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I bought a fountain pen a couple of weeks ago. It is a little thing AND yet it brings such joy. It is messier than a ballpoint pen. It takes longer to write because I consciously shake it when I begin to start the ink flowing and wait with the ink until it flows. I pause to enjoy each letter as it forms on the tip of the pen. Read the rest of this entry »

 I love Thanksgiving. For at least one day of the year, we focus on being grateful for what we have and not what is missing or undesired. Thanksgiving is a time to search our hearts for all the blessings and gifts that grace our lives. Read the rest of this entry »

I was recently at an event inNew York Citythat involved friends and alumnae/i fromWheatonCollegeinMassachusetts. There were graduates from classes spanning fifty years, family, and friends who came together for an evening to explore the topic of leading from the heart. Read the rest of this entry »

Natural disasters and major weather events offer such great opportunities to celebrate the simple acts of kindness of strangers. The October snowstorm that knocked out power to millions of people fromMarylandtoMainealso downed trees and left many sleeping in very cold homes. Read the rest of this entry »

I was noticing signs for Halloween parties and trick or treat events for kids in various towns this week. It got me thinking about how much fun it is for kids to decide who they want to be each year, choose costumes, and then visit friends and neighbors’ homes carrying their pumpkins or bags held open for treats. Although they expect only a treat, they call out, “Trick or Treat.” Read the rest of this entry »

I had heard about a documentary about the impact of media on young girls and women a few weeks ago and came across the documentary this week. It is called MissRepresentation and is worth watching.

Although there wasn’t really anything new to anyone who has been paying attention to women, leadership, and voice for the past several decades, the data and constant barrage of messages that negatively impact women’s voices and shape every aspect of our society are strong and clear.

Rather than fight the messages, perhaps we can gracefully use them to awaken. We can be more conscious about how we undermine each other in work and political situations when we operate from fear, competition, and ego, AND ignore wisdom, brains, and insight in favor of emotional or physical critiques of others. This message is really about consciousness and being. It is about choice and voice. Read the rest of this entry »

So many people complain that their prayers are not answered, that what they desperately want does not come their way. How many of us are running so fast that we would not recognize the answer to our prayers if they showed up on our path? How many of us are so addicted to the answers to look a certain way that we cannot see them when they appear?

I was with a group of clients last week who wanted to release the drama in their lives and feel good again. We talked about needs for productivity and the pace at which they operate on a daily basis. Regardless of context, each one recognized the tendency to move so automatically through their days that they did not take time to actively think about their actions and what they were attracting to their lives. Read the rest of this entry »

I was visiting the Santa Barbara outdoor art show that is held every Sunday on the water’s edge. Walking around, I was struck by the sense of community among some of the artists, while others held back from talking with each other or prospective buyers. What struck me was something I had just experienced a few days earlier in a workshop. Read the rest of this entry »

 I’ve been hearing programs about bullying legislation and attempts to stem bullying in educational and organizational contexts. What strikes me is the critical role that language plays in changing behavior, and how unconscious we can be in assigning labels and then wondering why change doesn’t happen.

Specifically, there is a big difference between labeling a person a bully and talking about a person engaging in what we call bullying behaviors. The opportunity here is to recognize that when we label the person we use the verb to be, as in, He or she is a bully. Read the rest of this entry »

The wind is howling outside the window as I write this entry. Once again, I am amazed by how Mother Nature seems to know that summer is over and fall is almost on our doorstep. For those of us living in climates where there is significant change with each new season, summer’s humidity seems to gradually let go as the crisp air of fall replaces it. The process continues until the final traces of summer vanish and are replaced with all the treasures of autumn. Read the rest of this entry »