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Having More Money Won't Make You Rich!
Fri, 05/26/2023

Having More Money Won't Make You Rich!

So often I’ve heard people say, “If I had money, all my problems would be solved.” Or, “If I won the Lotto, I’d be able to help so many people.”…

Talking Refrigerator Needs a Gag Order!
Tue, 05/23/2023

Talking Refrigerator Needs a Gag Order!

One of the things I love about being a librarian is you can tell people to be quiet when they are talking and they have to listen (or comply). I…

For Better of For Worse...
Tue, 05/23/2023

For Better of For Worse...

Or more realistically, “Until you do something I don’t like.”

A while back, I attended the beautiful wedding of a young couple in their…

Flight #727 Ready for Takeoff!
Mon, 05/22/2023

Flight #727 Ready for Takeoff!

You are the Pilot of Flight #727. Everyone and everything that needs to be on that flight, is. Everything is loaded and ready to go. The control…

Fear of Rejection or Rejecting Opportunity?
Sun, 05/21/2023

Fear of Rejection or Rejecting Opportunity?

Recently I had a conversation with a young woman who told me she had an interest in someone but was afraid to ask him to hang out. When I asked…

From Buzz Lightyear, with love!
Sat, 05/20/2023

From Buzz Lightyear, with love!

I’ve been going to my chiropractor for a number of years and a recent visit to his office came with an admirable story about a father’s love. At…

DOUBT...The Silent Killer!
Sat, 05/20/2023

DOUBT...The Silent Killer!

Client had a recent situation come up with her BF and it upset her enough that we needed to address it today. Her BF went to dinner with a friend…

Don't Be an Unreasonable Political Animal
Fri, 05/19/2023

Don't Be an Unreasonable Political Animal

A friend moved back to town who I hadn’t seen since she graduated college. She was married now and I was eager to meet Troy, her new husband. I…

Be You Unapologetically!
Fri, 05/19/2023

Be You Unapologetically!

Dot-Marie Jones is a woman. At first glance, however, if you're not paying close enough attention, you might think she's a man.

I first saw…

Dope on a Rope!
Thu, 05/18/2023

Dope on a Rope!

A criminal committed a crime. (Because hey, that’s what criminals do.) Anyway, he was sent to the king for his punishment. The king told him he…

The Inner Citadel or Little Realm of Your Own
Wed, 05/17/2023

The Inner Citadel or Little Realm of Your Own

To a librarian the term “inner citadel” could mean a few different things. It could be what I like to call the inner sanctum of the library—a…

Work Hard, But Don't Kill Yourself in the Process!
Wed, 05/17/2023

Work Hard, But Don't Kill Yourself in the Process!

“Mary Jane” has been an excellent employee most of her life. She has worked hard, has gone above and beyond the call of duty, traveled three weeks…

Don’t Believe the Mirror!
Tue, 05/16/2023

Don’t Believe the Mirror!

You’re getting ready to go out, and step in front of the mirror. Sadly, that’s when the dissection begins. You immediately focus on:

• The…

Magia
Tue, 05/16/2023

Magia

Sentido es decir Sentido significa

"Lo que adentro se disuelve afuera se resuelve"

Cuando tu cambias, aunque nada cambie, todo…

The Mindless Menace of Violence
Tue, 05/16/2023

The Mindless Menace of Violence

Did you hear about Monday’s mass shooting in Farmington, New Mexico? It’s a small town of just over 45,000 people. Three people were killed, 6…

Don't Change!
Mon, 05/15/2023

Don't Change!

Sometimes when someone doesn't accept you, or like you for one reason or another, you might think it's you, that if you were different they'd see…

Don't dismiss the nudge!
Mon, 05/15/2023

Don't dismiss the nudge!

Perhaps you’re doing chores at home, driving to an appointment, or cooking a meal, and then it happens—someone you know comes to your mind and you…

Italian Food Didn't Get the Best of Me
Sat, 05/13/2023

Italian Food Didn't Get the Best of Me

”The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.” – Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor and Philosopher…

Saying YES When You want to Say NO!
Fri, 05/12/2023

Saying YES When You want to Say NO!

