Words of Wisdom

Seeing The Beauty In Acceptance vs. Denial

This post is about being in denial about our life circumstances and some suggestions for acceptance. Years ago, I went back to Portland, Maine, to visit my aging father, who had just moved into an assisted living center. First, a bit about my Dad. After starting out in a privileged ...

The Necessity of Limiting How Much Time We Spend On-Line

This post is about setting up some healthy rules for yourself regarding how much time you spend on-line. I often think about how much time I spend on my digital devices. Is it four hours a day or more? I know it’s the first thing I do when I have ...

Find That Poem That Reminds You of Peace and Freedom

This poem comes from Walt Whitman, who is considered one of America’s finest poets. Walt Whitman was born on May 31, 1819, and lived a fulfilling and challenging life for the next 80 years. We know his poetry, but many people are not aware that Walt Whitman traveled hundreds ...

What To Do When You Get Stuck In The Creative Process

This post is about what to do when we are creating something and get stuck. In the process of creating something, we often find some parts tedious and difficult to get through. The free flow of energy that comes when your muse sings to you is often not compatible ...

The Tale of Two Wolves – Which One Do You Feed?

This post comes from an old Indian tale entitled, “Two Wolves.” “One evening, an old Cherokee man told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, ‘My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, ...

Factors That Create High Performing Teams vs. Teams That Under Perform

This post is about some of the factors that create high performing teams vs. teams that under perform. There’s a great article entitled, “The Science of Happiness,” by Barbara Fredrickson in the Sun magazine that explores some of these factors. Fredrickson is the Kenan Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience ...

Acknowledging The Kindness of Others

The post is about noticing and acknowledging the kindness of others. I was reminded of this virtue, after a frightening experience in which my husband and I needed emergency help. Here’s what happened. Early one Sunday morning, a nasty grass fire broke out at our ranch in the Columbia ...

The Advantages of Full Engagement

Today I read an interesting commentary in a publication called “Reflections, The SoL Journal, on Knowledge, Learning and Change.” It was written by Anne Murray Allen about her experience working for Hewlett Packard for 16 years. Here’s what she discovered at HP, which is the heart of this post: ...

Making Your Dreams Come True

This post is about making your dreams come true. Years ago, I heard a program on NPR about astronauts and their experience of landing on the moon. One of the Apollo 12 astronauts, Alan Bean, who was the lunar module pilot for the mission, was interviewed with his co-writer of ...

The Dangers of Certainty

This post is about the dangers of certainty. It’s about the danger of being so convinced about something that your mind and heart become closed to any other possibility. Here’s a good example of what I mean. I recently watched an old documentary entitled, “The Fog of War.” This was ...

The Value of Taking the First Step

This post is about a dilemma I’ve wrestled with for the past couple of years. I think it’s one that many people can relate to: wanting to do something and not being able to find the way to do it, to continue to stay motivated or to push yourself ...

How To Set Healthy Boundaries at Work

This post is about setting healthy boundaries with people at work. Professional boundaries are important because they define the limits and responsibilities of all members of a team. When workplace boundaries are clearly defined, the organization works more efficiently because redundant work assignments are eliminated and people are held ...

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