Some people embrace change. Others fear it. Me? I chase after it like a kid in hot pursuit of an ice cream truck on a scorching summer afternoon. (On a side note: RIP, Choco Taco. You are missed.) The last time I had a Choco Taco was my first day as a Wisconsin resident: Aug. … More The world is my Moo Goo Gai Pan.
I’ve written about the fun I had traveling as a study abroad student…. decades and decades ago. The story that some of you might be familiar with is the embarrassing tell-all about “Falling in Avignon” when I was part of a choral group which provided unexpected “entertainment” when I triggered a little chaos. That same … More The Disappearing Girl – Part I
I carried unnecessary heartache, and I’ll admit, a few grudges for years. Once upon a time, as an ultra-ambitious young professional, I got caught in a snare. Thinking I was being groomed and trained as an apprentice and “next in line” for a plum position, I fell headlong into an attitude of servitude. Jumping at … More I’ve Let You Go
About ten years ago, I was distractedly watching the local Seattle ABC news while fixing dinner and they ran a story about an attempted bank robbery. The suspects had gotten away but the police had captured the getaway driver, a 52-year-old woman. I was in my early 40’s at the time and I remember thinking, … More When Will They Learn?
I don’t know what it is about late summer blooms, or the sharpness in the sky – the contrast of light and dark. It captivates my attention, especially this time of year when I know the phrase “burning daylight” is more applicable than ever. I’ve noticed this over the past three years. As much as … More Love, Nature, Family
It’s been years since I’ve read a Jack Reacher book by author Lee Childs. I always found the series good mind candy reads for the moments I wanted pure entertainment. Even though I haven’t had the discretionary free time to indulge in recent years, there is one phrase that has stayed with me since I … More Learning The Easy Way or The Hard Way
I can be an overzealous person when it comes to learning. I think it’s a combo of characteristics – mainly my curiosity and impatience. I like to dig in…go long…follow the threads but I might end up on too many trails at once. A professor once told me I was like a firestarter. I put … More Three Things About Learning
Hello there, September! This month here at Heart of the Matter we’re focusing on curiosity and learning. I love the concept of lifelong learning and acquiring new skills by being open and curious about the world. Try as I might, in most instances of “new learning” I’m also laughing at my own misadventures. I have … More Love, Curiosity & Learning
Ah, Frank, I feel you. There are many days in which “I’m doing the best I can” is what I mutter to the Universe…repeatedly. But what about my view of what others are doing? I was in a meeting the other day with a colleague that was holding court and catastrophizing. That’s my description of … More Doing the Best I Can
We arrived at an AirBnB at about 4pm this past Friday afternoon to spend the long weekend in one of our favorite spots, Mutiny Bay on Whidbey Island. Within 90 minutes of getting here, my three-year-old Mr. D was stuck in the bathroom. Out of curiosity, he’d fiddled with the lock on the door and … More Unlocking the Door of Curiosity
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