To tame a raging bull
It is rare that I consider aborting a blog I have almost completed. But how to keep writing, let alone think, when […]
Let’s celebrate 24 new hours
When you rise tomorrow it will be a new year. Or perhaps, where you are, it already is. For many, the turn […]
Your presence is a light
A friend shared a quote this week. It moved me so much I tracked it down, to Kent Nerburn in his […]
Light up a bleak midwinter
“In the bleak midwinter” could be my theme song these days. I’m tired. The weather is glum. I’ve had enough election news. […]
When is dementia not a tragedy? (Hint: most of the time)
Earlier this year, I wrote about saying “yes/and” to dementia with a very cool approach that includes improv theatre. But last month, it wasn’t cool […]
How loss can make us grateful
Thanksgiving was different this year. My husband and I ate alone for the first time in thirty-plus years. Of course, being the […]
Feeling safe
A lot of people aren’t feeling safe these days. Three million people in the US keep open-carry weapons with them at […]
Stay calm–and vigilant
Last Saturday, as elections results were finally announced. I celebrated. Relaxed. Cried. Then I looked up and knew, “It ain’t over yet.” […]
Time for trust
We hoped it would be over. It’s not over. Maybe over was just a fantasy. The same forces that existed before the […]
As we move through countdown
Are you on countdown this week? I keep ticking away days as if life is being divided into BE (before elections) and AE. […]
What if the animals were our partners?
If you need a break from election-mania, here’s something different. (I voted Saturday!) I watched the video below about a scientist, Nan […]
What’s in your emergency joy kit?
The poet David Whyte has offered a series of soul-nourishing talks during the pandemic. After the most recent, he offered a […]
This revolution will require love
Is it OK to rage when we’re committed to practicing love? How do we love someone whose words and actions have lead […]
Is your head stuck in the sand? (Hint: neither is the ostrich’s)
How much news can one take? My working answer is simple: it depends. My friend Dan used to work as a crime reporter. […]
Pray for justice but not from fear
This week was struck by the first line from Wicked Game, Chris Issak’s iconic mega-hit from the early 90s. “The world was […]
Fuel the fire within
Here on the U.S. West Coast, we’ve had a tough week. Fires raging, and the whole coast socked in smoke. With hazardous […]
Tinker Bell needs us: let’s clap for the light
I’ve been in rich conversations recently about how life has been changed by the pandemic. The question, “How am I doing?” is […]
What comes after a “staycation?”
When we were told to shelter-at-home at the beginning of the pandemic, I heard many friends talking about our new lives like […]
Celebrate the messy ordinary
I just finished Nina RIgg’s uncommonly beautiful and ultimately uplifting memoir of the last year of her life, The Bright Hour. Nina, […]
Saying “yes/and” to dementia.
Saying “joy” and “dementia” in one sentence could sound like an oxymoron. Like many, I have a fear that I might someday […]
Taking time on higher ground: John Lewis
In the Pacific Northwest, I love to go up into the mountains, the Cascades or the Olympics, where I can breathe cool, […]
Are you feeling exhausted?
A second pandemic is sweeping the nation. I don’t know how contagious it is, but I know it’s spreading. Exhaustion. You recognize […]
Do you know these (mostly) new words?
Words create worlds. Words in turn have lives of their own. I used to think that the words in the dictionary had […]
Fuel your creativity with silence
As part of my stretch-my-creativity-during-the-pandemic campaign, I’m taking an online course about voice called “Express the Music of Your Soul” from […]
A deep breath, a moment of pause
We’ve been through a lot recently–no need to remind you of that. You deserve to take a deep pause to breathe […]
Resistance, resilience, and great women–a formula for hope
What if women, in this county and around the world, were to link arms across divides, including color, class, faith, sexual preference, […]
To change our systems, remember the body
A post on racism by Resmaa Menakem jumped out at me last week, so much so that I had to immediately read […]
A champion for justice who deserves to be known
Last week was tough, for me, for many, filled with horrific images and the sadness that my country, the United […]
Saying yes to life, even then, even now
In these crazy times, as the world changes in unpredictable ways, where do we turn to find meaning? I don’t mean […]
Zoomed out? Time to Zoom back in.
