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
Disney announced they are releasing, Mufasa: The Lion King at the end of 2024. December 20th, to be specific. More than thirty years since the first release in this beloved series we are getting the backstory on Mufasa. How did he become one of the greatest leaders of the Pride Lands? Why was Scar so angry and cynical? I love backstories. They help me understand … Continue reading The Gift of a Backstory
Have you ever found yourself yearning for a fresh start, a chance to redefine who you are and what you stand for? Reinventing oneself can be a daunting yet exhilarating endeavor, fraught with challenges and opportunities alike. If you’ve ever felt the pull towards a new beginning, join me as we explore the six steps to successful reinvention. Step One: Ignite Your Passion Embarking on … Continue reading Embracing Change: Your Journey to Reinvention
Over the 62 episodes we’ve produced, I’ve been lucky to talk with enough bloggers on the Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast that I do with Vicki Atkinson to know it’s a pretty universal experience that we felt that nervous feeling before pushing the “publish” button. Definitely for our first post – and for many subsequent posts as well. It has me thinking about … Continue reading Bravery, One Publish at a Time
Recently I was in a noisy restaurant with some friends and acquaintances recently when I heard someone behind me say, “Before I became a parent, I never thought I would ever…” It caught my ear so I turned to find it was a friend, the mother of a three-year-old, who had started the sentence. I asked her to repeat herself. “Before I became a parent, … Continue reading In Hindsight
Over the weekend, I attended a talk by Jeremy Nobel, author of Project UnLonely. Dr. Nobel discussed why we need to be concerned about the increase in loneliness and disconnection we are seeing in our world today. He also offered some possible solutions to the loneliness crisis. Being Alone vs. Being Lonely Dr. Nobel started his talk by showing us a picture similar to the … Continue reading Do We Have a Loneliness Crisis?
In a world that glorifies productivity and constant busyness, the Dutch have a refreshing perspective: niksen, the art of doing nothing. Niksen advocates for moments of purposeful idleness, where individuals allow their minds to wander freely and be in the present moment. Let’s explore this fascinating concept and its potential benefits in today’s fast-paced world. Understanding Niksen Niksen, derived from the Dutch word “niks,” meaning … Continue reading Niksen: The Dutch Art of Doing Nothing
My brother introduced me to a new phrase when were talking a few months ago about Dutch Bros Coffee. Dutch Bros is a West Coast company that he described as “an overnight sensation thirty years in the making.” I asked for clarification. My brother said that Dutch Bros is a darling of Wall Street since this went public at the end of 2021. But they’d … Continue reading Years In The Making
Yesterday on my personal blog, I wrote about an earworm that popped into my head as I was shopping for a green dress to wear to an event on St. Patrick’s Day. Writing that post reminded me of all the ways music has enriched my life. And scientists agree that music is good for us—offering a long list of mental and physical health benefits. I’m … Continue reading Why Music is Good For Us
I was standing frozen on the front on my yoga mat this morning. I do a series of seven sequences of about 14 poses each. It only takes me about 15 minutes but it’s amazing how often I unroll the mat, step into position, and find that I don’t want to begin. I know that the sixth sequence with side plank pose is the hardest … Continue reading Just Start
I have a friend who is doing some work for one of the Internet’s earliest entrepreneurs. He started out from humble roots – one of his earliest entrepreneurial endeavors was collecting wayward hubcaps and selling them to a local body shop. But he also had an aptitude for computers so he earned himself a scholarship to Stanford. One of his first businesses was the only … Continue reading You Get What You Pay For
Have you ever browsed through buy nothing or free-cycle listings? The posts for items people are giving away for free are delightfully creative. Recently, a friend turned me on to them and the micro-stories were so intriguing. Here are some examples: Example #1: I can get rid of it now that the son-of-a-b!tch is gone. Example #2: I should have known that I’d never use … Continue reading Micro-Stories
Why does change get a bad rap? Our cells are dying and being replaced continuously. I think the skin on your pinky finger will completely slough off by the time you finish reading this post. Okay, I admit, I just made that metric up and this post isn’t THAT long. But generally speaking, we’re always changing, right? David Eagleman, a neuroscientist who teaches at Stanford, … Continue reading Ch-ch-changes
The mom of one of my dearest friends passed away recently. I’ve known this family for almost 50 years, so she was like a second mom to me as well. Because her death was expected, I’d been dancing with grief for a couple of weeks before it actually happened. But even so, when I heard the news, a heaviness settled onto me. It was sadness … Continue reading The Therapeutic Effect of Stringing Some Words Together
The other day I clicked on a headline that was presented to me on the default home page for my browser. It was something like, “This is the best hike in Washington.” The article that it took me to was crap. So much for AI generated content. While it did name the trail, it gave its location as something south of the border with British … Continue reading The Internet Is Sometimes Desperate
A couple of weeks ago, I took my kids to a performance of The Nutcracker. As an indication of how steeped they are in the style of the Pacific Northwest, where getting dressed up means putting on your good fleece, I said something my eight-year-old daughter about wearing a dress. She practically choked out the words, “What do you mean, dress?” But I digress before … Continue reading A Note About Style and Newspapers
The other day I was editing a post I’d written about the dichotomy between gratitude and greed when a similar post popped up from the delightful and lovely blogger, Julia Preston. It wasn’t exactly the same – she was talking about a similar tension between love and fear. But it was close enough that I felt my internal defensiveness spark off instantly. Something like a … Continue reading Am I Copying? Getting Over Writing Defensiveness
The last time I took a new job I wasn’t a writer. Well, I wrote white papers and technical manuals so I could put pen to paper. But I didn’t have a personal writing practice. But four months into a new job and I’m surprised how much creativity is a part of my job. Sheesh, that sounded dry. Bear with me – I think I’m … Continue reading Creativity as a Job Skill
Two days ago, I was in the car with my friend on the way to listen to a book reading. As we drove, my friend commented on how observant my four-year-old son is. It immediately sparked some stories about conversations we have when he’s riding in the back seat of the car. Like on a recent frosty morning when we passed a baseball field and … Continue reading Creatively Seeing
In the ever-evolving world of modern workplaces, the quest for enhanced employee engagement and productivity is a constant pursuit. One innovative solution gaining momentum is the integration of creative workspaces inspired by art. Beyond mere aesthetics, the infusion of artistic elements into the work environment has shown remarkable potential in fostering a more vibrant and dynamic workplace culture. The Power of Art in Workspaces Art … Continue reading Why Displaying Artwork Boosts Employee Engagement and Productivity
