When I think about dying wishes, I think of grand proclamations, deep revelations, or avowals of great emotions. Like: “I was the luckiest person in the whole world because I had you two amazing kids.” Or “Now I can see that God’s hand touched all the moments, even the ones I didn’t like, and it made for a meaningful journey as I managed to navigate … Continue reading Practical Dying Wishes
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
My six-year-old son started playing Little League last year. Watching these young athletes trying to learn the skills to catch, throw, and bat made me realize how difficult those skills are. When a new Little Leaguer actually caught a ball, they were often surprised they actually did it. Then they didn’t want to throw it to someone else and risk them not catching the ball. … Continue reading Doing the Right Thing: A Great Baseball Story
Have you ever heard of Fauja Singh? His story emerges as one that defies age, and redefines the boundaries of the human spirit. Fauja Singh, an extraordinary centenarian marathon runner often dubbed the “Turbaned Tornado,” is a testament to the indomitable will and timeless potential that resides within us all. His life, filled with incredible perseverance and zeal, offers invaluable lessons that transcend age, redefining … Continue reading The Incredible Journey of Fauja Singh: Lessons in Resilience, Passion, and Longevity
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 saw this sign pinned to a board at my massage therapist’s office: It made me think of intentions. If I resolved to be the most self-interested jackass I could be, would anyone doubt that I could meet that goal? Don’t answer that- it’s a rhetorical question! But if I stated my intentions on being consistently kind, I think it’d come across as Pollyana-ish. I’d … Continue reading The Intention To Be Kind
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
I stumbled upon this story about a tiger and a crow a few days ago and I think it teaches that true greatness does not come from dominance, but from humility, cooperation, and the willingness to help others. It goes like that. A mighty tiger and a crow were engaged in a heated debate over who was the strongest. With her usual confidence, the tiger … Continue reading The Tiger and the Crow: A Lesson in Humility and Friendship
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
I recently came across a thought-provoking LinkedIn post discussing the “enemies of creativity.” It got me thinking about my creative journey and the times I’ve felt stifled or blocked. The post highlighted some common creativity killers: fear of failure, self-doubt, and a lack of inspiration. These resonated with me, as they do with many other people too. Fear can be paralyzing, preventing us from taking … Continue reading The Enemies of Creativity
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
At this time of year, many of us put pressure on ourselves by striving for perfection. Whether it be the perfect gift, the perfect meal, or the perfect gathering, we set standards that create unnecessary stress when our loved ones would be happy with something simple. If you’re facing the task of planning a get-together, read on for five ideas for low cost and low … Continue reading Ideas for Low Cost and Low Fuss Winter Gatherings
Almost 20 years ago I participated in a climb on Mt. Whitney in the winter. Mt. Whitney is the highest point in the lower 48 of the United States, at 14,505 feet, and it is a pretty straightforward climb in the summer. But when you climb it in the winter and add the snow, the inaccessibility of the roads to the higher parking lots, and … Continue reading The Case for Not Slogging it Out
We often hear of the power of 3, the rule of 3, or even the magic of 3. What is so special about the number three? After hearing two different people extol the value of three this week, I decided to investigate the science behind the number three and consider ways it can improve our lives. Earlier this week, at a presentation on leveraging LinkedIn … Continue reading Can the Power of 3 Improve Your Life?
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?
Since retiring from my full-time job at the end of June, I’ve been working on establishing a morning routine that works for my new life. My weekday morning routine has looked the same for about the last 20 years. Now I have an opportunity to reinvent myself and establish new habits and routines. Benefits of a Morning Routine Adding structure to your day has many … Continue reading Establishing a Morning Routine
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
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
The calendar says spring officially arrived in the Northern Hemisphere on March 19 but, in typical Canadian fashion, it has only really started to feel like spring in the last week. I love spring. Seeing things come back to life after a long winter is a reminder of the cycle of life and the resilience of nature. A few days ago, SeekerFive asked for hacks … Continue reading A Simple Spring Interlude
