Archive for August 2009

One of my favorite days of the summer happened last week. It was a special day with my 13 year-old niece, Hannah—a summer date together before school started once again. It was pouring rain, so all plans for outdoor fun got shelved, and we found ourselves at the largest mall in the country, Mall of America.

Being in the moment

For that afternoon, I forgot about office details or tasks that needed to be tended to at home. I was away from my computer and didn’t have to think about the bills. Instead, I got to see the world through the eyes of a delightful teenager who hasn’t even had to ponder the world of adult responsibility. Every moment with Hannah was a pleasure, and it reminded me to move away from the things that bog me down…and slow down and play a little.

We both made a conscious decision to enjoy the rainy day inside. And I knew we meant business when shortly after entering the Mall, Hannah said, “Auntie Michelle, this day is going to be so much fun!”

We ate our Mexican lunch in the food court and talked about boys, our music tastes, Facebook, and Read more »

Have you ever noticed how certain people and situations give you lots of energy, and you feel jazzed in their presence? And then there are other situations or personal interactions where afterwards, you feel completely zapped of energy and feel like doing nothing but collapsing in bed?

Interesting how that works! In my coaching, I encourage my clients to follow their energy. Meaning that when they feel a “call” toward something—whether it’s toward a person, an idea, a place, a project, or whatever—they should go to it!

Follow the aliveness. Follow the joy. Follow the call.

At the same time, when I hear my clients talking about an event that they feel like they “should” attend and there is complete flat-ness in their voice, I have them stop and check-in with what’s happening. It’s obvious to me that there is no energy there…and there’s also an important message for them in that feeling.

Just like everyone else, in my own life I routinely question whether or not Read more »

There have been so many instances in my life when I recognize the sheer magnitude of my insignificance here on earth.

One reminder was last winter when I stood on the balcony of our cruise ship just after midnight, looking out at the expanse of darkness that went on forever and ever…and ever, with a blanket of stars illuminating the ocean whitecaps. Bill fell asleep inside the cabin while I stayed out on our private deck as long as I could keep my eyes open. I was simply mesmerized by the beauty and the vastness, contrasted with my little life that felt so small as our mammoth cruise ship bobbed along in the middle of the enormous sea.

That is the type of experience that immerses me into the bigger picture of life, pondering the ultimate question of why we are here. I don’t know that there is necessarily any magical or earth-shattering answer, but I do believe that it has something to do with being our best (which includes following your joy) and loving others.

The exact opposite of that feeling of insignificance happened on Labor Day, a couple years ago. It was a beautiful sunny holiday and all was quiet in our neighborhood. Bill and I were lounging inside on the couches with the windows open, talking about our lives and what we wanted from the upcoming year.

Our conversation was horrifyingly and abruptly invaded by Read more »

These two guys were pretty special in my life. And as we all know, life is fragile; and any of us can make the transition—at any moment—to the next place in life.

Uncle Tom died at age 42 of cancer. Cousin Tommy died at 7 of a rare disease of the immune system. Tom was my godfather; Tommy was my godson.

When I lead classes on effective time management or uncovering life purpose, I pass around a framed version of the photo above. Many of the class participants seem to struggle with just how, precisely, to identify what’s most important in their life with all that they have going on, tugging at them. I always say that when you get down to it, though, it’s not as tough to figure out as one might think.

The sweet picture of my two special guys always drives the message home.

At the core, we all do know what’s important to us. But life gets busy, things get in the way, and Read more »