Tag Archives: habits
Just in case you needed to hear this today, it’s okay to be selfish. Women, in particular, are conditioned to be givers, peacemakers, feather-smoothers, and people pleasers. Most, if not all of these expectations are based on the sentiment that it’s not good for women to be selfish, or that being selfish is bad. The messaging is so relentless and pervasive that it’s easy for the distinction between selfish and self care can be difficult to ascertain. Some random thoughts…..
“What do sad people have in common? It seems they have all built a shrine to the past and often go there and do a strange Wail and Worship. What is the beginning of Happiness? It is to stop being so religious like that.” — Hafiz Human behavior fascinates me. It’s probably what attracted me to advertising in the first place. Divining and then driving behavior is a never-ending, evolving symbiotic relationship. Whether advertising is arbiter or mirror of human behavior…..
In honor of Random Acts of Kindness Day, today I’ll share a few ways you can show kindness in your every day life. At their essence, manners are the recognition and respect of self in other. When we use good manners, we are actually acknowledging our own worthiness of being treated well and with respect. In so saying, I of course realize that not everyone practices good manners. There are many rude (and psychologically wounded) people walking the planet. Whenever…..
Many people have to wait a long time for something to happen. Tom Petty was right: The waiting is the hardest part. It’s easy to become impatient, especially when you cannot see any signs that anything is happening. It’s similar to the seed germinating within the earth. Although there may be millions of chemical reactions going on beneath the surface of the soil, from topside, the dirt you can see resembles a mute brown plane, keeping its own counsel. The…..
Doing something new requires being willing to be bad at something until you become skilled at it. It requires humility and a willingness to fail forward. If you’ve paid attention to your life’s journey, chances are good you’ve experienced plenty of versions of yourself, and have been resurrected from the ashes of various trials and tribulations to get where (and be who) you are now. “It is not more surprising to be born twice than once; everything in nature is…..
Over the past few months of Quarantine Life, the concept of ‘things as tether’ has floated across my consciousness more than once. For starters, being housebound while the rest of the world is essentially at a standstill gives you a lot of time inside your home. For another, the concept of “quaran-cleaning” gives you an opportunity to determine what you really need in your life. Contemplating the usefulness and true value of what you own is actually a gift. Two…..
Today is National Peanut Butter Day. Nut butters in general are excellent sources of protein and brain-friendly fats. I usually take a few Justin’s packets with me on flights just in case I’m delayed in an airport or on the tarmac. I’ve also created a nutritious and delicious toast topping that I keep in the refrigerator at all times. I make it in small batches, storing it in a plastic, half-cup-sized container so that it stays fresh and in it’s…..
What kind of cook are you? The “measure-y, by the book” sort or the stir, sniff and sample sort? For what it’s worth, I think that not only does each approach have merit, but there are certain times when it pays to err on the side of the extreme of either. When I was a little girl, I used to perch on a stool in my grandma’s kitchen and watch as she cooked dinner for us. My knees drawn up…..
The most important aspect of being a great listener is being fully present during your conversations. You must be “here” in order to hear at the highest level. “How do I listen to others? As if everyone were my Master speaking to me His cherished last words.”— Hafiz There’s a saying: that in order to learn, we must listen more and to speak less. The proverb of having two ears and one mouth dictating the ratio of listening to speaking…..
At the turn of the year, I ask you to take stock of everything that is going WELL in your life right now. If you’re having a difficult time thinking of anything, here’s one thing to consider: if you can read this, you have access to the internet and the ability to read. This isn’t my attempt to “doom shame” you, and it isn’t meant to minimize the extreme suffering experienced by millions of people this year. However, it is…..