We take our true crime seriously here in the Pacific Northwest. I think that’s because we were home to both best-selling true crime author Ann Rule, and notable serial killer Ted Bundy. In a strange crossing of paths, Ann Rule and Ted Bundy both volunteered at a suicide crisis hotline in Seattle and were friendly. I’m qualified to weigh in about this because when Ted … Continue reading The Murderer Killings
It feels like I’m spending a lot of time with pitches these days. No, that’s not a World Series joke, although that would be timely. I mean the “a form of words used when trying to persuade someone to buy or accept something.” For example, PR agents pitch guests to come on my How to Share podcast. I pitch sponsors, guests and hosts for why … Continue reading The Art of the Pitch
A squirrel stole my sunflowers. I’ve been plotting my next move ever since. Encase the next bloom in wire mesh? Line the top of the nearby fence in sticky tape? Or better yet, a bed of thumbtacks? At the beginning of the summer, my neighbor gave me a few sunflower starts. Now I understand why she plants them out in the front of her house … Continue reading Creative Response
I’ve been reflecting recently on some forms of creative block that aren’t actually creative block. And so maybe, I shouldn’t even call them forms of creative block. What to call them then? Things that seem like creative block but aren’t? Extrinsic blocks to creative exercise or completion? Whatever the case, it seemed interesting enough to share, and perhaps relevant beyond that. So here are five … Continue reading When Creative Block Isn’t Creative Block
I regularly ignore all AI suggestions for my posts. Sentences too long? Not enough headings? Bah! But I write my titles last. And every once in a while I will test out the title generator when I’m stuck finding the right title. Wow, are those title suggestions dry! For instance, I tried it with this post. Would anyone click through to?: But of course those … Continue reading Writing For Humans
There’s something wonderfully indulgent about stealing a few moments in the early afternoon to close your eyes and drift into a peaceful cat nap. Not only does it refresh the mind, but it also offers a host of health benefits that can enhance your overall well-being. Let’s explore how a simple cat nap can be a game-changer, especially for those of us in our golden … Continue reading The Art of the Fruitful Cat Nap: A Guide to Afternoon Rejuvenation
Are you struggling to find moments of tranquility and connection with nature? Have you ever thought about gardening? Being in a garden offers a place to slow down, breathe, and nurture life. Beyond the beauty and bounty it provides, gardening is a powerful elixir for health and happiness. Let’s see the multifaceted benefits and explore how everyone, regardless of space constraints, can partake in this … Continue reading The Benefits of Gardening
This past weekend, my five-year-old son and I were looking at the Guiness Book of World Records. It’d been about 6 weeks since we’d last picked it up. When we came to the woman with the world’s longest fingernails, he giggled and said, “How does she wipe her bum?” Which is the joke I made the last time we were thumbing through the book. Then … Continue reading Words to Remember
I recently revisited my ‘Two Random Questions’ concept, where a random question sparks a brief but meaningful exchange. This time, I spoke with a lady from France, and in just a few minutes, a deep connection formed, reminding me how simple conversations can bring people closer. Continue reading The Power of a Random Question
The other day I pushed my double running stroller up the hill near our house and it spoke to me. The stroller, that is, not the hill. Although with the steep inclines in Seattle, they’ve spoken to me in other ways. I was taking the empty stroller to the second-hand shop in our neighborhood so this was our last walk together. With my hands on … Continue reading Oh the Stories You’ll Tell
You know what is celebrating its 70th anniversary? The Guiness Book of World Records. What an interesting book franchise. I read it as a kid – and my kids love it too. More than that, they came to it without any input from me. It was some combination of YouTube Kids and a book fair at the school library. Whatever the source, getting the 2025 … Continue reading The Unique and Amazing You
When I recently saw Moana 2, there was one line that jumped off the screen and screamed to me. “For some things we never feel ready.” My nine-year-old daughter was sitting next to me and asked why I was writing that down. Funny because she was one of the things I wasn’t quite ready for. I’d chosen to become a single mom at age 46, … Continue reading We Never Feel Ready
Are you a list maker? Like most people, you probably have a daily or weekly to do list. You may even have a bucket list or a list of long-term goals. But do you have a curious list? If you’ve never heard of such a list, keep reading. My goal for today is to inspire you to start one. I’ve always been a list maker. … Continue reading What’s on Your Curious List?
Today, technology has undeniably become a crucial part of our daily lives. From AI-powered tools to automation, technology promises to save us time by making tasks faster and more efficient. But here’s the paradox—what are we doing with this time we gain? Instead of investing it into personal growth or relaxation, we often work more, blurring the lines between productivity and well-being. So, why aren’t … Continue reading Technology Saves Us Time, But Are We Really Benefiting?
In today’s professional world, skills and competencies have become the cornerstone of success. The landscape is more dynamic and competitive than ever, requiring us not only to excel at what we do but also to adapt quickly to new demands. Let’s explore how developing and honing these skills can lead to improved job performance, career progression, adaptability, problem-solving abilities, and better collaboration within teams. Job … Continue reading The Role of Skills and Competencies in Today’s Professional Landscape
When I was graduating from college with my electrical engineering degree, the last class I had to take was a technical writing course. I was taking it as a correspondence course because I thought that would be more convenient. This was back in the day when you had to literally mail it in. Unfortunately, I learned more than just how to present technical information. Because … Continue reading Sequence Matters
I’ve turned into a bit of a couch potato this week as I’ve been glued to my TV watching the Olympic games from Paris. I am in awe of these athletes. To compete at this level, you need to be blessed with a certain amount of natural ability. Beyond that, though, you need passion, strong work ethic and focus. I think it’s safe to say … Continue reading How You Can Experience Flow State
My one-year-old puppy-in-a-big-dog-body, Cooper, likes to steal stuff. Shoes and socks mostly, but he’s not above nabbing a pair of underwear or a blanket. It’s his invitation to play. He grabs the contraband, backs up a foot or two so he can maintain eye contact but also have enough of a head start and then dares you to pursue him. Of course, I tell my … Continue reading An Invitation to Play
I was listening to a podcast in which a journalist was talking about how they pitched a project to National Geographic. And it struck me – what if we had to have an elevator pitch for all the ways we are spending our time. Would it help us see our every day lives in a different light? Could we pitch our lives as best sellers? … Continue reading Practicing The Pitch
On Saturday night, I saw Keith Urban in concert. One of my favourites of his songs is Wasted Time. It’s a song that reminisces about the lost days of youth and days spent just hanging out with friends. When I hear that song, I’m taken back to my teenage days. I have vivid memories of lazy days by the pool, at the beach, or just … Continue reading In Praise of Wasted Time
