Are you re-inventing yourself when necessary?
It’s natural to get comfortable in our life situation. But if we aren’t conscious and intentional, we can unknowingly become unsuitable to our existing environment. I’ve learned is that it’s good to periodically re-invent yourself in response to different life events. Regularly renewing yourself is a crucial component of personal growth and development. Otherwise, we […]
Four Pillars of a Good Life
Lindsay Kimmett was an athlete, leader, learner, and aspiring doctor with the skills and ambition to leave a big mark on the world. After her tragic passing on February 17th, 2008, her family and friends, committed to carrying on her legacy and passion for hockey, organized a 3-on-3 pond hockey tournament in Lindsay’s hometown of […]
Why “being nice” and avoiding hard conversations isn’t really “nice” at all
Have you ever met a “nice” person who is polite, but hard to connect with? There’s a difference between being nice and being kind. The chart illustrates an extreme dichotomy between the two. Nice comes from insecurity, a lack of confidence Kind comes from high self-worth and respect Nice is polite aloofness Kind is genuine […]
Don’t Get Stuck In The Pursuit Of Perfection: The Power of Small, Continuous Improvement
I’ve always had a hard time enjoying an activity because of my unrealistic expectations of perfection. Years ago I took piano lessons and I recall how much I practiced Für Elise focusing on perfection. I became hyper-aware of each barely noticeable flaw and when a finger slipped and shattered any illusion I had of perfection, […]
You Can’t Leave Belonging To Chance
If you think about the time you have spent in your family, at school, and organizations you’ve worked in, you know what it feels like to belong or not belong, and why it matters. It’s the difference between feeling isolated, detached, and irrelevant, and feeling connected, valued, and engaged. Belonging makes all the difference. We […]
4 Ways To Lead With Initiative
After lunch today, I was in a hurry to get back to the office, and just placed my dishes on the counter rather than taking an extra few seconds to put them in the dishwasher. When others pick up the slack and do too much for us, we lose what my parents called good old-fashioned […]
Is it well-loved?
For the past several weeks while looking at houses, our realtor introduced an expression, “This house has been well loved.” Now at some showings, I find myself saying, “This is not a well-loved house.” Some people truly turn a house into a home that is worth loving, while some only take from their surroundings. This […]
Simple Living in a Complex World: Transitions, Aristotle, and Coming Home
Selling a house can be an emotional undertaking, a journey of self-discovery. It is a bittersweet experience as we downsize to simplify our lives. Our peaceful home and the soothing nature reserve alongside it has been a haven to me and our family for almost two decades. It’s a place where I connected with my […]
Building a Case For Working Less and Producing More
Cal Newport’s recent book, Slow Productivity, builds a great case for showing how working less can lead to greater productivity and accomplishment. However, it isn’t about just working less and or discarding your work ethic. It’s about working with greater focus and deliberate action. In short: Focus on fewer things at once. By reducing the […]
The Torment of Letting Go and The Journey To Authenticity
Selling a house is an emotional experience. It is a bittersweet experience as we downsize to simplify our lives. When I was on my walk this morning I could feel the profound loss of this sanctuary. Letting go of our beloved home is an invitation to reconnect with my deepest self. Although leaving this precious […]
