My good humor was stretched a little thin last week. In fact, if you had asked me, I would have told you that life was feeling like a little bit of a slog. And while we are on the subject [of me complaining], I was also feeling broke. Even though my income hasn’t changed and … More Setting the Tone
Sometimes a little perspective is all we need to see the gifts…right before our eyes. Either a reframing of an experience we’ve lamented over, or the goodness that arrives when we see people sparkle, despite adversity. Our dear blogging friend, Beth, from “I didn’t have my glasses on” shares a sparkling story in our latest … More Podcast Friday! Episode 75: “Cast Aside” with Beth Kennedy
One of my favorite personality assessments provides insight about planning preferences. The need for organization and predictability vs. a love of keeping life loose, open-ended and spontaneous. I often chuckled when I worked with anyone who was in conflict with a significant other – in their personal or work lives – when they struggled with this … More Podcast Friday! Episode 73: Planning it Out with Brian Hannon
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
My brain is funny. To me, anyhow. Do you ever wake up with a thought that seems so off-the-wall that you can’t help but smile? A remnant from a dream? A phrase, a word, an image that lodges in your head, unwilling to escape when slumber ends and the waking begins? That happened to me … More “A” is for Ambivalence?
In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and I are with blogger, author, retired elementary school teacher and great storyteller, Pete Springer. Pete’s storytelling is fantastic. And the fun twist with this particular story is that the story I told about trying to rescue Buttercup the bunny in episode 66 is what prompted Pete to volunteer to … More Episode 68: The Circle of Life with Pete Springer
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
Some nights I get to share the story-telling job at bedtime. I ask my kids if they have a story to share and last week eight-year-old Miss O volunteered this one: At lunchtime at school, she was in a stall going to the bathroom, when a small voice called, “Where are you, Nico?” Then a … More Thoughtful Thoughtlessness
In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and I are talking with author, podcaster, publisher, and former radio producer, Rick Kaempfer. Rick has recently published The Loop Files: An Oral History of the Most Outrageous Radio Station Ever. It’s a celebration of a time when radio, rock and roll, and comedy all came together. Here’s a great … More Episode 62: The Loop Files with Rick Kaempfer
In my last Heart of the Matter post I whined a little about my misfortune involving my spin bike – issues with the screen which hampered my workout for a few days. I persevered – using an App on my phone and complained about hubster Paul’s painstaking approach at problem-solving. I figured I dragged you … More I’m a Work-Arounder: Part D’Oh!
The Heart of the Matter 