I turned the corner and the dark night erupted into a twinkling light show, full of bright red and greens. There were snowflakes, snowmen smiling from cheek-to-cheek, reindeer in mid-flight, and a jolly old St. Nick. There was, of course, a manger scene too. On Thanksgiving night, we drove past two homes where the owners every … More Let it shine!
I can’t think of a more irritating thing to hear when you are crossing a patch of ice than, “Walk lightly!” But given the source, I took a deep breath and gave it a go. We were on Mt. Si, a popular training hike near North Bend, Washington and there were spots on the trail … More Walk Lightly
Last week we learned that one of hubster Paul’s cousins – who was also named Paul – passed away. His mother was Paul’s father’s sister…and wait for it…his father was Paul’s mother’s brother. A geneticist would no doubt enlighten me about the quirky double-dose of DNA but in a moment of melancholy yesterday, my heart … More A Table with Nine Lives?
It seems like these days pass so quickly that we often finding ourselves reading, appreciating the gift of a post, and then moving on too quickly. To extend some of the great notes of the week, we have Well Said Saturdays – bringing a few quotes from recent posts forward. From A Hug in Four … More Well Said Saturdays – December 2
In this podcast, which is episode one of a two-part series, Dr. Stein walks us through his list, How to Become Your Own Best Friend. This is one of our favorite essays from Dr. Stein which is saying a great deal given the depth and breadth of his wisdom. He opens the list with the … More Episode 46: Be Your Own Best Friend With Dr. Gerald Stein – Part I
I’ve been sharing a lot lately about hitting a wall creatively, because I’m in one of those uncomfortable places that all creative people reach at some point. I’ve actually reached this point many, many times in my creative career. This experience feels similar to wandering through desolate prairie lands (not that I’ve ever wandered through desolate prairie lands, but I can imagine) and finally reaching a lonely outpost, only to find that this outpost offers no real direction. At some point, one just has to decide whether to go back from whence they came, or pick a direction and move forward without any clear answers. As I’ve been dancing in front of this creative wall for several months now, I’ve been coming up with all kinds of ways to do things differently this time, because my default has always been to pack up shop, jump ship, and quit my practice, only to return again after several months of tortured guilt, uncertainty, and restlessness. But no, not this time. This time, I’m going to pick a direction and see what happens. I believe only good can come from this. But wow, it’s tough, and these bleak Lonesome Dove vibes are no joke! … More When In Doubt, Do What You Know
When my daughter was in high school, I would look over the essays that she submitted to her English class or for college admission applications. I would get out my red pen, it was really the “Track Changes” Tool within Microsoft Word, and highlight where I thought she should cut, use tighter language, or rephrase … More Role reversal: Learning from my kids
I’m not much of a football fan. I say that to preface any errors that I might include in my description of an incredibly human moment in a football game. This past weekend, my alma mater, the University of Washington (UW), played Washington State (WSU) in the Apple Cup, our in-state rivalry game. The tension … More A Concentrated Dose of Emotion
Holiday time brings a few friendly ghosts forward. I welcome them. No…not like the story of the “Disappearing Girl” that I shared recently. The rush of November and December will invariably stir up melancholy moments where I receive – gladly – glimpses of my dad. Tiny whispers as I hear myself think in ways he … More A Hug in Four Parts
It seems like these days pass so quickly that we often finding ourselves reading, appreciating the gift of a post, and then moving on too quickly. To extend some of the great notes of the week, we have Well Said Saturdays – bringing a few quotes from recent posts forward. From Mashed Potato Madness by … More Well Said Saturdays – November 25
The Heart of the Matter 