Thoughts for Today

This weekend, we decorated the house for Christmas. I saved the tree for last, mostly because Alyssa likes to help decorate the tree but also because it’s a lot of work to transform the house for the holiday and waiting to do the tree the next day allows me to really engage and cherish the process.  As I opened the tubs of ornaments I’ve collected for more than 40 years I was swept up in the memories of previous Christmases. Each ornament holds a special place in my heart. Al

Ah, the holidays…that time of year when we gather around the table to share a meal, love our people, and silently brace ourselves for the moment someone asks,...(insert awkward moment in your family) There are as many personalities around the table as there are side dishe s, some sweet and some savory. Around this table are also a range of emotions. Grief, missing those who no longer have a seat at the table. Joy, for the new ones who pull up a chair. Stress for all the effor

Why Life Isn’t Meant to Be Black & White The older I get, the more I realize how much of life happens in the spaces in between—those places that aren’t clearly right or wrong, good or bad, success or failure. Most of the meaningful moments of our lives live in the grey , not the black and white. The other day, I was thinking about how often women (myself included) try to fit ourselves into one clean emotion, one correct answer, one clear direction. We want certainty. We want

This week I ended up in the Apple Store talking with a technician about my phone battery. Even though I fully charge it at night, my battery quickly drains once I start my day. The technician explained that even when I wasn’t ‘using’ my phone there were things running in the background causing a drain on my battery.  What a light bulb moment! On my way home I couldn't shake the comparison. It hit me that this happens to us too. We feel drained, at least I know I do, even on d

When I first started coaching women, officially, I noticed a pattern, they were already juggling so much. Like myself, they were balancing family, work, and all of life’s endless demands. The thought of adding one more thing to do to their already overwhelming list felt impossible.  My challenge was how to get the right tools in the right place without adding any additional pressure for them to achieve.  I was using proven tools but the application was messy. I’d offer worksh

When I became a member of the LINKS Team at Camp Lejeune, NC, we had a motto, Bloom Where You’re Planted . (LINKS stands for Lifestyles, Insight, Networking, Knowledge, & Skills. It is a mentoring program across the Corps where spouses teach spouses. Think of it like Marine Corps 101 for families.)   It was a reminder that it didn’t matter how often you relocated, plant yourself in the new location and thrive. I was fortunate that our family didn’t relocate often. During our