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
When I think back to elementary school, the face of Mrs. Gertson comes to mind. Smart, warm, interested, she was absolutely wonderful, and made me feel safe enough to explore the subjects that came naturally and more importantly, the subjects that didn’t. I’m going to take a stab in the dark that most of us … More Episode 36: They Call Me Mom with Pete Springer
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
In this episode, I’m with my co-host Vicki Atkinson and we are talking about the seasonal shift that comes with September. No matter where we are in life, somehow the arc of life seems noticeable as we move from summer to fall. So Vicki and I talk about how to be active and engaged in … More Episode 35: Savor September with Wynne and Vicki
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
When my daughter, Miss O, had just turned six-years-old and my son, Mr. D was two-years-old, we were interviewed by a local Seattle tv station about how we were planning to survive a coming heat wave that week by eating lots of ice cream. The questions were about as soft ball as you can get … More Episode 34: How To: Writing Family Narratives with Brian Hannon
I’d guess 90% of my days are pretty predictable. That is to say, there is probably a low probability of randomness within any given day. Sure, we might head out for an evening walk to pet some bunnies and end up going to the ice cream shop, and making new friends along the way. But … More One Thing Led to Another
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
It seems like the vein of stories about dates that didn’t go well is as wide as it is deep, and usually worth a giggle. I remember a good friend telling me the story about a date who showed up to pick her up for dinner with a Big Head Barbie affixed to his hood … More Episode 33: Love Lessons with Mark Petruska
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