Zoom’s emerging as a technical hero of the pandemic. Millions of people are connecting in ways no one would have thought possible […]
Time to think long haul
On the trail Some years ago, on a sunny day hike with a friend in Washington’s Cascade Mountains, I started running […]
Find the heroes you need
The Netflix movie about Michelle Obama has just been released, and I cried watching the trailer. Like millions of others, I miss […]
Devotion will change your life
I watched a charming video this week, one of those lift-you-up-in-the-storm pieces, about a man, Stjepan Vokic, in Croatia, who has spent the […]
Honor Earth Day with delight for the small
I woke up early on Earth Day to the song of a white crown sparrow. It seemed fitting that […]
Pausing to let the heart expand
This week, the cherry tree began its two week run of glory, set against a backdrop of near perfect Seattle weather. The […]
In case of panic, try this.
Anxiety is hovering in the air, like a cloud that might let loose with a storm of bad news at any moment. […]
Finding the art of the “new normal”
First of all, it’s OK. Whatever you are feeling, or doing, it’s OK Life today is not normal. How can we hope […]
Stop demonizing when there’s so much to learn
My go-to default for almost anything, miserable or exciting, is learning. I would have rephrased Descartes or Hamlet or whomever to say, […]
Make your own heart sanitizer
You, like me, may be feeling overloaded by news of COVID-19. People are stocking up on hand sanitizers, (Hopefully not like the bloke […]
COVID-19 can teach us more than handwashing
This post is not another list of precautions about the coronavirus. You doubtless have them already. I won’t deny the enormous cost […]
“All shall be well again” (I hope)
Trust. It’s not the easiest quality for me to find in these dystopian-feeling days. So I turned to a fourteenth-century mystic who […]
How to sing our arms back open
Darkness makes the light stand out. When I was traveling in France after my mother’s death, I sought out the prayer candles […]
Why I won’t “manage” my rage
I ran into an artist friend of mine before a concert last weekend, a gracious, considerate, soft-spoken woman. In a brief “how […]
3 steps for handling environmental stress, bird by bird
On Sept. 19, 2019, the New York Times published a devastating statistic about declines in the bird population across North America, […]
Finding more of enough
How do we know when we have found “enough?” That question propelled me to read prize-winning author Shauna Ahern’s just-published memoir: Enough: […]
Eight tips to interview like a pro (and have more fun talking with people)
These ideas come from four years of interviewing a captivating group of guests on my Vital Presence podcast. If you’re not recording […]
An easy way to discover more delight, daily
How might your life be different if, every day, you tracked on delight? I stole this idea from a poet. One of […]
Before you resolve, absolve (plus a gift for you)
I hope I’m not too late. I wanted to catch you before you make any…resolutions. Tonight, before the clock strikes twelve, whether you’re […]
Finding hidden madonnas everywhere
Next week, we enter a new decade. This week, as we move through the days between the years, it seems a good […]
How to welcome back the light
Welcome to the season of light. Whatever your faith, the light, in the Northern Hemisphere, can shine in radiant contrast to the […]
Before you give, learn to receive
Did your mother ever tell you, “To give is to receive?” She was partly right. What she forgot to add was, “To […]
How to find Magic in the Ordinary
Last weekend, our furnace quit. That meant no heat and no hot water. We warmed the house by turning on our stove’s […]
Three crazy super-easy ways to add thanks to your life
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.21.4″ z_index_tablet=”500″] Many of us in the United States are preparing for the November marathon known as Thanksgiving. While […]
Finding fiery hope
“Hope locates itself in the premises that we don’t know what will happen and that in the spaciousness of uncertainty is room […]
Where in the cycle are you?
To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time to every purpose, under heaven Pete […]
Put the hallow back in Halloween (plus five freaky facts)
Halloween is coming, that once a year fest of spooks, villains, princesses, and pumpkins–a merchandiser’s dream. If we could ignore the overdose of […]
What if, sometimes, there is no reason?
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.21.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” z_index_tablet=”500″] Does everything happen for a reason? Even […]
How to change your past without fudging the facts
Do you ever wish that you could go back to the past and tweak a few memories? The past can be changed. […]
If fear knocks: 8 ways to survive an anxious day
Today I’m waiting for the outcome of a friend’s surgery, and whether that’s fear or anxiety, it’s pretty hard to take because […]
Finding your true “yes” and your true “no”
One thing I have noticed in recent years is that my “no’s” and my “yes’s” have gotten stronger and clearer. Being able […]
Learning Tips from a 74-year-old Unicycle Rider
With so much to learn in life, I’m always on the lookout for new tips about learning. This week’s lesson came from […]
Got Rhythm?
