Hip, Hip, Hooray
The last couple of weeks have brought much to celebrate: An amazing change in the race for the US Presidential Elections. A […]
Letting Curiosity Guide Us When Things Fall Apart
Last week I lost my neighbor and riding coach, a friend I’d known for thirty years. Hearing the news of her death […]
Letting life “cure” us
Every day, life burnishes and “cures” us —sometimes by the unexpected and dramatic, sometimes by the routine and ordinary. We feel, we […]
When who we are is how we are supposed to be
Last week I received the latest episode in my ongoing series, “Lessons in Loss and Grief.” A close, dear friend died after […]
Small Acts Can Light the World
All around us tiny acts of kindness are happening daily. You have done some of them. Big or small, they bring light […]
And now, a brief view from the land of the ordinary
The world’s been a bit gloomy, so I thought we needed a change. A little visit to main street, real life, the […]
Set Up Your Day With Morning Rituals and Routines
In these tumultuous times, as I wrote about last week, morning rituals and routines set the direction for our days. They offer a base […]
Coping with (collective) grief during the holidays
The holidays can be challenging when we’re feeling grief, especially after personal losses—even those from long ago. This year many of us […]
Overwhelmed? It’s OK to “Cry Uncle!”
I had tea this week with a close friend, one of the most kind, competent, and generous people I know. Also one […]
How to Celebrate a Birthday with 72 Delights
Birthdays are a funny thing. When I was six, a birthday expanded my world. It meant more adventures, a later bedtime, and an allowance. But […]
To bless the cyber space between us
What if you had a friend with whom you spent a sizeable portion of your life, yet you treated the relationship like […]
Are you “too sensitive?”
Did anyone ever tell you, “You’re being too sensitive” when you were growing up? Maybe they wanted to help you by offering […]
Wordless
Words are beautiful but sometimes need to waitLest they be out of place.The world must be experienced before it can be described. I tread […]
Letting the tulips sing
Can flowers sing? No way to prove this but recently they sang to me. Finding new colors I recently returned from visiting […]
Look at the past—bring in the light. Happy 2023
2023 is here. Happy New Year. The light is returning—a good time to reflect on the year that was and, as we […]
Embracing darkness/celebrating light
We’re on countdown to the winter solstice next week—the darkest time of the year. I have mild seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and […]
Stop the delivery mania: An Open letter to Santa
I don’t want to seem ungrateful, Santa, and I hope all is well at the North Pole. I know this year’s supply […]
Planting hope
This week I planted daffodils. There’s nothing remarkable about this, although some might question why I waited to dig holes in the […]
Stepping back from the precipice of stress
I blew off a meeting this week, a short talk I was to give, and my mistake left me humbled. As awful […]
The art of waiting
Waiting. We do a lot of it. Waiting in traffic, in the checkout, or for that blankity-blank Amazon delivery. Sometimes there’s a […]
How to let go before the elections
If, like me, you’re prone to even a little anxiety, the days prior to the midterm elections in the United States can be […]
If you hang in there, things will (probably) work out
Lesson number two from my time in Italy: Things may not work out the way you wanted or expected, but hang in […]
The art of nothing-ing
September is here, school bells have rung, and I’m here with my first blog since leaving for Italy. I missed you even […]
Finding human in a transactional world
I stood at the parking meter, fuming. I had just scored a parking place near the Seattle hospital where I planned to […]
STOP!
STOP!Fermati!Arrête !СТОП! STOP! is a good word to have in your pocket. It’s short, abrupt, and good in emergencies. When I ride […]
Brain still foggy? This can help.
It’s happening again—brain fog. I need to write things down to remember them. Then, I forget that I need to write things […]
How to love what you don’t like (to do)
Doing what you love and loving what you do opens the door to more creativity, insight, and fun. But what happens when […]
Heat wave
As the heat inched past 100 Our Northwest hubris We don’t need air conditioning, We can sit under trees Melted away. I couldn’t […]
Anxious in America
Hopefully, the pandemic is receding and so, too, is the spike in national (and global) anxiety it provoked. I suspect, though, that […]
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 […]
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 […]
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: […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Want more time? Go slow…
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”light”] A colleague once shared a Montana saying. […]
How to keep your creative spirit from getting buried
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”light”] Last week, I received this letter from a dear […]
Does your work make you better?
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”light”] In her stunning collection of essays (highly recommended) This […]
How often and when should you take a break?
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”light”] Who needs a break from […]
Who ate your time?
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”light”] Every day, an army of invaders enters […]
Got rest?
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”light”] Despite an otherwise admirable record in my […]
How to start that big project (or how to get the camel to stick his nose under your tent)
Do you have a big project waiting in the wings that you can’t get started? Maybe it’s de-cluttering part of your house, […]
Could we retire retirement?
Did I tell you that I’m writing a book? Maybe not, because saying I’m writing a book means so little until you […]
Why you should be dancing
My horses dance. You might say they’re just driven by instinct. But when you see them run into the field on a […]
How to find more light this season
How are you preparing for the holidays? The December holiday season, at least in the United States, requires so much preparation: shopping, […]
Take time out of time during the holidays
It’s officially holiday season in the United States and we’re off to the races! We watch the scorecard tick away telling us how […]
After Me Too
The chorus of voices chanting “Me too” keeps getting louder. Hearing people finally speaking out against sexual harassment has been great, […]
When you’re fogged in, follow the markers
There are mornings, here in the Pacific Northwest, when the fog covers the fields in a sheet of gray, and I can […]
Do you suffer from email apnea?
When you return from a vacation, does anticipating all those waiting e-mails make your stomach twist? (I’m just back from my staycation.) Or, […]
Improve your daily game with focus
Last week I wrote about developing your imagination. This week I thought I’d balance things out with a left-brain productivity booster. Normally, […]
How much is enough?
