If you’ve ever read any of Brene Brown’s work, you’ve probably heard her idea that we are being told a huge lie in our society. It’s a lie about our beliefs and how they are being used to create a rift in everything we do. It goes something like this: If you are a God-fearing … Continue reading Holding Two Truths: The Dichotomy of Self →

We hear it all the time. Put down that phone. Stop checking email. Talk to people face to face. Be present. We are getting lost as a society, and it is up to you to create those boundaries and find connection. But what is the reality of this? Can we really step away and let … Continue reading Disconnected: That Constant State of Me →

Lately I have spent a lot of time helping my nonprofit develop its strategic plan for the next five years. It is a grueling process, with a lot of focus on words and meaning and purpose. While it feels like a headache, strategic plans actually provide a lot of information when done correctly. When is … Continue reading How to Create a New Professional Career: Developing Your Strategic Plan in 5 Steps →

If you’ve ever vacationed in Colorado, you were probably immediately taken aback with the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. As a destination for tourists throughout the year, Colorado has a ton to offer, with staring at the Purple Mountains Majesty being just one of them. From skiing to white water rafting, hiking, biking, and more, … Continue reading Five Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Move to Denver: And Why You Shouldn’t Listen to That Advice →

One of my writing professors once said he wished he had a dollar for every horrible story about a grandparent passing that he had to read because almost every writer in every class he taught wrote one. He said, “No more grandparents dying stories! I get it! It’s sad and life changing! Now move on!” … Continue reading Cleaning Out the Memories: When Grandparents Keep Everything →

Most people can probably remember that terror of being called on in class and not knowing the answer. I know I can. That bead of sweat building on my brow. My mind racing—what was it that she had asked? Why didn’t I finish that last chapter before class? As we progress in our schooling, our … Continue reading Trolling in Life: The Non-Learning Environment →

One year ago, I took a long hard look at my health and didn’t like what I saw. After decades of being in physically stagnant jobs, caring for children more than for myself, and developing horrible eating habits, I was out of shape and out of sync. I hated going to the gym and just … Continue reading When You Aren’t an Athlete: Riding the Bike That Goes Nowhere →

Everyone loves to sound smart. What better way to win an argument than to pile on highbrow words? In the world of academia, it becomes even more complex. Imagine going to school for years and cramming your head full of big words and knowledge. Now, imagine having to interact with others in a cutthroat environment … Continue reading Not Losing Your Audience: Writing for an Academic Audience in a Nonacademic Tone →

Deaths come in threes, or so they say, and our wicked winter pranced out those three deaths in rapid-fire succession. An entire generation of both sides of my daughter’s family tree ceased their existence as she lost her last great-grandparents before Thanksgiving. And just as we were catching our breath, her Grammy quickly lost her … Continue reading Admiring the Dead: How We Came to Socialize around Dead Bodies →