A Poem — The sun glides from behind the horizon. The soft light gently awakens the sleeping landscape. A bud shakes loose of dew. No decisions are made. No hint of hesitation. The whole leaf emerges forth Unborn into the world. Opening to the glow with Unwavering faith. Poem inspired by a talk…

Experience is an honest teacher. — It would be easy if we always gave ourselves a moment to consult core values before making a decision. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as it sounds, and the result can leave us feeling like we’ve veered off course. I previously wrote about the importance of finding and articulating values…

Being clear gives me something to stand on. Sometimes it feels like there is no ground beneath my feet. Floating or falling feel the same when life happens. When confronted with inevitable challenges, I call forth what I value to help me navigate to a solution, providing the necessary ground…

A poem — There is no source of the pain. Anger, fear. It permeates. Seeping in. Into everything. It’s the toothache. It’s the ingrown toenail. It’s the red light and the near-empty gas tank. It’s the non-stop emails or the next few meetings. It’s the sound of the furnace or the neighbor’s lawnmower. It’s the regret and the potential. It’s the mistakes…

Could uttering a few words inside my mixed up head make any difference in the real world? — “Slow Down” — it’s the mantra I’m stepping into 2021 with. Do I really need to be reminded to slow down after a year spent indoors without much to do? Yes. Yes, I do. The way I think of a mantra is a short phrase I keep in mind and…

There is no mystery, this is just the way she is. — Angels walk amongst us. Not the winged kind with halos and white robes, nor the chubby spooky baby kind that comes out every Valentine’s day. There are real flesh and blood angels who walk through life just like you and I do. They don’t draw attention to themselves but when…

There is more to a word than the definition — When I tell someone that my college degree is in philosophy I nearly always get the head tilt to the side look of “really?” Despite the quizzical looks or the quick, “I could never study that” response, I’m confident that my deep interest in philosophy is not weird or special…

Find the courage to let joy into your life. — “Life will bring you pain all by itself. Your responsibility is to create joy.” Milton Erickson After getting up early each morning to swim, bike, and run for months, I had done it. I’d completed a triathlon. Jolene and some of my training friends were at the finish line waiting…

We may be hearing words but we’re not understanding the message — Have you ever been in a conversation that raised your levels of fear and anxiety? So much so that it seemed like people were drawing out your frustrations like a snake charmer? What if there was a way to take part in conversations that left you feeling curious and not…