Preparing for a new season: practicing patience
On the heels of my previous post about “getting unstuck,” I began today’s thoughts with these words: Totally. And. Completely. Stuck. Unfortunately, this overall sense of stagnancy also eked into other areas of my life, threatening to render me immobile. And I realized that what I feel relates more to dormancy — or stillness —…
Getaway of a lifetime: Day 4 (or getting unstuck)
Remember that vacation you wished would never end? And then once home, you promise yourself life will be different. You’ll spend more time with family or less time scrolling through social media; eliminate whatever prevents you from pursuing your passions. Yet, after you unpack the bags, life reverts to the familiar. Old behaviors replace possibilities.…
One small change: how a three-letter word makes a big difference
Ever find yourself faced with a litany of responsibilities weighing you down with the “need” to do this or that? I need to work. I need to buy groceries (or pick up my child from school, exercise or [fill-in-the-blank]). A tiny trick I learned a while ago can lift this load. It simply requires replacing the…
Getaway of a lifetime: Day 3 (or recognizing the signs)
While exploring acres of forest preserve within Arizona’s White Mountains during our recent getaway, my husband and I soon learned the terrain in the northern part of the state differs from the trail systems in the Valley. With only a picture map on our cellphones as pilots, we relied on blue reflective diamonds strategically tacked…
The trust muscle: why it needs daily exercise
During a recent online workshop, the facilitator tossed out the concept of a “trust muscle.” And how, like with any muscle, it requires regular exercise if we expect it to get stronger. For instance, each time we show up for ourselves — move outside our comfort zones, whether to initiate a difficult conversation, try something…
Getaway of a lifetime: Day 2 (or identifying your sweet spot)
Think back to a moment in life when you felt 100% in your element, or your “sweet spot.” When #allthethings came into alignment: contentment, peace, joy. Perhaps you even wished time could stand still. During my recent getaway, which I first recount in “Rerouting course…,” I discovered my sweet spot centers on engaging with those…
Shifting your story: Life happens for you, not to you
Recently I wore a favorite shirt bearing the quote: Life happens. Coffee helps. Buckle up, because I’m about to challenge the first half of that statement. For several years, I’ve relayed my family’s story atop a soapbox of one (you can read about the details here). Although previous posts always brought awareness to the topic…
Getaway of a lifetime: Day 1 (or dancing in the rain)
In my latest post, “Sticking to the plan…,” I mention a surprise twist my husband and I discovered 10 days before a weeklong getaway in Arizona’s White Mountains: the removal of previously enacted hiking restrictions by the forest preserve. Although we planned to stay the course in spite of these closures, once again the chance…
Sticking to the plan: a surprise twist
In my post “Rerouting course: weighing the options,” I share how a change in plans may necessitate revisiting and weighing the options available to us. And in the case of the upcoming vacation my husband and I planned, it showed up as an unexpected closure of a forest preserve — which ranked No. 1 on our…
You had me at chocolate: what excites you?
Months ago, I shared a new Monday mindset I began to employ as a way to encourage others who, like me, may be known (on occasion) to perpetuate Monday’s bad rap. For those of you who missed it, check out my legacy post touting what I (still) lovingly dub Funday Monday. Today, I still delight…
Rerouting course: weighing the options
Earlier this year, my husband booked a weeklong summer trip for two at a cabin nestled in the Northern Arizona mountains. With a forest preserve just yards from our front porch, we intended to take advantage of the cooler temperatures by hiking as much as possible. However, with the wild fires raging across the state…
Shiny object syndrome: keeping a focus on the here and now
My shiny object appears in the form of an invitation. For me, a shiny object translates into any situation on which I focus my attention, but drop when something new and/or exciting comes along. In this case, it arrives in my inbox with a subject line that beckons — as if giftwrapped in sparkly paper…