DO YOU SAY YES WHEN YOU REALLY WANT TO SAY NO? If you're nodding your head, then you're not alone. It's not uncommon for many of you to say Yes to…

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!
Thu, 05/11/2023

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

They’re inevitable! Often during your Life’s Journey, you will come to that proverbial Fork in the Road. And it won’t be just once; it will show…

Trapped by Cujo or...?
Wed, 05/10/2023

Trapped by Cujo or...?

In the 1983 Stephen King film, Cujo, there’s a scene where a mother (Dee Wallace) and her little boy (Danny Pintauro), are trapped in a broken…

A Stoic's View On Removing Thorns From Your Side
Tue, 05/09/2023

A Stoic's View On Removing Thorns From Your Side

Of the 72 Roman emperors, Marcus Aurelius, who reigned between 161-180 CE, still reigns supreme in my mind. It's not just because he had curly…

Constipated Much?
Mon, 05/08/2023

Constipated Much?

No, I’m not getting personal! But, let’s do talk about constipation—Emotional Constipation—that is!

But first let’s take a look at…

CONGRATULATIONS! You're a Millionaire!
Sun, 05/07/2023

CONGRATULATIONS! You're a Millionaire!

This morning when you woke up you did not know this. I am happy to be the bearer of such great news!

You’re probably scratching your head,…

How to brainwash the enemy that won't shut up
Sun, 05/07/2023

How to brainwash the enemy that won't shut up

There are all kinds of perceived enemies in this world, but the most dangerous of enemies is the enemy within. My dad used to say, “Buck, you are…

Change!
Sat, 05/06/2023

Change!

A lot of people don't like change. They consider it scary. After all, when change comes, it often disrupts the safe little life that has been…

Challenges...
Fri, 05/05/2023

Challenges...

Who doesn't experience challenges? We all do. They are life’s speed bumps. They show up when you least expect them. And they definitely slow us…

BREAKING BAD...Habits!
Thu, 05/04/2023

BREAKING BAD...Habits!

A while back our kitchen clock fell off the wall, the glass breaking into several pieces. It had to be thrown out. Only after the clock was no…

"...anyway, shove it up your bum, Missis!"
Wed, 05/03/2023

"...anyway, shove it up your bum, Missis!"

(Tweet sent to me on Twitter @askjoshsmom).

When I received this tweet, I was stunned! Why would anyone write this? I had to read it a…

A little bit about anger...
Tue, 05/02/2023

A little bit about anger...

"...an emotion like anger that's an automatic response lasts just ninety seconds from the moment it's triggered until it runs its course. One and…

Just Around the Corner...
Mon, 05/01/2023

Just Around the Corner...

Things happen in life. Things we don’t like. Things that make us feel bad, and create turbulence. Sometimes those things seem like Everything—like…

Grandma moved in and unpacked blessings
Sun, 04/30/2023

Grandma moved in and unpacked blessings

Dementia isn’t a condition associated with positivity, as cognitive degeneration can rob a person of the life they knew and upend those of their…

"...Apples and Oranges!"
Fri, 04/28/2023

"...Apples and Oranges!"

Who hasn’t heard the phrase, “You’re comparing apples and oranges?” What exactly does that mean? Essentially, it means that by comparing those two…

AND THE WINNER IS: 40-25-11-22-03 Mega 15!
Thu, 04/27/2023

AND THE WINNER IS: 40-25-11-22-03 Mega 15!

You stop at your neighborhood 7-Eleven, and purchase one Lotto ticket. It’s not going to win, you’re sure, but you’ll check tomorrow night anyway…

Abducted by an Alien!
Wed, 04/26/2023

Abducted by an Alien!

In November of 2012, Floridian Holly Solomon ran over her husband with her car, critically wounding him. Why would she do something like that? Her…

Accident Up Ahead...Merge Right!
Tue, 04/25/2023

Accident Up Ahead...Merge Right!

You’re driving down the freeway going about 80 miles an hour; a tad too fast, but hey, you’re going with the flow of traffic, right? You’re going…

You CAN Do More Than You Think You CAN!
Mon, 04/24/2023

You CAN Do More Than You Think You CAN!

Several years back, my youngest brother told me that he loved a painting called The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli (1781). He asked me to paint it for…

You're a Hero to Someone!
Sat, 04/22/2023

You're a Hero to Someone!

