Hey Reader! Why's everyone in such a hurry? When you rush, you miss so much. Like small miracles, the majesty of the natural world, and moments of connection. The tyranny of productivity Every time we check something off our list, our body releases a small amount of dopamine. This reward system encourages us to set goals and get stuff done. That's a good thing! But there's a shadow side to productivity. The more we do, the more productive our bosses (or our bossy inner selves) might want us...
14 days ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader! What are you doing to feed your dreams? If you have the option to spend time with people who believe in you, why would you waste time with people who are always crapping on your dreams? So what if you feel like a hot mess? If you weren't messy and emotional sometimes, you'd be a robot. Don't let that limit you. You matter, even if you haven't accomplished what you thought you would. This is the life you were meant to live. If you don't like it: What will you do differently? When...
20 days ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader! Few of us remember our childhoods. I wonder how many have forgotten them as a form of self-defense? Growing up, I noticed how difficult many of my friends found it to speak openly and honestly about what upsets them. Many men and women I know were either the clowns of their families or peacemakers. I would sometimes brace for pushback in the form of derision or anger myself. I could never quite identify the source of that behavior until this morning. I happened to stumble upon a...
28 days ago • 4 min read
Hey Reader! In 2010, my brother visited Egypt. The day he left, a Tunisian street vendor immolated himself, sparking pro-Democracy protests that quickly spread across North Africa and shook the Middle East. Change instigated by anger is unstable My brother could tell something was brewing before the revolutions began. "We were in a cab on the way to see the pyramids," he told me. "Everyone was stuck and honking. I've never seen people so angry." The Arab Spring liberated Tunisia, Libya, Egypt...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader! The definition of insanity is repeating the same thing and expecting different results. How often have you heard that phrase? How many times have you ignored it because: this time will be different!? Spoiler alert: It won’t be. The key to growing and making things better is acknowledging patterns that hold us back and replacing them with healthier behaviors. Shame keeps us stuck It’s hard to wrap our heads around why we make choices we know are not good for us. Especially when we...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader! Blaring headlines. Hysterical social posts. Looming deadlines. Endless household chores. Add all that together and it’s hard NOT to get overwhelmed. If you find yourself feeling powerless and paralyzed, here’s something to try to help you regain balance. Fill your cup first What do I mean by that? I mean: before you start scrolling, watching TV or trying to catch up on the news, take a moment to center yourself. For example: Go for a walk, do yoga, or meditate Make yourself a cup...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader! For my jobby-job, I conduct in-depth research to develop educational courses and thought leadership content for various organizations. I love discovering random things working for others, because those facts often inspire my creative projects, like this newsletter and my books. This week, I discovered something viral at work. Your boss' attitude is contagious. If your team leader is optimistic, chances are that optimism will start to influence your whole team. Conversely, if your...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader! When I received a job offer from a theater in Amsterdam 24 years ago, I packed one bag and a guitar. I played and sang every day; it was one of my favorite things to do. I never would have called myself a musician. I had lived with musicians. They made things very clear: They were the ones with the music. I was an artist, or actress or writer. Music was something I should let them have because it was “theirs.” I married a man who encouraged me to play bass. But I couldn’t manage...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader! Yesterday, Kristyn Medeiros of the Flying Upstream Podcast invited me to join her on air. Those 30 minutes were a highlight of my day. As we discussed the nature of creativity and how we can get unstuck, I had to opportunity to think out loud about why we end up getting disconnected from our creative source and each other. I got to share why I write the way I do, how I fell into music and some of my thoughts about how we can find our purpose in life. If you’re trying to figure out...
2 months ago • 1 min read