In his recent Heart of the Matter podcast, Dr. Gerald Stein referenced the practice of Tikkun Olam, the name drawn from the Kabbalah to describe making a difference and healing the world. Part of a collective. A greater good. I have been unable to stop thinking about Tikkun Olam and found myself re-reading Dr. Rachel … More In Good Company
In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and I are talking with author and blogger, Cheryl Oreglia. Cheryl has recently returned from attending the San Francisco writers conference. She shares her elevator pitch for her next book project. Here’s a sneak peek: She inspires us to keep writing by talking about the symbiotic relationship between the gatekeepers … More Episode 61: The Writers Conference with Cheryl Oreglia
Have you ever been in one of those meetings that are so excruciating that they threaten to suck the marrow from your bones? I have. During one of those long and tortuous meetings, I noticed that we were making no progress at all despite several hours of intense discussion on the topic, let’s call it … More Words, Words, Words
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
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
There’s a word I use a lot and I’m bothered by it at times. Connection, connection, connection. I’d like to find suitable synonyms, but I haven’t devoted the time or effort to exploring. As much as I appreciate the quieter moments in my life, this introverted girl needs to know she’s seen and heard, just … More See-Saw: Seeking Quiet, Seeking Connection
I’ve been trying to pinpoint the reason that I enjoy Cheryl Oreglia’s writing so much, or at least the top three. Is it because she makes me laugh even when delivering hard truths? Or because her writing sparkles with the delight of someone who loves life? Or because she’s willing to dig deep to find … More Episode 30: True Grit with Cheryl Oreglia
When Vicki and I started this blog, we went back and forth on what the right name was as we tried to find the right blend of authentic conversation and available domain name. We landed on Sharing the Heart of the Matter because it felt like it honored the space for story-telling and finding the … More Episode 29: Accidental Philanthropists with Dr. Gerald Stein
Joy by Hilda Conkling Joy is not a thing you can see. It is what you feel when you watch waves breaking, Or when you peer through a net of woven violet stems In Spring grass. It is not sunlight, not moonlight, But a separate shining. Joy lives behind people’s eyes. There’s been all sorts … More Reflections on Joy
We all have different ideas of what a self-care looks like for ourselves – ideas that match our personality and phase of life. But for all the variation in style, there is a central question of how to make self-care stick. So in this episode, Vicki and I talk about the little hacks that help … More Episode 28: How Self-Care Can Make Us Better Humans with Vicki Atkinson
The Heart of the Matter 