Ever feel like your life is empty, meaningless? Do you ever wonder, "What's the point?"

Let me tell you what the point is: You matter! You…

You Can't Unring a Bell!
Thu, 04/20/2023

You Can't Unring a Bell!

Have you ever felt so heated during an argument with a loved one that you’ve said something really mean and hurtful? Then after you said it, you…

Being at Peace With Your Conscience
Wed, 04/19/2023

Being at Peace With Your Conscience

The following passage from Gold Dust has always given me a sense of protection, knowing that my guardian angel is near at hand: 

“Would you…

When the World Turns Against You
Wed, 04/19/2023

When the World Turns Against You

From Gold Dust

“There are times in one’s life when the world seems to turn against us. Our motives are misunderstood, our words…

Little Worries
Wed, 04/19/2023

Little Worries

From Gold Dust

"There is not a day in our lives that we are not distressed by some numberless little worries that meet us each step of the…

Your Wooden Spoon!
Wed, 04/19/2023

Your Wooden Spoon!

You’re in the kitchen preparing your favorite pasta meal. You pour your penne noodles in the boiling water. It should only take about 9 minutes…

Do you suffer from Kind Blindness?
Tue, 04/18/2023

Do you suffer from Kind Blindness?

I’ll admit it. Certain people piss me off. So do many news stories. But what really gets my goat is when people cheat others. Or try to pull the…

A Mile In Their Shoes...
Tue, 04/18/2023

A Mile In Their Shoes...

We encounter countless people every day. Strangers, if you will. We see them at the supermarket, the gas station, the mall, the gym, or even in…

Be You!
Mon, 04/17/2023

Be You!

“ . . . nobody wants a phony. Nobody ever wants a counterfeit coin.” ~Paul Boynton

It’s often said that imitation is the greatest…

NEWSFLASH: Roller Coaster Derails!
Sun, 04/16/2023

NEWSFLASH: Roller Coaster Derails!

Back in July of 2014, the Ninja roller coaster in Magic Mountain, located in Valencia, CA, going at approximately 55 MPH, ran into a tree branch…

Partner or Crutch?
Fri, 04/14/2023

Partner or Crutch?

Partner or Crutch?

Even the best relationships have their challenges. If you’re in one, you might be struggling to make things work. If you…

Stop Wishing and Start Acting!
Thu, 04/13/2023

Stop Wishing and Start Acting!

THE CAKE SITS BEFORE YOU, THE CANDLES AGLOW . . . “Make a Wish,” everyone yells. And you do. You close your eyes, blow as hard as you can, and…

On the lookout for blessings and gratitude
Wed, 04/12/2023

On the lookout for blessings and gratitude

When a friend asked me what I did on Easter, I told him I spent a good part of the day helping my parents remove a big, deeply rooted Oleander…

You've Got 565 Messages!
Wed, 04/12/2023

You've Got 565 Messages!

How annoying is Spam? Fortunately, your computer is smart enough to get rid of it as fast as it comes in. If you go and look at your Spam folder,…

The Beauty of Vulnerability!
Sun, 04/09/2023

The Beauty of Vulnerability!

Have you ever had one of those dreams where you’re walking down the street and you realize you’re naked? Everyone around you is staring but there’…

Knowledge
Sat, 04/08/2023

Be Clear on What You Clear

  Slipstream’s story about when she was a little girl and her mother asked her to spray the leaves off her prize house plant and…

Get a leg up
Fri, 04/07/2023

Get a leg up

Did you play hopscotch as a kid? I can remember how easy it was to repeatedly hop on one leg without falling and faceplanting on concrete. Many…

There's a rumor going around
Thu, 04/06/2023

There's a rumor going around

There’s a rumor going around in my neighborhood that Marybeth, the local librarian, took her pantyhose off in the middle of the day while stacking…

There's a Piece of Food Stuck in Your Teeth!
Thu, 04/06/2023

There's a Piece of Food Stuck in Your Teeth!

I don’t think there’s a soul out there who hasn’t experienced the embarrassment of having eaten and gotten a piece of spinach or black bean stuck…

Up for Parole? Approved!
Wed, 04/05/2023

Up for Parole? Approved!

