I try very hard to keep my life simple. Minimalists inspire me. I read this article recently about Mark Zuckerberg (yes, that Mark Zuckerberg) where he explains why he wears the same shirt every day to work. It’s about minimizing decisions, petty decisions that is, in order to save energy and brainpower for more important […]
Making Happy Moments “Stick”
One thing I’ve learned about our brains (a topic endlessly fascinating to me!) is this: our mind places more emphasis on unhappy moments, on negative things, than positive. It doesn’t matter whether you consider yourself an optimist (I do) or not. The data is in. Many, many studies and decades of research into how our […]
In Which I Decide to Abandon a Goal
Last August I stated my intention to write 12 ebooks for the Amazon Kindle. I completed 6. And now, after a bit of waffling and see-sawing for several weeks, I’ve decided to abandon that goal. It’s so difficult to do that even though I know it’s for the best. Do you have a difficult time letting […]
Some Beats None, and the Power of Small Actions
Today I want to talk about the power of small actions to bring about big changes, and why “Some Beats None” is one of my favorite expressions. But first, a story. My 3 year old daughter Ruby has been resisting naptime for well over a year. I know she is not ready to give […]
Habits: Big, Small, or Micro?
This post is part of a 31-day treatise on habits. <— Click there to see all the posts. When it comes to starting a new habit, there are those that recommend a huge lifestyle overhaul. Sweeping change. They advocate choosing a huge, hairy goal that gets you excited enough to burst out of bed everyday, […]
Relationship Habits
This post is part of a 31-day treatise on habits. <— Click there to see all the posts. Relationships, whether they be friendships, marriages, or parenting, can be deeply impacted by habits. And things we habitually do in a relationship can make or break it, without our even realizing. When a person gets married, they […]
How To Become an Early Riser
If you’re struggling to utilize mornings to meet your goals or just have time for your passions, here is some advice on how to become an early riser. To borrow a phrase from one of my favorite authors, Laura Vanderkam, I’ve “turned over to the lark side“. And I don’t plan on ever going back. […]
Bad Habit: Being Negative
This post is part of a 31-day treatise on habits. <— Click there to see all the posts. It is a very inconvenient habit of kittens (Alice had once made the remark) that, whatever you say to them, they always purr. “If they would only purr for ‘yes,’ and mew for ‘no,’ or any rule […]
Good habits for moms: 4 habits that keep me sane
I’m a big fan of good habits, especially for busy moms. A few of the habits I’ve created for myself through the years as a mom of seven are crucial to the running of my household. They also serve to give me peace amidst (what could be the potential) chaos that is a large family. […]
My Habits/Goals Epiphany
Note: This post is part of a 31 day treatise on habits. For the entire list of posts, go here: 31 Days of Habits Blogging inspiration can come from anywhere. So can insight. Today I was listening to my husband and oldest son talk about learning to play the guitar. My oldest picked up a […]