Blog

Hourglass Photo
11/14/20

How I Said Goodbye to My Career

It happens to everyone. Your career ends—eventually. Time runs out, like sand in an hourglass. You may end it at the appropriate time—or, sadly, someone may end it for you. But when you reach the end ...

Drums
11/13/20

Chasing Dreams (or Setting Them Free)

I don’t come from a very musical family. No offense to my family. Sure, one or two of my sisters tried the obligatory clarinet (which we rented), my sister, Mary, still has a beautiful voice, and my ...

Track
10/16/20

Uncovering Character

 

This week I was in Santa Barbara, California, also known as “The American Riviera” for its lush landscape, pristine beaches, gorgeous sunsets, and spectacular view of the Pacific and the Santa Ynez ...

Mountain Dew Photo by James C. Magruder
9/28/20

Savoring Life (and the Little Things)

My father was a single parent. He raised six kids. Three girls. Three boys. Make that three hungry boys. We certainly had enough to get by, but not many extras. Like a case of Coke. Soda was a luxury ...

Basketball under blue sky (Photo by Mong Mong)
9/15/20

The Mark of a Mentor

As I prepare to call it a career and start retirement next week, I can’t help but reflect on the people that made my career so fulfilling. There were many, but one in particular; the man who ...

Fountain Pen
8/28/20

The Power of the Pen (Reviving the Lost Art of ...

When was the last time you wrote a letter—by hand? When was the last time you received a handwritten letter? How did it make you feel? More connected? Greater closeness? Ever wonder why it made you ...

Lady Savoring Coffee
8/19/20

Capitalizing on the "Concept Behind Coffee" (and ...

Today, as I write this newsletter, I’m sitting out on my patio and sipping a cup of coffee, a White Chocolate Mocha, to be exact. And I can’t help but contemplate the “concept behind coffee”—and its ...

Geese Flying, sun setting
8/19/20

The Secret of Life is Enjoying the Passage of Time

I didn’t write the headline above for this week’s newsletter. James Taylor did. It’s featured in one of his songs, Secret O’ Life. It’s a lesser known song, yet it still landed on his “Greatest Hits ...

Corn Field
8/19/20

When a Story Comes to You (Field of Dreams--Part 2 ...

As a writer, I’m always looking for ideas to write about. I look to my experiences, read voraciously, and ask other writers where they find ideas for their stories. It’s so much easier when a story ...

Field of Dreams poster
7/26/20

How Movies Help Us Live More Reflectively

This newsletter has talked about several ways you can pause more and rush less to make life more memorable. We’ve talked about:  The Art of Living in the Moment, the Joy of Journaling, Writing a ...

Tractor Resized
7/26/20

How "Places" Help Us Slow Down & Rediscover What's ...

There are “places” in my life that allow me to slow down—and feel the most like me. Does that make sense? Are there places in your life where you feel the most like you? Places where you’re most ...

Sun setting shot
7/26/20

Saying Goodbye to My Father--in Advance

When I said goodbye to my father, I honestly didn’t know I was saying “goodbye.” That’s because, for all practical purposes he was in good health and the “goodbye” wasn’t formal or literal. But it was ...