Thoughts for Today

At a coffee shop this week I overheard someone ask their friend, “When did everything become so serious?” And, I felt that and then I got curious. It’s not that our lives aren’t good or that we don’t have things worth celebrating. But we carry a lot of responsibilities. We manage relationships, work, family, along with everything happening around us and in the world. I think it’s possible that we have become so focused on managing life that we forget to enjoy it. At least, I

Have you ever had a reaction to something and later wondered why it bothered you so much, or why your reaction was so strong? Maybe someone made an innocent comment and you immediately felt defensive, even protective. Or your spouse forgot to do something they said they would do, and your frustration seemed bigger than the situation warranted. Maybe a friend didn't respond to a message, and before you knew it, you were feeling dismissed, unimportant, or forgotten. Sometimes o

I have a lot of girlfriends. Some that I connect with occasionally, others that I am in touch with almost daily. I have girlfriends that I see at networking events and some in my neighborhood. Recently, I have noticed a common thread in our conversations. It’s that we all seem to be in problem-solving mode. And, we’re tired. For some of us, it’s that the rhythm of our life is off and we are trying to figure it out. A few feel strain in their relationship and they replay the

I’ve spent a lot of my life learning how to use my voice. How to say what I mean and ask for what I need. Practicing how to have difficult conversations instead of avoiding them and how to speak up when something doesn’t feel right or clear. And I believe that this is important, especially for women. But lately I’ve been having conversations around something that almost seems contradictory. I am learning that there is also power in silence. Not silence when you don’t know wh

I’ve been thinking about a scene I read recently in a book. One character went with her friend to an AA meeting. She wasn’t ready to tell a room full of strangers about her own addiction, and what struck me was that she didn’t have to. No one seemed particularly interested in fixing anyone else. There wasn’t a rush to offer advice or find the right words. They simply made room for one another. There was a shared knowing in the room. I finished that passage and thought, What i

I haven't packed a single thing. Normally, by this point, I'd have a list. I'd have piles. I'd probably have already thought through what I was wearing each day and checked the weather more times than necessary. Instead, I've spent most of this week sick. There was a point when I wasn't sure I was going to be able to go at all. Thankfully, I'm no longer contagious, but I'm also not quite back to 100%. I'm tired. There are things around here that need to be done. And there is