Gratitude

In Memoriam: Remembering the High School English Teacher Who Influenced my Love of Literature & Writing

Yesterday, I learned the sad news that my high school English teacher, Joseph McLaughlin, passed away. I was devastated, and even all these years later, burst into tears immediately upon hearing the news. All of a sudden I was back in 12th grade sitting in his class, learning Shakespeare, studying the song lyrics of Bob Dylan and the Beatles, and solidifying my love of language and literature, which has stayed with me to this day. [...]

By |2023-08-02T13:56:18-07:00April 14th, 2023|Gratitude, Reading, Writing|0 Comments

La Dolce Far Niente ~ The Sweetness of Doing Nothing

The Italians have a phrase that I’ve always loved: La Dolce Far Niente — the sweetness of doing nothing. It refers to the pastime of languishing happily, letting the world pass by while you relax, savor, and soak it in. It sounds so decadent. And most of us crave it, but don’t always let ourselves enjoy it. I’m just as guilty as the next person. As a productivity consultant by training, I pride myself on getting a lot done. I track my project [...]

By |2022-03-25T13:35:47-07:00March 23rd, 2022|Gratitude|0 Comments

A Life-Saving Gesture of Friendship & Bravery: An Uplifting Tale of Two Writer Pals

Want an uplifting story that gives you faith in humanity? I am so proud to know these two amazing women, and humbled to witness a beautiful expression of humanity, friendship, and bravery. One needs a kidney and the other is donating it! Kelly Hartog is a Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) sufferer and was placed on the UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) transplant list. It’s been a long and difficult road, but amazingly, after [...]

By |2022-03-11T13:53:45-08:00March 10th, 2022|Gratitude, Writing Community|0 Comments

Surround Yourself with Believing Eyes on Your Creative Journey

The life coach, writer, and Harvard negotiator Martha Beck talks about the concept of believing eyes in her book Finding Your Northstar — a book that I devoured when I was making a major career transition from being a lawyer to launching my own business in 2002 on the heels of the 9/11 tragedy. This concept of believing eyes is that you should surround yourself with people that believe in your vision for the future. It’s not only something I try [...]

By |2021-08-11T13:46:18-07:00July 18th, 2021|Creativity, Gratitude, Writer Coaching|0 Comments

Express Gratitude… and When That Doesn’t Cut it, Try a Five Minute Pity Party!

It’s no secret that expressing gratitude is good for us. According to Harvard Health, gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. The way we verbally frame our experiences strongly shapes our mindset. Navy Seal, Jocko Willink, author of Extreme Ownership, suggests using this strategy to combat unfavorable news: when something less than ideal happens, practice saying “good” and looking for the silver [...]

By |2021-08-10T09:57:22-07:00May 10th, 2021|Gratitude|0 Comments

Where is This Supposed “Midlife Crisis?” Aging Into Confidence on the Back-Nine

So I'm now at the age that most people would call Midlife. My husband jokingly calls it “the Back Nine,” referring to the last nine holes of an eighteen-hole golf course. I don’t play golf, but I certainly get the gist! When I was a kid, I remember hearing about how people would often have a "Midlife Crisis." They would do wacky, out-of-the-ordinary things. They would not act like their former selves. They would often [...]

By |2020-12-15T13:18:25-08:00January 30th, 2020|Adventures, Gratitude|0 Comments

The Contagious Nature of Gratitude: Changing My (and Others’) Mindset About Something I Dislike

Many of us have heard that when you express gratitude, it helps you overcome negativity, fear, and puts you in a positive mindset. Indeed, there are many studies that prove that if you keep a gratitude journal and list the things that you're grateful for on a daily basis, that it will improve your life overall. I'm all for this! I have been keeping a journal since I'm eight years old. And while sometimes I [...]

By |2017-11-18T22:11:32-08:00November 5th, 2017|Gratitude|9 Comments
Go to Top