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You be you
“Forget popularity; focus on sincerity. Do what you do, not for applause, but because it is what is right for you. Practice respecting yourself and becoming a reliable part of your own support system.” ~Angel Chernoff, Marc and Angel Hack Life The word “popularity” immediately sends me back to junior high school. This quote from Marc and Angel Chernoff got me thinking about the interesting difference between sincerity and popularity. When we focus on being “popular,” we might value the number of friends we have rather than the quality of their character. (This is especially true when we use social media.) Popularity involves striving for approval and applause — or conformity — no…
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Keep it simple
“Simplicity is discerning the essential from the unessential. Simplicity is having room for the unexpected. It is savoring life. Most of all, simplicity is freedom: It’s freedom to choose what you want in your life because you’re not letting in everything that shows up.” ~Victoria Moran, Shelter for the Spirit Keep it simple? It sounds so much easier than it really is. Ours is a culture that promotes constant activity — which partly explains why some people panic at the mere thought of slowing down or having “nothing to do” on the weekend. In the past, most of the stress I’ve experienced has been the result of trying to accomplish too much…
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Life without Facebook
“I didn’t know what Facebook was, and now that I do know what it is, I have to say that is sounds like a huge waste of time.” ~Betty White This year I’m celebrating six years of Facebook sobriety. In my experience, Facebook caused more harm than good and I had to quit. Once I did, my emotional wellbeing, social life, family relationships, attitude, and productivity all improved. If you missed my Oakland Press column on the topic, you can still read it online here.
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How to save the world
“This is the way we save the world: one peaceful word, one act of compassion, one long sweet nap, one burst of laughter at a time.” ~Martha Beck, Finding Your Way in a Wild New World Watching the news makes me feel hopeless — and helpless. Mass shootings (almost daily). The war in Ukraine. The pandemic. Political ugliness (daily). I long for a new age of unity, peace, civility, and dignity — a tall order that’s seemingly impossible to fill these days. But each of us can take small steps toward healing — starting in our own homes and communities. We could perform a random act of kindness or two. And…
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Never settle for boring
“If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” ~Jim Rohn Even when I was a much younger woman with a fragile ego, I wasn’t impressed by the stuff my peers wanted to wear. In those days, designer logos, status scarves, and “it” handbags were just starting to gain popularity. (Remember The Official Preppy Handbook?) To me, they seemed boring and unoriginal, and rarely worth their extravagant price tags. I still wonder why anyone would want to be an unpaid, walking advertisement for someone else’s product. And why would anybody want to dress like someone else, unless a uniform is mandatory for…
