• Generosity,  Self-confidence

    Playing from the heart

    “If I am smart in business, it’s just that I’m smart about who I am. I know what I can, can’t, will, and won’t do. And if I have to be strict about that, I will.” ~Dolly Parton I’ve always admired Dolly Parton. Not necessarily because of her musical talents — although it’s worth noting that she can play close to 20 instruments, including the fiddle, mandolin and pan-flute. Even with those long acrylic fingernails. I get a kick out of her over-the-top wardrobe, personality, and showmanship. As Dolly’s quote reminds us, it takes a huge helping of self-confidence to pull it off. But what impresses me even more is her…

  • Adventure and exploration,  Pandemic stories,  Personal growth

    How big is your world?

    “The world only exists in your eyes. You can make it as big or as small as you want.” ~F. Scott Fitzgerald Up until the past couple of weeks, I stayed close to home while Coco recovered from her accident. During the those early days of her convalescence, I was reminded of sheltering in place during the pandemic. Back then, I rarely ventured beyond the front yard. While there’s comfort in being a homebody — especially in the winter — our worlds can get too small if we’re not careful. ~CL

  • Events & news,  Grief and loss,  Positivity

    Where the light enters

    “The wound is the place where the light enters you.” ~Rumi I spend a lot of time thinking about the quotes I post here each morning. First, I hope they’re thought-provoking, informative, or useful to you in some way. Many of you have emailed to tell me you want a dose of positivity to jumpstart your day, so I try to honor that request whenever possible. At the same time, I think it’s important to consider whether or not each quote or sentiment is in sync with the news of the day or the cultural climate. After the war in Ukraine began, after the school shooting in Oxford, and after…

  • Events & news

    The United States of Gun Violence

    “I want to live in a country where my presence is not seen by some as an existential threat….I want to walk past the school where my son will attend kindergarten next year and see a place that will keep him safe. But this is impossible. We live in a country that has failed us. Where legislation is written — and erased — by the gun lobby. Where manipulations and distortions of Second Amendment rights prevent politicians from enacting any semblance of sensible laws that would at least attempt to prevent this. Where claims about what our Founders wanted supersede the slaughter we see right in front of us….There is…

  • Friendship and relationship advice,  Holidays,  Love & Valentine's Day

    The heart of the matter

    “When you love someone, you love the whole person as he or she is, and not as you would like them to be.” ~Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina Most of us idealized love when we were young. If we were raised on fairy tales, for instance, we imagined marrying the perfect partner and living happily ever after. At the same time, we also held our friends and family members to impossibly high standards, and were disappointed when they didn’t behave like the best friends or families portrayed on TV sitcoms. As we mature, we discover that real love isn’t always picture-perfect; sometimes it gets as messy or as complicated as real…

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