Rethinking Regret: Two Stories of Forgiveness and Acceptance

Regret’s a funny thing, isn’t it? I used to believe that it served no redeemable purpose, that accumulated regret would only function to burden a person under its weight, like a sack of rocks, discomfort giving way to hopelessness and overall stuck-ness as one buckled under the heaviness of it over the years. I remember … Continue reading Rethinking Regret: Two Stories of Forgiveness and Acceptance

Jumping Out of Hot Tubs into Glittering Snowbanks: The 6 Steps Creating a Resolution that You’ll Actually Want to Keep

I am admittedly not a huge fan of the New Year’s resolution. For years, I’ve sworn off the whole practice. Why bother making an arbitrary goal dictated by some calendar date society deems to be important, leaving it in the hands of fate, knowing in your heart that failure and disappointment will naturally ensue? No, … Continue reading Jumping Out of Hot Tubs into Glittering Snowbanks: The 6 Steps Creating a Resolution that You’ll Actually Want to Keep

How a Facebook Mom’s Group, Capital Iron, and an Embarrassing Moment Made me Feel Closer to my Community

So, initially, I wasn’t going to share this story because it’s fairly humiliating. But, I’m swallowing my pride and sharing it for the following three reasons: We all love that feeling we get when we hear stories that showcase human beings being benevolent to one another. It just makes us feel good about the world … Continue reading How a Facebook Mom’s Group, Capital Iron, and an Embarrassing Moment Made me Feel Closer to my Community

How Paddle-boarding, Elk, and a Girls’ Weekend Getaway Brought me Closer to Gratitude

“If you’re going to make a change, you’re going to have to operate from a new belief that says life happens not to me but for me. If we trade our expectations for appreciation, the world changes instantly.” -Tony Robbins One Friday evening in March of last year, I set off for Port Renfrew to … Continue reading How Paddle-boarding, Elk, and a Girls’ Weekend Getaway Brought me Closer to Gratitude

The Four Practices I’m Using to Battle Pre-Holiday Overwhelm

I am painfully guilty of overshooting my expectations for the holidays. Just the other day, I had planned a glorious Pinterest-inspired Christmas photoshoot at home with my two young children. I had painstakingly hung the white twinkle lights on the headboard to achieve the perfect bokeh-effect, pulled the crisp white linens taut across our bed, … Continue reading The Four Practices I’m Using to Battle Pre-Holiday Overwhelm

A Visit with Santa and a Generous Invitation

It was 9:16 am, Frank Sinatra’s Christmas album was playing in the background, and both of my children, smiling faces illuminated by the late November morning sun, were bundled and strapped in the back of our vehicle as we cruised down the highway on our way to beat the crowds and meet Santa. My husband … Continue reading A Visit with Santa and a Generous Invitation

How Empathy Leads the Way for the Transformation from Victimization to Resiliency

Just this morning, I had a realization that stopped me in my tracks. It was one of those “Aha” Oprah-moments that sent a jolt of electric energy from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. It’s a very simple concept, but it’s caused a dramatic paradigm shift in the way I … Continue reading How Empathy Leads the Way for the Transformation from Victimization to Resiliency

The Surprising Thing I’m Learning to do to be a More Whole-Hearted Giver

“When you look away from a homeless person, you diminish their humanity and your own.” (Murray Powell)     What makes us turn away? In the past few months, as I have been diving head-first into the concepts of giving and kindness through the 21-Day Small Act Big Impact Challenge, this question has come up … Continue reading The Surprising Thing I’m Learning to do to be a More Whole-Hearted Giver

Tantrums, Toddlers, Torrential Rain: How One Mom’s Decision Paid-it-Forward

Just the other day, as the children in my household pressed pause on their play to catch up on some much-needed rest, I rested an elbow on the smooth surface of the kitchen table, my hand cupping the ceramic promise of wakefulness. I inhaled the delicious moment of silence for a few extra seconds before … Continue reading Tantrums, Toddlers, Torrential Rain: How One Mom’s Decision Paid-it-Forward

The Unexpected Detour That Landed Me Exactly Where I Was Supposed to Be

Last week, I experienced an unbelievable moment that will stay in my heart forever. Dampness permeated the air that morning.  As I hurried out the front door of my house and onto the driveway, I felt the impact of a big, fat raindrop on my forehead. The cold licked at the back of my throat … Continue reading The Unexpected Detour That Landed Me Exactly Where I Was Supposed to Be