Core Article: How life sometimes feels like a continuous excavation in grief Quote I’m Pondering: “And when great souls die…” How life sometimes feels like a continuous excavation in grief Have you ever done any excavating, maybe the physical kind, like weeding or digging up your yard? Or maybe the psychological kind, like excavating your memories, thoughts, and experiences… the things you’ve gone through in your life? That’s where I find myself these days, in excavation mode, not of the backyard kind. 🙂 I’m flying to Houston today because my mother’s health is declining rapidly. What’s interesting is that along with grief, I’m also curious about what grief is stirring…

Core Article: The real reason you’re procrastinating about “that project…” Quote I’m Pondering: “Procrastination is not Laziness…” Powerful Affirmations to Inspire:” I release what no longer serves…” The real reason you’re procrastinating about “that project…” The front door opens, and I can feel and hear that wooshing sound of the wind as it brushes against my body and seems to overtake all of my senses. My eyes close for a second, partly because it feels good. And also because I’m already imagining ten things at once. Yet, the day has barely started. My mind never ceases to stop thinking. So I do what I’ve learned to do: I take her…

Core Article: The invisible mountain you’re climbing right now Quote I’m Pondering: “What we get from this adventure…” Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “I turn my bold dreams into…” Cool Stuff: “Psychology behind why we talk about the weather.” The invisible mountain you’re climbing right now A few nights ago, my spouse Alice and I headed to our comfy space in the living room. As both of us get comfy, you can hear her heavy sigh, and mine follows, after a long, somewhat stressful few days.  We both look at each other, and I say, “What do we feel like watching tonight?  And she replies, “I definitely think tonight is movie…

Core Article: There’s got to be another way Quote I’m Pondering: “If your mind is empty…” Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “Each day, I confidently move toward my goals…” Cool Stuff: Did you see the story about the newborn calf cuddling with a 3-year-old? There’s got to be another way The subject of this email was my phrase of choice last year, which I will reveal more of below. This is a story about embracing a beginner’s mindset. I’ve been a bit off my game this past month. You know me by now: I always tell the truth and share what’s happening, so if you’ve ever gone through something similar, you…

Core Article: Sunday, smattering, some sobering thoughts… Quote I’m Pondering: “When you feel yourself breaking down…” Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “My mind is calm…” Cool Stuff: “Why do we get second hand embarassment?” A Sunday, smattering, some sobering thoughts… Last Sunday, I ended up reading four newsletters back-to-back. I found it quite interesting and thought-provoking. This was just after the innocent lives lost in Minneapolis. It was a group of women whom I admired and signed up for all their newsletters. First, I read Anne Lamott’s, then Liz Gilbert’s, Oprah’s, and lastly, Maria Shriver’s. The one fascinating thing they had in common was that they were writing about similar things: the instability of the world,…

Core Article: A book on my kitchen table did something to my brain Paragraphs I’m Pondering: “Trust the timing of your life.” Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “Every action I take…” Cool Stuff: You won’t believe this article – “A Giant Fatberg is flinging…” A book on my kitchen table did something to my brain As I reached for the handle on my cup of coffee, my arm brushes against a book that’s on the kitchen table, and as I take a sip, I smile cuz I do love this sweet space. We built this breakfast nook in the corner of the kitchen a year ago, with amazing views of the…

Core Article: Happy 2026! Letting Go, New Beginnings, Insights & More Paragraph I’m Pondering: “Take a moment…” by Melody Beattie Happy 2026! Letting Go, New Beginnings, Insights & More Happy 2026, we meet another year rolls by, and what does it have in store? What are you most looking forward to this year?  You’ve been on my mind during the holidays.  End of December and the beginning of January always feel like a time to pause, breathe, and reflect.  Take a moment to ask yourself: For me, the New Year isn’t about crafting the perfect five-year plan or flashy goals. It’s about staying curious and focusing on what matters most—connection,…

Core Article: The Woman In 19C who Changed my Holiday Plan Paragraph I’m Pondering: “Look how far we’ve come…” Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “I prioritize peace…” Cool Stuff: Why people are stealing diner mugs… AI Info & Resources: Rainbows and AI, oh my… The Woman In 19C who Changed my Holiday Plan I was away last week for a mastermind meeting. I hadn’t been to a live in-person meeting with like-minded entrepreneurs in over two years… It was kind of a crazy decision, because it was only a one-day event… I said to myself: “I’m not sure I can justify the cost of flying across the country for just one…

Core Article:  Is Your Business Starting to Feel Like My Mom’s iPhone? Paragraph I’m Pondering: “There’s nothing selfish about your hunger to learn.” Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “There’s. nothing selfish about…” Book Review: Marketing a Love Story by Bernadette Jiwa  Is Your Business Starting to Feel Like My Mom’s iPhone? This was my dilemma with my mom and her phone. She was constantly calling me to complain about her phone; she couldn’t use it anymore. Yet, there lies the obvious dilemma; she just called me on it. I’ve shared before that my mom is 86 and has the beginning of dementia. When I was with her a few weeks ago,…

Core Article: The sometimes winding road to acceptance… Paragraph I’m Pondering: “You will lose someone you can’t live without…” Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “My breath is an anchor…” Cool Stuff: What happens when we find the Lochness Monster? AI Info & Resources: Do you use AI for a “gut check”? The often winding road to acceptance… Thank you for all the feedback last week! If you missed the post, you can check it out here. I started thinking and wondering: what was it that stood out and reached in to connect with so many of you reading this on a deep level? Maybe it has to do with the acceptance…

Core Article: A Small Shift In Your Lens Can Change Everything  Paragraph I’m Pondering: “The most beautiful thing we can experience…” Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “I live in a universe of limitless supply…” Book Review: The Alchemists by Paulo Coelho Cool Stuff: Why are New Zealanders called “Kiwis”? AI Info & Resources: How AI can transform your business… A Small Shift In Your Lens Can Change Everything  Have you ever read a line from a book that stops you in your tracks like it’s quietly holding up a mirror? That happened to me this morning. Melody Beattie wrote, “Many times what we need isn’t a change of scenery, but a…

Core Article: Some Gifts Don’t Come Wrapped In Ribbons… Paragraph I’m Pondering: “I admired my mother in some ways…” Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “I create spaciousness in my schedule…” Cool Stuff: What exactly is pumpkin spice??? AI Info & Resources: AI-driven browsers are all the rage, watch out, Google Some Gifts Don’t Come Wrapped In Ribbons… Most of us carry stories from our mothers, some wrapped in love, others tangled in contradiction. However your story looks, you’ve probably inherited something that still echoes through your life today, a memory, a pattern, a lesson you never asked for yet somehow needed. Interestingly enough, my mother’s story was full of contradictions. She…

Core Article: How Bots, Apple Pie, and Storytelling Taught Me the Same Lesson Quote I’m Pondering: “If you want to make an apple pie…” Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “I live in a universe of limitless supply…” Cool Stuff: Why do seagulls really hang out in parking lots? AI Info & Resources: The dark side of AI in retail… How Bots, Apple Pie, and Storytelling Taught Me the Same Lesson I’ve got a curious question for you… Do you cook your meals for yourself, family, etc.? Yeah, I know, this doesn’t seem like a question that an expert marketer/coach would ask, right? I mean, why in the world am I asking…