My mom would always say that, without your health, nothing matters, and neither fame nor fortune were as important. As a child, I associated that with physical health. As an adult, I now know that the framework is larger. Mental health is also essential to quality of life. Recently, I was reminded of that while… Read More Talent and Torment
When I was growing up, my dad had a large backyard garden. As an engineer, he was meticulous in the planning phase each year, mapping out what he would plant and where, to maximize the yield. I remember that he would spend hours in his garden, tending to his plants, with a transistor radio hanging… Read More Art, Is That You?
This is not a morbid tale. On the contrary…this dark night of the soul has a silver lining. Stay with me. My fifties were marked by moments of deep grief and loss. A shadow came, seemingly, out of nowhere and lingered for quite a while. Grief and Loss for a variety of reasons – the… Read More And So Passes The Dark Night Of The Soul…
I feel very anxious when faced with anything technical or mechanical, ie anything to do with my computer or car. My thoughts start to race and I feel myself shut down. The story I tell myself is that I’m not good at understanding anything technical. (stories don’t have to be true to be powerful) So,… Read More Oh My, AI!
Having a heart while having some edge is a life skill that takes development. While there are likely prettier ways to phrase it, having an edge is the phrase that feels right. For me, an edge means a boundary, a line in the sand, a no fly zone. Without doubt, early in my life, I… Read More An Edgy Heart
What bothers me about cliches is that, oftentimes, they sound so cheesy while, at the same time, are so true. Someone, somewhere, identified an experience and attached some pithy words to it which we can then relate to…sometimes begrudgingly. Here’s my love-hate relationship with a particular cliche: write your own story. The sound of this… Read More Who Doesn’t Love A Good Cliche?
I love polka dots. Big, small, black, white, multi-colored. I don’t know why. I just do. They’re so happy and brighten my mood. When I come upon them I feel my heart do a little dance. Weird? Maybe. True? Definitely. Life is complex and, at times, can feel very challenging (like now, for example) so… Read More From Chaos Come Polka Dots
Saturday was the annual Armenian food festival in San Francisco. It has become our yearly tradition, an opportunity to celebrate and savor my cultural background. From the moment I got out of the car, I felt my emotions stirred up. I’m not sure how to describe it. I’ve really been in my feelings lately, with… Read More I Was Told There Would Be Shish Kebab
Many years ago, I heard this expression. It’s a translation of a Chinese saying which means don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Simply put, have a contingency plan. It was shared with me in the context of future professional development and the ability to pivot if needed. It was meant to open my… Read More A Smart Rabbit Has More Than Three Holes
I was 58 when I went to my first Highland Games, a celebration of all things Scottish… The caber toss, specifically, is a sporting event at the Highland Games, categorized under “heavy athletics”. Imagine kilt wearing athletes from differing clans, lifting and throwing a twenty foot, tapered, wooden pole weighing 100+ pounds, hoping to rotate… Read More I’m Not Scottish But I Love A Good Caber Toss
Through My Mind's Eye 