Blog

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

The Scent of Summer & Sacred Moments

As I sit out on my patio overlooking the woods, I close my eyes and inhale the fresh air through my nose. Although it’s about 80 degrees and humid, the wind is off the lake. So, while the air that ...

Unplug from the World & Plug Into Yourself

Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest. The list of social media platforms goes on and on. All good—if you want to stay connected. Not so much, if your goal is to disconnect.

In ...