For those of you wondering where my blogs have been, I must confess, I have been cocooning.  According to Frederic M. Hudson, author of The Adult Years, there are many times in life when we are called inward to transform old thoughts and beliefs into new capabilities. The process, which may take weeks or months, helps […]

I am on a small island in Croatia today.  I have come to visit a friend who moved from Southern California to tend to an olive orchid that has been in her family for centuries. It is quiet here. On the island, time and priorities slow as activities are directed primarily by nature. As we […]

Two friends from China decided they were stronger together than they were as individuals. Their story is unique in that Wenqi was a double amputee and Haiza was completely blind. Yet, despite their handicaps they wanted to be productive and contribute to generations to come. Finding it difficult to find work, they went to the […]

We all need feedback. By understanding how people experience our style and performance, we can better align our efforts with what is truly needed.  But how we solicit feedback can create its own perception that goes beyond our performance. In most cases, it is best to be direct, courageous and specific. Go in strong after a project or important meeting and ask your boss […]

I’m not sure what prompted me, but the other night I looked up the quote “To thine own self be true.” My search reminded me that the famous phase was spoken by Polonius in the play, Hamlet. However, what I found most interesting was what it truly meant when placed in the context of the full sentiment. […]

Not long ago, I meet with a group of retired women.  Some were thriving with their new freedom, others were struggling with identity loss, and a few were dealing with medical issues. Many of the women shared that they were so consumed by their work that they neglected to maintain and create friendships. Those were […]

I was walking up the beach early this morning. The water was calm and the air nearly still.  Two women with English accents stopped me and pointed out to the ocean.  The one women said “I am either seeing a whale–or the Loch Ness monster.” To which I quickly assure her it was definitely the […]

I am one of those people that enjoys catching a cold from time-to-time. It gives me an excuse to do nothing all day but sit on my couch and watch movies. Such was the case last Sunday when I held my own Diane Lane film festival and watched Under the Tuscan Sun not once, but twice. My […]

I recently heard about a Japanese art form called Kintsugi.  Also known as the “golden repair.”  Kintsugi is the art of restoring broken pottery with a bond made of powdered gold, silver, or platinum. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to discard […]

I am often sent notes from my blog readers that inspire me to keep writing. A few of you from time-to-time even send pictures. Such was the case last week, when a reader ran across a graffiti wall in New York. If you can’t see the picture, here’s what it says: When your back is […]