A few days ago, I was sitting at my office desk, looking at the folder on my computer called “Old Journal Writing & Coach Emails.” Wow, I totally forgot I had all these electronically. For the past four months, I’ve been doing some research and continuing excavation of my past. I’m doing it mainly for the book I’m writing, working title When Your Mind Gets Too Loud. I’ve become fascinated by how quickly something can happen and how our minds take off with a whole story about what it means. My book is really about learning to catch that story before it takes over, so we can see what’s actually…

I’m exhausted as I scan my boarding pass and walk to the door of the plane. I’m finally headed back home to CA after spending the past 12 days in Houston helping with my sister’s puppies.  As I settle in my seat, I realize I forgot to check if the middle seat was still open. The flight attendant announces that this is a “full flight.” It’s then that I see the very tall gentleman heading into my row. As he settles into his middle seat, I see a book in his hand: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.  After he puts the book in the seatback pocket, I smile and…

You know me and my favorite hike along the Sacramento River. I walked it before I left for Houston, where I am now, puppy-sitting my sister’s two little ones. As I’m on that hike, I realize I need to think of this trip as a mini retreat. My sole responsibility will be caring for two young puppies. I used to train dogs. So of course, I got this. Still, I know being there might bring up some stuff. I stayed at my sister’s house a lot when I was taking care of my mom before she died, and that was what I was thinking about in that moment. While I’m…

It was an EARLY morning yesterday. I had one of those 3:00 a.m. alarms go off so I could catch my 5:15 a.m. flight to Houston, Texas. Yeah, back in Texas again. Flying out here from CA is always an interesting adventure. This trip brought up some emotions too cuz the last time I was here was when my Mom died. I’m here to help out my sister, who has two new puppies and is heading out for a family vacation. Of course, I was happy to come out here to dogsit them for a week to get some good puppy TLC.  I’m waiting at the airport to board the…