We all have rhythm. It’s built into us through our heartbeats and the circadian (24 hour) rhythms that influence when we feel hungry, […]
Heal the burn
It’s so difficult to watch the pictures of the Amazon burning, knowing that there’s so little that can be done, at least […]
3 Reasons not to think about death (and why you might reconsider)
What if thinking about death could bring you more life, more beauty, and more connection to the people you love? Most […]
My husband is under house arrest
My husband is not guilty of crimes against the state. The state may be guilty of crimes against him. The news about […]
Is it time to create your “Joy List?”
This week, I’m balancing writing an article about coping with life’s little losses by remembering all the joys that I’m finding. I’m […]
Play your way into presence
How does one learn to be more present–in that state of being in the moment, open, receptive, and curious? And how do […]
Peeking into the lives of others
I’m fascinated by how others live, not just by the face they show the world. Living in Paris, I’d spend hours […]
Freedom’s not just another word
“Freedom’s just another word for nothing else to lose.” Kris Kristofferson Last week I lost a piece of my heart: our foster […]
When the tail stops wagging
Today, as this post is being published, our dog, the irrepressible Jackson, is being put down. Perhaps dementia was triggering his increased […]
The power of deep hope
Last year a good friend went through a true dark night of the soul brought on by medical circumstances. The prednisone she […]
When you’re feeling climate despair, give nature a face
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.21.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” z_index_tablet=”500″] I’m feeling pretty despairing about climate change these days. […]
When good enough beats great
When the late William Stafford, one of my favorite poets, was asked how he managed to write one poem (or more) every […]
Does it spark joy? If not, create your own.
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.21.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” z_index_tablet=”500″] I fell in love with Marie Kondo, […]
To hold as we are held
My Mom was not the perfect Mom. I was far from being the ideal daughter. I constantly challenged her during the late […]
How to move your creative potential into practice
We’re all innately creative. Creativity, like love, is a force field that surrounds us and comes through as it’s needed. As writer […]
How to Spot Your Inner Critic
Why is it that when we’re totally qualified for a job, totally right for a project, or totally entitled to a big […]
Spring for a Pause
If you want proof of the complexity of the world, come visit my garden, a mélange of good and evil, light and […]
Find Your Inner Porpoise
The books written about Purpose or “Finding Your Inner Purpose” on Amazon have it almost right. They just spelled it wrong. Change […]
When Paris Burns: Finding the seeds of resilience
Last Monday, as I stumbled past my husband on my way to bed, he looked up from reading on his Ipad and […]
Images of imagination
This week, I’ve been thinking about the power of imagination, especially as we age. Imagination provides a spark for creativity. Creativity feeds […]
How to keep your attention in an age of distraction.
Your attention is precious. Me, I could always use more. I need it to write, finish reading a book, plan a project, […]
Attention! Yours is at risk!
You know how it starts… You’re trying to concentrate on the computer, perhaps reading an article, writing a document, thinking through a […]
When you’re feeling the weight of the world
Another week, another tragedy. I was up before dawn to drive to a conference when tragic news, from the far side of […]
What are you devoted to?
Remember the Everly Brothers hit “Devoted to You?* Darlin’, you can count on me Till the sun dries up the sea Until […]
How to Do More by Juggling Less
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] X Do you ever feel as if you have too […]
How to rebound from rejection
Got Rejection? One of my writing buddies inspires me with her ability to not let rejection stop her. We’re part of an online […]
A midwinter’s night pause
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] My article for the winter issue of 3rd Act […]
Marie Kondo, Will you be my Valentine?
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] Dear Marie, I know my invitation may come […]
What does real accountability look like? (It might go beyond what you think…)
What does it mean to be fully accountable, taking responsibility for one’s actions as well as for one’s legacy? The business world […]
Improve your day a click at a time
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″] What if one click of acknowledgment could reinforce the skill, craft, or project you’re working […]
Is Your Story Fact or Fiction?
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] When the waves of change are high, stories […]
Create a daily oasis with ordinary rituals
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] “We humans remember trauma better than pleasure, it’s the way […]
Cultivate kindness in small doses
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] Don’t we all need a little more kindness […]
As the earth rises in 2019, we’re still in this together
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] We’ve just closed out 2018. […]
Welcome back the light
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] “There is a crack, a crack in everything, that’s how […]
Fill with joy and arrest the stress in the holidays
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] Does it ever feel to you that someone […]
Taking the small steps back to thriving
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”22px|0px|15.2557px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] What do we do when we keep […]
Sweat your way to community
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] Sometimes you build community by talking, finding common interests, and […]