Have you heard the one about the average 4-year-old who laughs 300 times per day and the average 40-year-old who laughs only four times a day? Whoa!

While that turns out to be an urban legend, I have no doubt that most children do laugh a whole lot more than most adults do. And that we could all use more laughter in our lives.

For the past couple of years, my husband and I have intentionally sought out opportunities to laugh. Searching for comedies over dramas. Life itself is dramatic...

Since 2016,I’ve become much more political. Why? Because I now understand that political issues affect people personally and vice versa. 

It’s strained some of my relationships and I’ve heard that some leaders have lost “fans” by talking about politics. Even one of my mentors, Brené Brown, has been told to keep her political opinions to herself.

I know I’m taking a risk. Thank goodness I’ve recovered enough from people pleasing to be able...

Every time I start to think about writing about this, my heartbeat races and I get that sick, nervous, weak sensation throughout my body. I’ve begun several times and had to stop. I’m even feeling it again right now.

I’m going to do my best to get some of it out anyway.

Somewhere along the way in my life, I developed claustrophobia. I’m not even sure when it happened. One day, it was just. There. So naturally, there’s no way in the world I’d ever want to go...

A few years ago, Olivia and I created a game of "Spread the Love."

We look for people who may be having a tough day/moment, catch their eye, smile and say, "I love the way your ____ highlights your _____." or something like that. From their response, it seems like it can shift their whole day. 

Here's an example: Recently, I saw an elder woman with the most gorgeous blue eyes that were extra vibrant because of the reflection from the perfectly matched blue jacket she wore. I made...

Two months ago, my brilliant, big-hearted minister, Reverend Kevin Tarsa invited me to perform a dance to this song, "Sanctuary," by Carrie Newcomer, with an umbrella. He told me it would be part of our Unitarian Universalist October theme of Sanctuary. I hesitated. I couldn't exactly imagine how I'd do a dance with an umbrella. Not to mention that even though I teach Nia, my dancing is for me and not a performance art anymore (the last time I did that was decades ago when I was 15)....

I thought I'd be terrified and nervous.

Instead, as I donned the headset and stepped into the magic that pulled me like a wave, I surfed ecstatically in my body, mind, emotions, and spirit. 

With ~50 students, including 38 of my fellow trainees, I got to occupy the esteemed spot of my teachers, right up front and center, as I taught in the bright studio I've long held in deep reverence.

Immersed in my own self-care in one of my favorite cities, I spent 6.5 days...