People make mistakes. The saying, “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” was created for a reason. Everyone messes up at some…

Don't Sneer at Nonsense
Tue, 04/04/2023

Don't Sneer at Nonsense

Several years ago, I frequented library book sales and antique bookstores, always arriving early and eager to find something different and…

What the hawks brought
Tue, 04/04/2023

What the hawks brought

My client, Todd lives on a private road off Sunset Boulevard in Southern California. When pulling onto his road, it’s like entering a forest with…

Knowledge
Mon, 04/03/2023

Life is really simple, really...

The Untethered Soul, by Michael A. Singer, is one of my all-time favorite books. In the YouTube excerpt I've posted, he will teach you how to…

A Run-in With Yourself!
Sun, 04/02/2023

A Run-in With Yourself!

The tunnel is long and dark. You’ve been traveling for a while now wondering where it’s leading you. Every step you take feels heavy, exhausting…

Letting go is the way to go
Fri, 03/31/2023

Letting go is the way to go

Ben is a 75-year-old client living near Aspen and has been skiing for decades. During our online training session, Ben said, “I’ve learned that…

Is Anger a Constant Companion?
Thu, 03/30/2023

Is Anger a Constant Companion?

How Short is Your Fuse?

Or perhaps the fuse of someone you know? It seems like everywhere you turn, there they are—the ANGRY people! The…

Can you take a compliment?
Sat, 03/25/2023

Can you take a compliment?

A few years ago I was in a training session with my client, Lawrence. During a rest break between exercises, he asked me where I went to…

Knowledge
Thu, 03/23/2023

How well do you communicate?

When I was about six or seven, my mom took her prized philodendron outside and asked me to “squirt the leaves off.” Apparently, I gave her a…

"Bad" can pay off
Mon, 03/20/2023

"Bad" can pay off

Sanatana’s “We’ll see…” post stimulated several of my “we’ll see” memories. One in particular came to mind I’d like to share.  I was hired as an…

Whose Glass Slippers?
Sat, 03/18/2023

Whose Glass Slippers?

Who isn’t familiar with the story of Cinderella—the girl who was essentially treated as a maid by her stepmother and stepsisters?

Despite…

Knowledge
Sat, 03/18/2023

How do you love your ‘neighbor’?

Of all the teachings of my faith. The one that seems mentioned often is to ‘love thy neighbor’ - and it is the most difficult of all the teachings…

Knowledge
Wed, 03/15/2023

Need some capital for your business?

A couple of months into the Covid lockdown a former client, Diana, contacted me hoping we could begin working together again. She was in a tough…

Blinding Beauty: Beyond Skin and Bones!
Fri, 03/10/2023

Blinding Beauty: Beyond Skin and Bones!

Recently I came upon an article about an incredible woman by the name of Lizzie Velasquez. When I read her story, I was so inspired, I felt…

A Gun with a Silencer!
Fri, 03/03/2023

A Gun with a Silencer!

Silence can be deafening.

There is nothing louder than the silent treatment; nothing more uncomfortable, and abusive (other than physical…

Laughter is medicine
Fri, 03/03/2023

Laughter is medicine

” Trouble knocked at the door, but hearing laughter, hurried away.”—Ben Franklin

On a TV show I was watching, one of the characters said “…

A Real Life Barbie!
Thu, 03/02/2023

A Real Life Barbie!

A Real Life Barbie? I Don’t Think So!

At what point did it become okay to look like a doll?

I’ve always thought that dolls were…

Life Lessons From a 2 x 4 x 8 Piece of Wood
Mon, 02/20/2023

Life Lessons From a 2 x 4 x 8 Piece of Wood

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when Jiri, my strength coach, asked me to walk barefoot on a 2 x 4 x 8 piece of wood to improve my…

Change
Mon, 02/20/2023

Change

A lot of people don't like change. They consider it scary. After all, when change comes, it often disrupts the safe little life that has been…

Put down the shovel. Have a piece of pie.
Tue, 02/14/2023

Put down the shovel. Have a piece of pie.

