We’re experiencing a run of glorious spring weather in the Chicago area. Cool nights, brilliant blue-sky days, interspersed with much-needed rain to coax all things green into their splendor. It’s a beautiful time of year and I forget from one spring to the next how glorious it is. Whenever possible, we’re a “windows wide open” household. … More Blanket Bliss
Did you hear about Elmo’s tender-hearted outreach…on X (formerly Twitter)? You don’t have to love Sesame Street’s favorite cuddle muffin to adore this Tweet, where the lovable Elmo, on January 29, queried his followers: Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing? Yep. That’s right. Sweet Elmo’s outreach? It garnered millions of views and … More I See You!
When we arrived at my favorite beach on Whidbey Island this past Friday afternoon, I just felt myself exhale. All the unidentified stuff that I’d been holding close seem to come out: The co-worker that is spinning out, the lawn repair that I try to squeeze in before we left, the residue from a too … More The Balance Between In and Out
A few weeks ago, I had a tough day. I was looking forward to a quiet Saturday. We had gotten three to four inches of snow the day before, but the roads were generally cleared and I needed to run a couple of errands. I was slow getting started, but I was able to get … More Remembering my why
The thing I noticed first was his calmness. He wasn’t like the other teachers, coaches, or family friends in my life. He had a soft voice that you sometimes had to strain to hear and he rarely seemed to yell or scold. Within five minutes of his class starting on the first day, he gave … More An angel when I needed it most
I enjoy questions. Gentle probes, whether I’m the inquiring mind or the query recipient. When I admire someone, I find a way to ask about a skill or quality I observe and appreciate. How did you come to be this way? Do you have a story to share? Occasionally, I’ll admit, it’s a technique I … More Light & Love
I walk carefully along the river’s edge, careful to watch my step. The water is crisp, clear and fast-moving. If I fell in, I’m pretty sure I’d be a quarter mile upstream before I knew it. I follow a path to two big rocks looking out over the river. I take a break and sit … More Casting another line
I need to be real here. Our topic of self-care this month is a tough one for me. There are the standard categories that define self-care and all are widely published online. If you are a list person, and like clear definitions blogger Erin was kind enough to write The Seven Pillars of Self Care … More Knowing, and Loving Oneself is the Ultimate Form of Self-Care
My wife asked me to run a few errands last week. I had to drive on a busy four-lane highway near where I live and was rounding a curve when I started to veer into the left lane. The Lane Departure Warning in my car detected that I was drifting out of my lane and flashed … More Drifting out of my lane
“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust, First Part Do you trust yourself? Are you able to tune out the world and check in with yourself? It’s an art and it’s a practice. It isn’t necessarily easy. Most of us were programmed from a young … More Self-Trust Is The New Self-Care
The Heart of the Matter 