Life & Love – Thought Changer

Life’s teachers are literally everywhere. If you’re looking. “Thank you, Teacher.” I had a beautiful conversation with a dear friend this week. We were working through something together, something that had found the space in our open hearts to discuss and resolve. Not the easiest thing for two people who avoid conflict. We’d made the commitment to one another years ago to be a safe place for telling the truth, for pushing each other to dig deeper, and after this conversation, we’re closer than ever. We also talked about how challenging relationships and situations often are our greatest teachers. She reflected on her children, how they have taught her to be a better parent, and often it wasn’t the sunshine and roses moments that elevated her skills. It was the resistance, the conflict, the smart pushback and exchanges from and with her engaged, independent kids. Because she does the inner… Read more →

“You’re a good papa.” The 7-year-old son in the movie PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS whispered this to his father, Chris Gardner, as he tucked him into bed at the homeless shelter they frequented while Chris, played by Will Smith, struggled to build a better life for them. His father’s story became the foundation for his own. Our stories live in our bones. In our cells. In our hearts. In our minds. In our guts. In our memories. In our mothers. In our fathers. This Father’s Day week, as I was picking out a card for my dad, one that will honor him and what he means to me, it got me thinking about how entrenched he is in my own story, and about how our actions, decisions, attitudes, beliefs and our very lives, are a culmination of all of our stories as well the tales of our greatest influencers, including the… Read more →

CBS Sunday Morning one week featured a sweet story about a magical little button shop in NYC, Tender Buttons. There are buttons upon buttons for every garment imaginable, with prices ranging from 50 cents to $2000. Some of them are works of art and many are vintage with a full back-story imbedded in between the buttonholes. Storeowner and button collector, Millicent Safro, is very proud of her museum-like button empire and watches over them protectively, preciously, until someone else falls in love with them and takes ownership of them. Oddly, it got me thinking about a discussion I recently had with a friend who was dealing with some boundary issues with a co-worker who really knew how to push her buttons. Out of that dialogue came the mantra: “Be in charge of your own buttons.” When you push a button such as an elevator button, a website button, etc., it… Read more →

Mercury Retrograde – Why does the thought of Mercury retrograde petrify people in their tracks and at times make us feel like nothing is going right? Things can feel chaotic and confusing. It’s likely because they don’t understand the meaning of Mercury retrograde and how it can really help our lives, causing us to pause and take stock of upcoming decisions, contractual obligations, new beginnings, etc. According to alphalifetrends.com, “Mercury retrograde provides the opportunity to adjust our thoughts, attitudes and decisions about our issues and adjust our new direction as we move into 2009.” It will take place four times in 2009, and the current retrograde starts today and ends on May 30. So take this time to reassess, review and reconnect with where you are. Wait until after May 30 to make any decisions about where you’re going. 2. Santa Barbara’s Fire Dept – These fearless men and women… Read more →

Lead With Compassion Mother Teresa said, “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” As the quintessential world mother, Mother Teresa led her vision and life’s work through an open heart, with kindness and compassion. Mothers have been on my mind a lot lately. Two friends recently lost their mothers, while another just found out that she’s going to be an adoptive mother in a mere three weeks after waiting eagerly for years. It sparks the notions of the profound effect ‘mother-ness’ has on our lives. And, with Mother’s Day coming up this week, I got to thinking about how mothers are such natural leaders and managers. Ponder it for a moment. What are/were the innate cashmere qualities in your mom and other great mothers you know? Such qualities would be: Compassionate Empathetic Nurturer Listener One of the principles for being a Cashmere Leader is to… Read more →