Hey Reader! Today was one of those days where nothing went according to plan. But it was still a good day. Why? Because I got to spend it with people I love: A friend in need A high-school buddy just calling to catch up My kiddo Miraculously, everything still got done. Because there's one I'm always clear on. There will always be more work to do I used to freak out when things upended my plans. Part of the reason was I procrastinated. So if something unexpected happened and I had a deadline,...
8 days ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader! Is it just me, or is your social feed full of post-apocalyptic prepper books, too? Discussing potential end-of-the-world scenarios has become so mainstream that I can imagine two Brendas at a pickleball match talking about an impending, life-ending drought. I'm not going to stoke that fire. Obsessing over what might happen can waste precious mental, physical, and emotional energy I'd rather you use on something fun and whimsical. But I do think doing a little mental prep work...
15 days ago • 5 min read
Hey Reader! NOTE: I'm angry this week, so if you get triggered by mention of sexual violence, you probably don't want to read any further. I don't get graphic, but I do mention a personal story and talk about how pervasive it is, bringing up something you might have seen in the news. A more sanitized version will run in the White County News on Thursday. ::::: My brother loves to remind me that women have more freedom now than we have at any point in history. And yes, I can open a bank...
22 days ago • 5 min read
Hey Reader! I love running across biography posts in my Facebook feed. You know, the kind that starts off with some kind of hyperbolic AI-generated sentence like, "She never expected her life would change by eating a pickle, but that one salty bite changed the course of human history ..." I'm genuinely fascinated by the stories because: A) They're about cool people doing cool stuff, and B) they introduce me to real historical events and personalities I'd never heard of. Helen Hadsell: Name It...
29 days ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader! Around this time a couple of years ago, I wrote a song about life's random indignities and miracles. Life is tragic, but also magic Where you choose to focus Is your locus Meaning: Wherever you focus your attention, your energy will flow. Focus on all the bad shit, and you'll attract more bad shit. Focus on the good, and more good follows. The Catch-22 The catch is that, in order to be in a state of abundant flow, you have to feel relatively safe and secure first. This is because,...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader! Seasons are shifting, school's back in session, and the year is racing to a close. If you're feeling exhausted, you're not alone. When we feel drained, it's usually because we spend too much time on other people's priorities and ignore what we need. If your energy is flagging, spend some time this week doing an inventory of how you spend your time. Are you investing in activities that nourish you? Or are you lavishing attention on things that drain energy? Are you spending time on...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader! A friend of mine studied improv at a well-established Atlanta theater. The teacher recognized his talent early and enlisted his help. Now, if you're familiar with improv, you're probably assuming the teacher wanted my friend to model the 'Yes, And' mentality. This improv rule keeps made-up scenes moving forward because it requires you to accept whatever your scene partner says and build on it, creating a shared reality. The resulting flow of agreement is really fun, and it's one...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Hey Reader! The saying 'like attracts like' applies to energy, too. That's why, when you're in a bad mood, everything around you seems aggravating. Conversely, when we accentuate the positive, we amplify those good vibes. Become a blessing magnet I've written about gratitude before as a practice to build resilience and as a tool to pull you out of despair. But being grateful can generate additional blessings, too. How? By expressing thanks for what's making you grateful, then asking, "How can...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader! Do you know the original meaning of the word 'want'? It's to lack, or be deprived of something. We say, "I want to experience a happier, more fulfilling life." The universe hears, "I don't have a happier, more fulfilling life." And it doesn't hear a call to action to change anything. Unintentionally coming from that place of scarcity might be sabotaging your attempts to manifest something better. Perceptions shape reality Another blocker is our reality. We say, "I'm living a life...
2 months ago • 2 min read