Harmonizing your primary chord
I’ve had a lot of conversations lately about work/life balance. People trying to find it, replicate it, master it, sacrifice for it, beat it into submission. One dictionary defines balance as: “A condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.” It’s the ‘correct proportions’ part that can trip us up. Mary […]
“Flinging yourself straight into life” – or not.
Fyodor Dostoevsky in the book Crime and Punishment, writes “Don’t be overwise; fling yourself straight into life, without deliberation; don’t be afraid – the flood will bear you to the bank and set you safe on your feet again.” Sometimes I wish I was a ‘fling yourself straight into life!’ person. Some of you reading this post […]
Protective Factors Checklist.
In counseling vernacular, there is a term thrown around that I have had on my mind a lot lately: Protective Factors. Protective Factors are probably exactly what you’re imagining – factors that protect people in times of challenge and increase their resiliency. The more protective factors one has, the greater the likelihood that they […]
My Jack-o-Lantern and Your “thing.”
My sweet mom has an artist’s heart and one thing she loved to do in the mid 70s of my youth was paint ceramics. It was a thing back then to go to a ceramics store and get a piece of molded, but not yet fired and glazed, pottery. You would take the pottery home […]
Being (wisely) loyal to yourself.
I know this might come as a surprise (kidding!) but I’ve never been in a fist fight. I have come close though. I worked with some tough and powerful and big-hearted kids early in my career – and they’re still tough and powerful and big-hearted. One day about a year into my high school […]
A very specific letter – and listening to mall music.
In the 1980s my dad went through a period of several years where he would write (and by “write” I mean he would dictate to his secretary) a sort of ‘group letter’ weekly. He would send it by mail to any of his children and family living away from home. It would contain his busy […]
Broken yolks and de-escalative laughter.
This morning I asked Darren to flip my fried eggs for me because 1) I wanted my yolks to remain intact, 2) I was too scared I would break them, and 3) he is notoriously much, much better than me at anything having to do with the stove. (The oven I have mastered – but […]
The Little Red Hen and what’s stopping us.
One of the folktales I remember my mom telling me when I was little was called “The Little Red Hen.” If you’re of a certain age, you probably recall the story. But in case you don’t, here’s the Little Golden Book edition: Once there was a Little Red Hen who lived in a barnyard […]
Validating our emotions – and turbulence.
I may have mentioned a few times on this blog that I am what my parents used to term a ‘worry wart’. Blame it on my Enneagram 6 personality or the fact that I was sandwiched between two risk-taking siblings or blame it on my worrier Grandma, Bessie, but …… I worry. (“Hello, my name […]
Mr. Steele and the magic combination.
The principal that hired me for my first teaching job was named Mr. Steele. He was a tough guy with a huge heart and a huge temper to match. He was passionate about the program he started in his school for kids that were struggling and boy, did he want them to succeed. I […]
