We live in a world that is always pressing for more. More money, more toys, more acclaim, and more fame. There is an undeniable call (and corresponding drive) to perform. Forever running on a hamster wheel chasing a carrot that’s just out of reach. We are striving,...
These days it’s hard to know who to trust. No longer do people feel accountable for their own word, and the extending of their handshake in agreement. Instead of being anchors of truth, their words deceive, circumvent responsibility, and exalt self-will. Then, they...
There’s a lot going on today. Things are unstable, rumbling and bubbling under the surface. Those in leadership roles are not garnering the confidence of those they lead. Structures that we count on are under attack and experiencing breakdowns. Algorithms are...
Do you remember, “Where the Sidewalk Ends?” Recently, I’ve been thinking about Malinda Mae. The girl who ate the monstrous whale. “She thought she could, She said she would,” and ultimately, she ate that whale, bite by bite. She did it. She conquered what seemed like...
I’ve lived through some things. Not all good, not all bad, but certainly all for a reason. To pass on my testimony. We all have a story to tell. Circumstances that prepare us to be an example, a teacher, or a mentor. Someone is in the fire, their back against a wall....
I have an old bike. When we were dating, my (now) husband compelled me to purchase it. We spent many Saturdays riding in Central Park, followed by dinner at Sylvia’s in Harlem. He has since tried to convince me to upgrade. He wants me to buy a newer, lighter, sleeker...
Have you ever had the utmost desire of your heart simply dissolve right before your eyes? That sinking feeling, the disappointment, the tears. In that moment, you feel that nothing is going to be right again. You’re in a bad place. Hopeless and full of despair. In the...
There’s something about good character. It seems like an outdated concept these days. Everyone seems focused on themselves, interpreting ‘good’ based on their own desires. But the truth is that we are all skewed. Not one among us has had a perfect childhood or a...
Focus. The absence of distraction. A means to an end. A purposeful path forward. Focus. Rising above the noisy landscape. Cutting through the time destroyers. Pressing beyond the streaming, scrolling, and meaningless snippets of nothingness. Focus. Demanding my...
There are signs all over my neighborhood of a lost dog. He’s a black and white Shih Tzu whose sweet little face I’ve seen on every corner for weeks. I know his owners are holding out hope that he’s alive, that he survived, and that he’ll soon return home. So, while it...
My first experience with back pain was in my junior year of college. Back then, I would experience it as a tension headache. Through the years, the pain progressed until I was living with chronic back pain. I was in and out of physical therapy and often taking pain...
Transparency. Authenticity. Truth. When you look in the mirror and see the real you, do you walk away and forget who you really are? Do you portray an altered you, a staged you, or a different you? Do you shrink into non-existence and project who you want to be, need...
Wine, cheese, jeans, friendships, empathy, cast iron, wisdom, and you. All these things get better with age. Yes, that list includes you. You are in that number. Look ahead! Your latter days will be better than your former. Press forward. Dig in to find out what you...
Most of us know that it’s important to forgive. We’ve heard the saying, ‘Forgive and forget’. We’ve heard the platitudes that forgiveness is for us, not those who offended us. We’ve heard the research that unforgiveness is at the root of many physical ailments and...
Today I noticed a lady in a wheelchair towing a wagon full of groceries down the sidewalk. Rather than moving right along she was tugging at the wagon, which wasn’t moving. Initially, I passed by, but ultimately I couldn’t continue. She needed help. So, I turned...
The other day while driving down a street near my house I saw an eagle. An eagle! I live in a suburban area in southeast Michigan. We don’t see eagles. In fact, I’ve never seen an eagle outside of a zoo. It flew down in front of my car, changed directions in mid-air,...
The other day at The Container Store, a fellow shopper really grated my nerves. He wasn’t talking to me, but he was talking in a way to draw the attention of anyone within 6 rows of his person and voice. Amid my irritation, I had a choice. I could continue to bemoan...
As a kid, I used to fantasize about eating all the Baskin Robbins chocolate chip ice cream I could stomach. It seemed like the epitome of indulgence in my young mind. I laugh at it now because, in truth, I had plenty of ice cream. Baskin Robins was only a few miles...
The power of words.The souls we build. The hearts we break. The feelings we soothe. The judgments we make.Power to create. Power to destroy.Wonderful. Colorful. Terrible. Words. Words that reflect our inner impressions. Words that slip without intention. Words...
Perspective comes with age. You see the world differently and you see yourself differently. If you’re honest (and wise), you take inventory of yourself. You know your strengths, you accept your weaknesses, and you appreciate every opportunity to learn and grow. These...
Passion. An intense, driving, overmastering feeling or conviction (Merriam-Webster). A guttural compulsion to do, to say, to act. Compelling and driving us. Spouting up from within us. Overflowing to impact those around us. Beautiful to behold. It pushes us forward...
As human beings, we innately desire freedom of choice. We don’t want to be forced, even when it may be for our own good. I think we can all admit that this freedom has led us to both good and bad choices, and both positive and negative outcomes. Despite that, most of...
Have you ever thought about what it means to be a creation? It means that someone mindfully, intentionally, and maybe even painstakingly fashioned you. You are not an accident or coincidence. You are a round peg made for a round hole, with nothing missing and no...
During my recovery, I’ve been walking at a local park. It started with me topping out at a leisurely 1.2 miles followed by a necessary nap. Now I’m at a speed-walked 2 miles almost every day and still building. It has been incredibly therapeutic. Every day during my...
You’re the one. You’re the one who shares your organization’s unspoken norms with a faltering colleague. You’re the one who makes sure the door is held for the person behind you. You’re the one who shows extra care to the aged person that no one visits. You’re the one...