Yesterday my family went on a sunset hike to a lake overlook that was simply breathtaking. The purple mountains, the age-old cactus in the desert hills, and the shimmering colors of the descending sun filled me with awe. Even more so, as I followed my boys who ran ahead up the trail, my heart burst with love and thankfulness for them and the opportunity to just be together. Gratitude. It Read more »
The world needs strong and effective leadership - in government, at work, and in our homes. No doubt you have seen, and may be frustrated by, the leadership void that seems to be growing. People are abdicating their power for various reasons. Now, more than ever, leaders need to be operating at their best. When the time came for me to hire a President for my services company a few Read more »
Whether the day is a good day, the month a good month, or the year a good year, is all a matter of choosing the right perspective. The sun hovers over the ocean in front of me, casting beams of light down through the clouds as it makes its ascent and a brand new day begins. The view is mesmerizing, the breeze warm and soft on my face, and the Read more »
Fall is here in the Northwest and with it crisp temperatures with a bit of morning mist giving way to warm sunny days. Though I love the change of seasons I must admit I am mourning the end of summer just a bit. Out on the golf course yesterday the deep green of the fir trees against the bright changing colors of red and gold on the stately maples created Read more »
Sitting in the doctor's office waiting for the results of a test, I checked the time again - the third time in about 10 minutes. As an executive with a heavy schedule I thought to myself, I don't have time for this. Some changes on my skin and the concern of a friend had brought me in. When I think back, this was a very difficult time in my life. Read more »
My morning started off in the usual way. After a good night of sleep, I feel energized and ready to start my day. But then I open the blinds. Instead of the welcoming morning light streaming through the windows there is a dense fog surrounding the house. I can't see more than a few feet ahead. I thought to myself, this is strange, it seems a little early in the Read more »
It is a beautiful summer in the Pacific Northwest, and my family and I have had the opportunity to spend some glorious days boating in the San Juan Islands. With the Labor Day holiday and end of summer quickly approaching, we escaped with my parents to Orcas Island to catch the last hurrah. The sky was blue, the sun was warm, and there was just enough of a breeze to Read more »
When I was a young girl we used to sing a song called "Count Your Blessings." It is a simple song with a simple but profound idea: name the great things and people in your life one by one. That song was probably my first brush with the idea of living a gratitude-filled life. I have many blessings - more than I am able to count. But every morning, I Read more »
When I was a little girl, my Grandpa built a playhouse for my sister and me in our backyard. It was a miniature of the farmhouse where we lived, painted white with green trim, and even had a small loft. We loved to play in our "very own" house, and spent hours of make believe there. Our kittens became our babies and would allow us (most of the time) to Read more »
In order to become a better and happier version of yourself, you first have to identify the areas of your life that you are not satisfied with - where you have succumbed to "living on automatic." Let me illustrate with a story. My husband and I enjoy kayaking together on the ocean near our home in the Pacific Northwest. There is nothing more beautiful than being out on the water Read more »