This week I‘m having a blast designing a business storytelling class for a client, interspersed with writing my blog. Working on two […]
Are you rolling the rock uphill? (Or Sisyphus in the garden)
Do you ever feel like you’re just rolling the rock uphill? As I face that huge to-do list of things-that-have-to-be-done, I’ve been […]
How to (not) Play Squirrel
Some years ago, I was walking my beloved Springer Spaniel, Lady, to the dog park. She was pretty well trained to heel […]
How to Birth a Dream—Gently
Before a dream can be transformed into a project in the world, it has to be born. We talk about “making” dreams come true, but […]
Structuring Your Time Without Killing Your Muse
As a creative entrepreneur, I often wrestle with how to manage my time, get things done, and nurture my creative zeal. I […]
Why Positive Thinking Can Have Negative Results (and what to do about it)
In last week’s post I wrote: “Wishful thinking actually decreases our possibility of meaningful action,” as I explored why dedicating ourselves to what […]
7 Questions to Ask When Challenged by Evidence
Last week, I heard a chilling term for a world where facts get distorted, taken out of context, and manipulated at will: “The […]
Are You Counting What Counts?
So God just sent his chief publicist down to help Jesus and he says, “You’re doing good work, Jesus, but I’m worried about your counts. […]
Finding the space for spaciousness
This week I’ve been working on deadline, caught between two big projects I love, primed, a bit more than I’d like to […]
9 Steps to Take When Your On-line Software Stops Liking You
Do you ever start treating your cool online software programs like a friend you can’t live without? They are so uber-friendly, with […]
Don’t create your legacy – claim it
Near the end of the movie Schindler’s List, there’s a gut-wrenching moment when the Jews who’ve been kept alive by Oskar Schindler […]
Are we rating ourselves crazy?
It’s a sad day when a presidential candidate publicly rates women on a scale of 1 to 10. Are we really […]
Try a magic wand that can shift your perspective
Despite calling myself, at times, a “change agent,” I still stumble on one irrefutable fact: most of life is outside of my […]
Restore Thinking to Her Place of Honor
My friend Thinking is one of the world’s great unsung heroes and a good friend of mine. But she’s been looking depressed recently. […]
5 ways to tame your inner critic
I just heard a quote by actor, author, teacher, impresario, Michael Port: “You can be a performer or a critic but you can’t […]
Five questions about your bio your clients are secretly asking
Your bio isn’t your resumé. Its purpose is to help people decide whether they want to connect with you. Let it sing with your […]
8 ways to find your vision – and what to do when you’ve found it
A vision is a curious thing – living in the beginning, middle and end of your heroic story. In the beginning of our story, […]
Finding the magic in the middle of your story
Stories have beginning, middles, and ends. Last week, we talked about exploring the beginning of your story, the Origin Story. This week […]
How your Origin Story reveals the art in your life
How many of us have secretly felt, from time to time, like we were frauds in our professions? In 1978, Dr. Pauline […]
Finding gratitude in every moment (with Brother David Steindl Rast)
Brother David Steindl-Rast, a Benedictine monk and teacher, has been writing and teaching about gratitude for over 30 years. I’ve been a […]
Are you a try-aholic?
Last week, I found a book by Edward Slingerland with my name on it: Trying Not to Try You see I’m Sally […]
Create an eco-system to support your goals (or, What I learned driving past slums in Mumbai)
It’s January, when we often launch the year with goals and aspirations. If you’re like me, you took time over the holidays to […]
Finding your calling or what I learned from a warrior prince
Have you ever had moments when you felt stuck in your tracks, unable to decide, caught between alternatives you didn’t like – […]
Finding Hope in the Holidays
I’m just getting back in the saddle after an amazing trip to India. There’s so much I want to share with you […]
Is the word “leadership” dead?
My close B-school buddy, Lori, and I have been having a debate about leadership. She thinks the word has gone flat. I, however, […]
My favorite fall things
Raindrops on dahlias and nuzzling my horses Leaves that go crackle and new on-line courses, Wearing yummy old sweaters and starting to […]
Know How You Feel to Change How You Think
Lots of self help gurus preach that we can change what we believe (and then act) by changing how we think. Powerful stuff, […]
Are you ready to unmask from “appropriate”?
Did anyone ever tell you, as a kid, that you needed to be appropriate? Sure, it’s important in our civil culture to […]
Embracing what we might not choose
Life is full of things most of us don’t ask for – like old age, if we are lucky enough to get […]
Getting ready to fly
Fall brings change. The days shorten. The air cools. The migratory birds will soon take off. It’s a beautiful site to see them […]
Beware the NPR trap (and thank you Ira Glass!)
On the eve of launching my podcat, I'm thinking about NPR and how big the GAP is between my interviews and what I'm hearing on air. But the words of Ira Glass, from four videos he did in 2009, are the perfect antidote to my fears.
How to write about yourself when the future is foggy
Writing about one's self when you're in the midst of re-invention can be daunting. But with every step, the path gets clearer. "We make the road by walking."
Do you choose high seas or a safe harbor?
Action heroes are always taking risks, daring greatly and saving the planet. They'll probably always choose high seas over safe harbors. But for the rest of us, managing the balance of risk and safety is a skill to cultivate.
The Résumé’s not dead – just boring (or why you need more story in your bio!)
Sure, we all need to have a résumé. But a bio can be a lot more interesting to read - especially if you know how to bring it together with the power of story!
WHY we should stop asking “HOW?”
We live in a culture that values efficiency, productivity, and action. All good…if we’re doing the right stuff, the stuff that matters […]