Embracing solitude: a challenge
When is the last time you asked yourself: Who am I when no one’s watching? Why is our relationship with ourselves often the most neglected relationship in our lives? “Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self.” – May Sarton Last week I accepted a challenge. A Solitude Challenge. Specifically, a […]
The power of play: a conversation with my 10-year-old
Without the benefit of research, hard data, or information from “the experts,” my son answered and solved in a brief conversation all the reasons taking time to play is necessary to our hearts, minds, spirits. Play is a topic many people laugh off as fluffy, aspirational, something only kids do, or a luxury for the […]
The minimalist lifestyle
What started as a simple closet clear-out transformed into more than I expected. The idea of paring down my wardrobe to better align with my values was so simple, it hit me right between the eyes. These were rules for living. Over the last six months I’ve been a quest to adopt a more minimalist […]
Essentialist thinking
The heart of Essentialist thinking: know your goal, weigh the priorities and trade-offs, and nail down what’s worth going big on. What will you go big on? How often do you wake up in the morning, already ticking off the list of everything you need to accomplish that day? Before your day even gets started, […]
Sleep: the underrated superpower
How much sleep do you really need? Good sleep is the key to our physical and mental health. Let’s talk about how to find your “sweet spot.” I am writing this under a cloud of sleep tracker “frowny-face” shame. Apparently, my sleep patterns could use a little work. Which I fully acknowledge. But the caution-danger-yellow […]
The alchemy of grief
Alchemy (noun): a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way In the midst of change, upheaval, and uncertainty, it’s easy to become self-critical and not give ourselves the level of compassion we might give others. As we emerge from a global pandemic, and are exposed on a daily […]
Adult sibling grief and the workplace
“When a parent dies, you lose the past. When a child dies, you lose the future. When a sibling dies, you lose the past and the future.” That is the grief of a sibling—grief for what was past, and grief for what should have been. My sister passed away on September 2, 2022. It wasn’t […]
Things we lost in the fire
They lost everything in a devastating fire…but what did they gain? Grief: Heartbreak, sorrow, anguish, suffering. A deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved. (Merriam-Webster) In October of 2017 wildfires ravages Northern California, including Sonoma County, also known as “wine country” in America. Over 250 wildfires raged for several weeks, wiping […]
Role incredulity
Role incredulity. What does it mean? In short, it is a form of quiet, lethal gender bias. This term, role incredulity, was new to me until last week when a fascinating, eye-opening Harvard Business Review article, When People Assume You’re Not In Charge Because You’re A Woman, was forwarded to me as an item of interest. […]
Thriving in the unplanned
The right time never just comes and taps us on the shoulder. You have to create it. Exactly two years ago I bid “farewell” to my corporate job and life. It wasn’t a move I had necessarily planned on, but it was my reality. In fact, it was the kick in the pants I never […]