Your word is your bond
One fall, I received a call asking me to speak on a Thursday night. Checking my calendar, the Thursday night was wide open, and I agreed to speak. Months later, as the speaking engagement approached, I realized I had casually…
Fall down six times, get up seven
Babies are remarkably resilient. Without our coaching they manage to learn to walk. They learn by falling. They fall again and again and again. And every time they fall, they get up and try again. Somewhere along the way, some…
A view from my window
One of my favorite vacations was sitting by a wood stove in New Hampshire—alone. I had a glorious view of the mountains, a book, and hot chocolate. My travel companions spent the days hiking, and I spent the days alone…
Don’t Collect Monkeys
It’s been a big week. Super Bowl Sunday. Tie games are not an option; neither is splitting the Vince Lombardi trophy. There are winners and there are losers, with no other options. Americans are good at games. So good, we…
Sweet Sleep
If we listen to our bodies, we often know exactly what our most important habit of resilience is. Mine is sleep. If I don’t get enough sleep, I am less creative, less fun to be with, and less energetic. It…
Welcome to 2019. Begin at the end.
Happy New Year. 2019 feels so fresh, so full of possibility. Like new spiral notebooks on the first day of school—clean and open to creativity. You’d think with all our practice at New Year’s self-improvement, we’d be practically perfect by…
Don’t miss the trees
The old canard goes, "Don't miss the forest for the trees", an admonishment to take in the big picture. But don't miss the trees. In our desire to understand the pattern of the big picture, we miss tiny, beautiful things…
This year, I need Advent in my life
Santa and Mrs. Claus showed up at Chick-fil-A two days after Thanksgiving, looking totally relaxed. Perhaps all their holiday cookies are made and in the freezer; presents are wrapped and ready to go. Now their only job is to greet…
National Hammock Day
Saturday was National Hammock Day. Not that I needed encouraging. I own three. I’m a fan of Hatteras Hammocks, the traditional cotton rope with an oak spreader. My favorite is a single hammock on our screen porch. I nap in…
Blessed and Blessing: the Stranger among us
In the very first book of the Bible, we discover something essential about hospitality. It’s not optional. When strangers pass by Abraham and Sarah’s dwelling, Abraham quickly provides provisions, food and drink, a place to wash and stay. In Abraham’s…
