learning to dream
Several years ago, a friend and coworker called me out of the blue and before I even had time to say hello, she was greeting me with the latest news. “Did you see the note I just sent you? Can you believe it? Another freaking org change? Can you believe this crap?” We were off … More The search for Bosom Buddies
By the end of my birthday this past weekend, I was exhausted. I know I’m not alone in this. When I hand the reins over to others, let’s call them the less experienced members of the household, so that they can give me a “break,” it almost breaks me. This used to happen with my … More Please (Don’t) Give Me a Break
When I was a teenager, I would go to a state park near my house to run on the trails to get ready for the cross country and track seasons. Other times I would hike in the woods to relax and clear my mind. I loved that the trees hung low, the brush was thick, … More Childhood feelings coming out of hiding
The Heart of the Matter 