Within American culture, this popular idiomatic expression is used when a challenge arises and strikes a cord of remembrance. People say “this ain’t my first rodeo” to mean that they have a measure of confidence about how to manage it. Sometimes, though, we forget that we’ve faced similar situations in the past. We can get… Read More This Ain’t My First Rodeo…
Hitch Your Wagon To A Star…that’s what Ralph Waldo Emerson encouraged us to do. In his 1860 essay, Civilization, he urged us to aim high and dream. Aspire… It’s a theme that runs through my thoughts regularly…and I love hearing stories about people who seek out their own calling. The familiar phrase is: “I’ve always dreamed… Read More Is Your Hitch Ready?
Thich Nhat Hanh said “No Mud No Lotus” to remind us that the path to enlightenment is strewn with suffering, the proverbial no pain no gain theory. But, is there more that we can learn from how a lotus grows? Yes. I say that because I did some reading about the growth cycle of the… Read More How Much Mud Is Actually Necessary?
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on some long-held beliefs, trying to think more broadly and consider different perspectives about things I’ve been “sure” about up until now… Inspiration is something I gravitate towards, as both a concept and a lived experience. I’ve felt certain that inspiration is necessary for me. With that said, is the need for… Read More To Inspire…To Be Inspired
The Winter Olympics are on right now. From my spot on the couch, childhood memories emerge. When I was growing up, I loved to sit in our family room, with the fireplace going, and watch the Games. I’d imagine myself as a figure skater, gliding across the ice, in a sparkly costume, or, as a… Read More Imagine That!
In March of 2020, the day before the shutdown when into effect, I was scared. Really scared…Home life would change and work life would change…a total upheaval of my day to day experience. Just like what happened for all of us… I remember saying to myself: “find something that hasn’t changed and hold onto it.”… Read More When I Want To Run And Hide
Even though I don’t read the last chapter of a book to know how it ends, I do love to know where I’m going to end up in a process. Earlier in my career, I was a good project manager because I could visualize an outcome and drive towards it, while minimizing disruptions and variables.… Read More The Prize Is In The Process
Years ago, while participating in a coaching certification program with The Hudson Institute, I read The Adult Years by Frederic Hudson. That book introduced me to the concept of “life chapters” and how our priorities shift as we age. At that time (in my early forties), I was looking forward, with more runway ahead of… Read More When “Why” Joins In
Twenty five years ago, my son and I were going through a difficult time in our lives. One day, while strolling through the aisles at Borders, I found a large, hardcover book called Color Your Prayers. It held an array of whimsical, black and white drawings, meant to be colored in…drawings that reflected all aspects… Read More Coloring My Prayers
I’d like to think that I’m evolved enough to loosen my grip on expecting specific outcomes. Unfortunately, at times, I’m not. I get an image of what I want to happen and how I want it to happen and then I lock onto it. This happened just recently. I saw myself checking in regularly on… Read More Unsticking The Self
Through My Mind's Eye 