Korean Stairs – and embracing your ‘uneven.’
My sister-in-law, who spent time in Korea during the 1990s doing church service, recently told me something fascinating about how traditional Korean stairs were built. Apparently, construction focused more on function and adaptability than precision. Builders had to work with local materials and uneven ground, often without using standardized tools or measurements. As a result, […]
Standing Tall.
Peter Wohlleben, in The Hidden Life of Trees, tells us that “When there is a drought, trees pause their growth. They reduce water consumption and halt photosynthesis, but they don’t give up. Instead, they wait, conserving their energy until conditions improve. During these waiting periods, they still function and endure, even though growth may not […]
3 things you don’t know you need to know from the Solar Maximum.
In a really sad song written by Neil Young (and also recorded by Johnny Cash) you will find the lyrics “Aurora borealis / The icy sky at night / Paddles cut the water / In a long and hurried flight …” The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is a natural light display […]
A murder of crows and 3 small ideas.
My friend Julie (yes, that same 7th grade friend Julie!) works at a delightful children’s store in a delightful part of town. One day last week I visited her there and while wandering the store I came across a big thick chapter book intended for young-ish readers. It had such a cute cover that I […]
10 ways you’re not choosing love.
Darren and I met over 35 years ago. We dated each other in three different decades. And last month we celebrated our 5-year wedding anniversary. To say we have had an unconventional love story is an understatement. But, as I often tell people, it’s a pretty great story. In coaching about life, I end […]
Which kind of self-aware are you?
Several weeks ago I was sitting in a large event arena to witness one of my nephews’ high school graduation. The arena had steep stadium seating so I had a really good view of a mom trying to keep her toddler quiet in the row in front of me. What finally did the trick was […]
“You’re not the boss of me!”
“You’re not the boss of me!” Darren loves to use this phrase (facetiously) whenever I remind him of something or tell him about something that (I think) might make his life a tiny bit easier. Me – “Your water is on the nightstand by the bed.” Him – “You’re not the boss of me!” […]
Point Positive and an ancient prophet.
Illustration: Sketchplanations My brother in law Chad is a large, quiet, fearless (really!) man who spent a decade of his adult life as a professional white water river guide. Besides my sweet mom, he is, in my (very, very large) family, for sure one of the most trusted and trustworthy members. The majority of us, […]
Hide and Seek – and a teeny tiny piece of halibut.
Growing up in our 70s suburb of Minneapolis meant big yards and no fences. Add into that summer nights when it didn’t get dark early, none of today’s tv streaming options, a new-ish neighborhood full of kids and you get the perfect conditions for hide and seek. I, of course, was a little too […]
Can we sing Stairway to Heaven?
My friend Melissa is a choral conductor and because of that, she is uniquely attuned to communicating intentions. She uses things like tempo, tone, phrasing, and volume to help her choirs understand the pieces they are performing and to convey that emotional understanding to their audiences. It is her vision that is interpreted. Communicating emotional […]
