Life is about opportunities. The opportunity to travel to a foreign land is alluring for anyone who is curious about culture, but for five teenage boys who want to explore the culture of fútbol (soccer) in Spain – it is everything. Come along with me as I blog about my adventures with James, Rob, and four …
To live forever
News flash: We will not live forever. Neither will our parents. Accidents, illness, disease – such as breast cancer – and the inevitable aging process guarantee this. (And no parent should have to outlive their children, but do we really need to see it in a Superbowl commercial?) To care for our aging parents, we need to be …
What’s your motherhood story?
We all have a story about motherhood, or our mom, or about being a mom (or dad). So what happens when you give a mom a microphone? They bring you on a journey. With that in mind, I signed up to audition for this big, fat, hairy, scary public speaking event called “Listen to Your Mother” (LTYM). …
Lessons from the Your Turn Challenge
I took on the Your Turn Challenge – a seven day blogging challenge inspired by Seth Godin and his book “What to do when it’s your turn” to get in the habit of blogging everyday, to get better and faster with blogging and connect with others. I hoped the Your Turn Challenge will remind me to do my best …
How to reduce the fear of public speaking
The mere thought of public speaking – that is speaking in front of a large audience – sends my stomach into knots, and turns me into a cold, clammy mess, and makes me have to pee. Apparently, I’m not alone. According to several studies, speaking in public is cited as one of the top fears for humans. …
Begin again
I like to say: begin again. When you embrace a beginner’s mind, it is humbling to experience your activities – things you do everyday without thought or question – from where you are. You discover a new aspect, something you haven’t thought of or felt before. Approaching your old project from the beginning might reveal …
Some thoughts on focus
When your mind is quiet, deep focus can come effortlessly. For me, it’s a challenge to quiet my mind and focus my awareness. Sometimes I spin around for a good fifteen minutes before I write or perform a task or activity. “Just as focused light through a magnifying glass becomes more concentrated and powerful, the …
Do you know any Rochester Women to Watch?
I’m pleased to share that I’m a contributing writer for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle and its “Woman to Watch” column. The “Woman to Watch” column runs on Tuesdays, and since I share duties with another writer, my interviews with Rochester women appear about every other week both online and in print. The Rochester women to watch that you read about are …