Pull up a chair and gather around; this is where we share stories about what ignites our passion and burns a fire in our soul.
I’m six years old and my parents finally said I could have the big girl job of washing the dishes. I AM SO EXCITED!
I need to use a step stool because I’m not quite tall enough to reach the sink faucet without it. I stand up on my tippy toes with my arms slung over the side of the sink. The edge of the counter pokes me right in my armpits as I proudly scrub off a sink full of dirty dishes.
Read MoreHopeless
Alone she sits, cold and isolated, locked in her bathroom. She hopelessly gives up her childhood dreams and desires; life appears to be a meaningless ritual. Familiar faces tauntingly peek into the windows, but they are oblivious to her pain. Confusion races around in her mind like a rat searching frantically out of a maze.
Read MoreIn Life Mapping, I describe a personal wellness checkpoint called “Optimal Me.” Optimal Me is a list of seven to ten daily, weekly, or bi-monthly consistent, habitual activities that are automatic when we’re functioning on all cylinders.
Read MoreToss Yourself a Life Ring
It’s nice if someone notices we’re drowning in our own thoughts, but most people won’t. Not even if we’ve placed our innermost dark secret right under someone’s nose. Or, if those closest to us suspect something’s got us down, most won’t know what to say, so they don’t say anything at all.
Read MoreMental Health America reports only 25% of youth today are treated on a consistent basis for a diagnosable mental illness. There are several factors contributing to this ridiculously low number.
1. Society’s ongoing stigma around mental health makes it more difficult, even for those who are brave enough, to talk about their challenges.
2. Kids inaccurately blame themselves for how they feel, and because of the stigma, they may feel shameful about sharing it with an adult.
Read MoreBaby, It’s Allright to Cry
There’s this thing people do when they’re feeling insecure or self-conscious: They minimize themselves by saying “sorry.”
Why are you sorry? Because you’re sharing good news? You feel like you’ve talked about yourself longer than you should? Heaven forbid, you started crying? Men and women are equally guilty of apologizing for showing emotion. But why?
Read MoreSince making the decision to write my first book, I’ve been a constant observer of my thoughts and actions. I am, as the expression asserts, like a fly on the wall watching my life unfold day by day.
Over the past couple of weeks, I noticed I was stalling on my most recent blog post. In it, I put a voice to the fact I had been on state food assistance for about a year after the real estate market crash of 2008. Even saying it now makes my stomach feel queasy.
Read MoreI know, it’s not a pleasant thought.
Most of us can reflect on our lives with 20/20 vision. While we may not name our less-than-ideal choices ‘regrets’, most of us would admit we’d probably change some things if we had a do-over.
Read MoreI wonder how many of you could rattle off your top five, or even top three, core values.
Why is this important? There are two main reasons why it’s essential to know your core values:
1. Our core values are at the heart of what intrinsically motivates us. They get us moving every day and drive our sense of purpose. If we don’t know what we’re striving for, life becomes monotonous and unfulfilling.
Read MoreValues drive our priorities in life and help give us a sense of purpose. They create a link from who we are fundamentally to what’s up for us this year and currently deserving of our attention. When we’re clear on our values, it’s a lot easier to get out of bed in the morning.
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