There’s a lot that goes on inside my head these days. Sometimes it feels like a wood chipper breaking down hard news instead of old branches…like…

Shifting Views
Sun, 02/12/2023

Shifting Views

Life lessons reveal themselves in such surprising ways. Recently I had horizontal blinds installed in my dining room to replace the existing…

Gratitude for what we no longer need
Fri, 02/10/2023

Gratitude for what we no longer need

I’m often looking for something I’ve missed or overlooked when it comes to expressing gratitude. Today, I ran across a couple of Hawaiian shirts…

Asking for Help
Sat, 02/04/2023

Asking for Help

Yesterday I heard an alarming statistic.....61% of people in America believe they have no one to call if they need help. That is sad and…

Care Instructions
Sat, 02/04/2023

Care Instructions

Walking around the garden center at Home Depot I noticed all those little pieces of paper with care instructions in most of the flower pots. Sun…

When you start to peter out lesson plan
Sat, 02/04/2023

When you start to peter out lesson plan

I have a sturdy battery-operated hedge trimmer. It gets the job done when bushes get ratty looking. But yesterday it wasn’t doing such a good job…

Re-defining Self-Care:  Part 3
Tue, 01/31/2023

Re-defining Self-Care: Part 3

Part 3 describes two of my favorite quick and effective ways to repair and regulate the autonomic nervous system. I like to keep interventions…

Re-defining Self-Care:  Part 2
Tue, 01/31/2023

Re-defining Self-Care: Part 2

Part 2 of this series will give a brief explanation of the autonomic nervous system's two branches. The sympathetic nervous system known as…

Re-defining Self-Care: Part 1
Tue, 01/31/2023

Re-defining Self-Care: Part 1

My guess is your life may be similar to mine these last 3 years. I was dealing with some health issues, then my husband died, the pandemic…

Resistance to Change
Sun, 01/29/2023

Resistance to Change

This year I wanted to start writing again even though it's been a long time. I got very excited about the topics of interest and the end result…

There truly is a purpose for it all.
Tue, 01/17/2023

There truly is a purpose for it all.

Here’s something I’ve been thinking about…

Life seems to put us on a road. I don’t mean a physical road or even the ground we walk on. It’s…

Love comes to football.
Tue, 01/10/2023

Love comes to football.

American football is one of the more violent sports that America has to offer. It results in dozens of injuries every season, and in years past…

Open a "Feel Good About Me" account.
Thu, 12/29/2022

Open a "Feel Good About Me" account.

I had a really cool experience recently that I want to share. I received a call from a client who was vacationing in Australia. He makes the trip…

Love thy neighbor, but first thyself!
Thu, 12/22/2022

Love thy neighbor, but first thyself!

A familiar passage from the bible tells us to “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” It’s a well-intentioned but flawed instruction because it assumes…

Reduced stress may be a breath away!
Sun, 12/11/2022

Reduced stress may be a breath away!

In a few of my articles, I’ve talked about the impact that deep breathing has on reducing stress. A recent opportunity to practice what I preach…

How to tame your inner Mr. Hyde while driving.
Fri, 12/09/2022

How to tame your inner Mr. Hyde while driving.

My friend, Anthony, is very mellow and always has a calm demeanor, so I asked him if there were situations or circumstances that riled him up. He…

Knowledge
Wed, 12/07/2022

Can you believe your dream is possible?

If you can, or even if you can't, this talk by Mary Morrissey could give you the inspiration you need to get off the starting blocks…

Be the lifeline
Wed, 12/07/2022

Be the lifeline

Imagine you've been having a great time cruising through life. Suddenly there's a storm; a category 5. This storm knocks you off your feet and…

Who will you liberate?
Tue, 12/06/2022

Who will you liberate?

Acts of love and true caring have forever liberated the human spirit from despair, tragedy, and hopelessness.

In Youtropolis, acts of love…

A call to open our minds!
Wed, 11/23/2022

A call to open our minds!

Recently, I connected with an old friend who I hadn’t spoken to in a while. Rather than having a good time, I struggled to be open-minded toward…

Yesterday’s Light
Tue, 11/22/2022

Yesterday’s Light

How many of us go through life thinking about yesterday? Having regrets about things we did, shouldn't have done, or could have done differently?…

Perils of People Pleasing
Sun, 11/06/2022

Perils of People Pleasing

I meet with one of my personal training clients, Lisa, at a gym that’s in her apartment building, and since the start of the pandemic, there’s…

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