Ever had a secret desire to branch out and try something you’ve thought about doing? Dreamed about doing? Almost did? But didn’t? Don’t think you have the time? The know-how? The energy? My colleague Dan Blank has the perfect jump-start solution to begin creating meaningful experiences: Give yourself permission. He advocates trying something new – Continue reading

I used to live in a house with a majestic staircase. One Sunday afternoon, I was bounding up the steps clad in a pair of ripped cut-off jeans and an embroidered top. I’d been out all afternoon – cheering on one of my sons at a soccer game, picking up a prescription at the drugstore Continue reading

Wednesday night I went to bed totally aggravated – completely ignoring my vow to rise above bothersome “first world” petty problems. My husband and I had spent 45 minutes trying to change the filter on our Keurig coffee maker, to clean the K-cup Portion Pack utilizing a straightened paper clip, and de-scaling it with vinegar Continue reading

Three things both struck me and stuck with me this past week. The first thing: the “2019” sign hanging from the front porch of one of my neighbor’s homes Once upon a time, I had a sign like this hanging from my front porch – signifying a child within its portals had reached the significant Continue reading

I wrote this years ago when my son, Sam, who is now 37, was graduating from high school. It actually applies both to moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas who will soon watch a beloved child or grandchild reach one milestone, on the brink of another. Sam, soon I will watch you walk down Continue reading

Mindfulness is in vogue – living in the moment – revering and reveling in the present. But what about awareness? Awareness is knowledge or perception of a situation or fact – concern or well-informed interest – consciousness, recognition, and/or attention. The opposite of awareness is disregard, ignorance, insensitivity, neglect, misunderstanding, unfamiliarity, and/or unconsciousness. I’m finding Continue reading

It must be an age thing: when I was little, I remember speedily and greedily ripping the wrapping paper off each gift I received for any reason – at any time – rarely paying attention to the accompanying card. As I got older, I started actually giving credence to the written words of the cards Continue reading

I watch my sister-in-law closely. She is pregnant – heavy and cumbersome – with her third child. She is consumed with diapers, feedings, playtime and naptime. I watch my mother closely. (She is not pregnant.) She has no children at home. She has no buses to meet, no jeans to hem, no school projects to Continue reading

Okay. Let me set the record straight right away: I am not – nor have I ever been – a good cook. My five sons will attest to this. In fact, if you ask them to name a favorite dish they recall me serving during their growing-up years, you’d be met with blank stares. However, Continue reading