Ahh, a New Year…this means a clean slate. New possibilities await. Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Do you set goals at the beginning of a calendar year? I certainly have in the past. Last year I came up with a word for 2016: Mindfulness. Although I must admit, it was well past …
A place I have missed visiting A place I once tried to push away A place I slipped from furiously A place for simply another day A place I thought unworthy A place I didn’t appreciate A place I deemed trivial A place to almost hate A place to prevent growth A place to stump …
My mind is a scattered machine these days. Life has held non-stop action between visitors staying with us for two weekends in a row, my new job with its transition and training, and the anticipation of what is coming (my book…I’m waiting for an update from the publisher). Also, we are planning to put our …
I started a new job this week. My first day consisted of an all-day orientation and training. The words I heard the most for the first two hours were “culture” and “community.” I work for an organization where culture is the thing that is valued most. This is because that culture affects the entire community. …
Greek philosopher Plato is quoted as having said “The beginning is the most important part of the work.” I often agree with this. To start a new project, chore or duty can often be the most daunting task. We procrastinate. We make excuses. We find something or someone else that “needs” our attention. Sound familiar? …
“Mommy, you’re always working. You never have time to play with me.” My oldest daughter (age 8) said these sentences to me about three weeks ago. She said it out of the blue in the middle of the day. She said it sincerely with a disappointed look. It brought me to tears almost instantly. I …
I gave the invocation at my Toastmasters group meeting last week. This part of the meeting is designed to be inspirational and set the tone. A few days prior to my delivering this 1 to 3 minute speech, I gathered my thoughts. What did I want to say? I thought about a helpful meeting I had with …
Like most people in their twenties, I had fun in those years and didn’t work too hard. I dreamed away the first thirty years of my life with no regrets. After I entered the third decade however, I began to want more. I began to contemplate less and take more action. My head floated down from the clouds and …
A few days ago I had a one-on-one meeting with a very influential, powerful female leader. I respect her immensely. We talked casually and openly. I shared my aspirations, current graduate school studies and future career ideas. This leader gave me her no-filtered, blunt advice. She does not hold back. I appreciated that. But as she …
“Shut up and Get to work!” I yell at myself. That’s right. I can talk to my inner voice like this. And sometimes I need to. I doubt I’d appreciate anyone else being so blunt with me. But I often need to stare my whiny self in the mirror and tell me, “Enough already! Plant your butt …
