The telescope had been a birthday present during the summer of 2005. We took it outside to set it up because it was much too large and powerful for inside use. Once on the sidewalk and with instructions in hand I realized I just wasn't smart enough to figure it all out and neither were any of my family members. I stroked the large main tube. My fingertips encircled the eyepiece. I leaned in so close to the finderscope my nose brushed its side. Over the years we invited friends and neighbors … [Read more...]
I Didn’t Want to Live Through a Pandemic
But Making the Decision to Live Through a Pandemic Was an Easy Choice for Me... The pandemic caught me by surprise. Perhaps each of us can say this, but then we all think our situation is unique. I do know one thing; I didn't want to live through a pandemic. It was never on my bucket list and I had never given it a second thought. But here it is and my goal is to not only survive but to also accomplish some meaningful activities during this time, however long it lasts. On January 25th, 2020 … [Read more...]
Gracefully Pivoting, Without Spraining Your Ankle
Someone, I don't remember who is was, mentioned that this is a time to "pivot" and now you hear and read about that word everywhere. What exactly does it mean to pivot, and can you do this gracefully and without spraining your ankle? Let's explore this as I share my recent life experiences as a case study. Spring slid into summer, even though the calendar said otherwise. The rules had all changed. The sticky hot days melted into humid evenings and swimming pools and beaches were still off … [Read more...]
Emotional Resilience During the Toughest of Times
My mother described me to others as being a "sensitive" girl as I was growing up. I allowed my feelings to be hurt (this is a re-frame of decades of believing it was others who were to blame for intentionally hurting my feelings) and as a result I was often unhappy or melancholy, or at least quite pensive. When I began to take full responsibility for everything that occurred in my life at age 50 I found that I had developed an emotional resilience to the degree that my life unfolded in a way … [Read more...]
It’s Just Who I Am, That’s All
I used to say that I didn't have the time or the money to volunteer or be a part of charitable causes. That was my excuse, and I honestly believed it until I found out it wasn't true. Even during the twenty years I worked as a classroom teacher in the inner city of Los Angeles, while simultaneously working in real estate part-time as a broker and residential appraiser, I could have volunteered once a month. I had time on some Saturday mornings for a few hours and could have donated $20 or so … [Read more...]
In the Future…
In the future, no one wears a watch. No one has a cell phone, at least not one that gets a signal. There are no motorized vehicles or shopping malls or internet or long, hot showers or tub baths. In the future there are very few people... It was never on my bucket list to endure and survive a pandemic, but here we are, all of us on planet Earth marking time, making choices that once required only a fleeting thought, staying busy and hoping that one day the world will go back to the way it … [Read more...]
The Newspaper at the End of the Driveway
Sometimes we get the feeling that we are not accomplishing as much as we intended, or that we are not as productive as will be required to achieve our goals. I understand these feelings and believe addressing them here will be valuable to you, at least in some small way. Also, we must have gratitude for our life and celebrate the small successes we tend to overlook on most days. Yesterday I was speaking with a man in my mentor program about productivity and accomplishing goals. He was … [Read more...]
Find the Problem and Wrap It in an Adventure
Our world is changing rapidly and we are all in this together. I have decided each day to find the problem to be solved and wrap it in an adventure. Writing, connecting with my students and those I mentor, and walking in my local parks and other natural settings is keeping me sane and productive right now. Here are my thoughts and ideas for making the best of what we are going through and helping others in the process. The Value of Being Open to Change in Our Rapidly Changing World I used … [Read more...]
How to Become a Local Celebrity When Everyone is Staying Home
As I look out my window this morning I am shocked at how few vehicles are on the road. I'm in Santa Clarita, California (one of the two cities I live in, the other being Santa Barbara) today. It's Monday morning, March 16th, at eight o'clock. This is rush hour and from my second floor balcony my view extends more than two miles, through and past Plum Canyon, along the "Cross Valley Connector" road, Golden Valley, and on to Newhall Ranch Road that leads to the interstate freeway. There weren't … [Read more...]
The Pachyderm in the Room
The anticipation for my live event was growing, but the panic and early hysteria was growing faster. New details regarding the virus took over the airwaves as "breaking news" throughout each day and our social media profiles were inundated with opinions, pro and con, along with paid advertisements that were harsh and ugly. It's an election year and some of what was aired exemplifies politics at its worst. I refuse to subscribe to fear, as that leads to a false sense of inferiority and imprisons … [Read more...]