Normally I would not devote an entire blog post to a book I have just completed. I’d write up my happy little review on GoodReads and then move on to the next one. This time is different. I just finished The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by brothers Chip and Dan Heath. My brain is buzzing, not only because I loved the book but also because of the clarity it gave me. The Heath brothers write about creating memorable, impactful peaks in our lives and the lives of others. These peaks can be simple acts like complimenting someone on a job well done or shoveling an…
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How to Remove Coconut Meat Without Losing Your Mind
One of the highlights of our visit to Maui last November was a tropical plantation tour. We learned about so many of the delicious fruits and flowers grown on the island; seeing pineapples, mangoes, avocados, bananas, and many others in their natural habitat was fascinating and we enjoyed the afternoon tremendously. One mind-blowing moment came when our tour guide pulled the tram over so she could demonstrate how to break down a coconut. By the way, I absolutely love coconut but I do not love all of the steps involved in breaking them down. I can gleefully poke a skewer into the eyes and pour out the water, and vigorously…
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Go Out and Vote.
You’d have to be living under a rock not to know that this Tuesday, November 6–just two short days from today–is Midterm Election Day, and a very important one at that. More effort has been made to get out the vote than I can remember in my lifetime, which is great…yet I know that large numbers of people STILL aren’t going to vote. From the indifferent ones to the folks who feel like their one vote doesn’t matter to the people who don’t want to put in the effort to do a little research so they can figure out who they might vote for, America is still full of excuses.…
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#30BrighterDays: Textually Speaking
Today I'm participating in my friend Ann's #30BrighterDays series by telling you how to make someone else's day brighter!
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Listing
Often we don't even end up at the destination we planned from the beginning, even if we make lists along the way.
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The Future Is Coming to Our Neighborhood Pool (Maybe)!
I had the most excellent idea for our neighborhood pool.
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Why Not Make Things Easier For Yourself?
What is one little thing you can change to make your life easier?
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Big Impact Comes in Tiny Packages
I started thinking about some of the tiny changes I have made (in this past year of giant changes) that have resulted in more happiness or ease in my day-to-day life, and I thought of three right off the bat. What are yours?
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This December, Be Kind.
With the calendar being flipped to December again (that always seems to happen this time of year!), I decided to revisit something I originally wrote in 2011, because I’m sure it will be useful again, especially with our current administration making it an issue. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or something else? I have written about this topic several times before, but alas, it’s that time of year once again, and I always get questions. Let me start out with my disclaimer: though I naturally think that my point of view makes complete sense, it is indeed MY point of view and I have great respect for other opinions, even if…
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Managing Expectations is (Now) My Jam
I had a great conversation earlier today with a friend about expectations and how we manage them. This is something I have been working on for a while now, but I’ve kicked it into overdrive in the past few months since I stopped working full time (and stopped having to be on the go constantly). Back in the day I was the Queen of Expectations–wait, maybe High Priestess of Expectations–both in regards to myself and others. I was raised with high expectations and believed that keeping the bar waaaaaaay up there was important when it came to being successful, being happy, and getting things done. Well, I was wrong…and I’m…
