Clarity
It’s the holiday season. I’m 3 days past my son’s wedding and still processing those emotions. And I am fighting off my annual holiday cold, which, in the past few years, has decided to morph into bronchitis. I’m all dressed up and sitting in one of my favorite spots...
Shifting
When I was 16-years-old, with my new drivers license just itching to be put to good use, my parents decided it was time to get a 2nd car. Up until that point we had survived somehow on just one car for our family of 5. I think the truth was that my mom...
Breaking Through
I should have known something was up when she stopped class 15 minutes early. This was my favorite cardio class instructor, the one who works you like you’re in basic training, but with really good music. The second clue was this pile of boards she was carrying. ...
Looking for Joy
When my oldest was 4 years old, we had a bit of a problem. He was a typical 4-year-old boy: pushing boundaries, being curious, annoying his siblings. And I was a stressed-out mother of 3 young children, who was working full-time and trying to keep everything together....
Two Words for the Highly Competent
I am an extremely competent person. No, I really am. I can navigate around foreign countries by myself. I can change a tire. I can figure out which smoke detector is beeping at 3am, and change the batteries. Heck, I can even put together any IKEA piece, all by myself....
Choosing Well
After seeing my postings on recent travels, a friend said to me “You have a fun life, Janet”. It was a brief statement, but one that has stuck with me...because is it true. And it is true because I CHOOSE to make it so. Trust me, I have my share of life’s ups and...
How To Meet Anyone
It starts with the eyes. Meet their eyes. This is then followed by a nod, or a smile, or a hello. If they look away, they’ve told you a lot. It’s generally not worth pursuing at that point. But let’s say they’ve met your gaze in a positive, if not just neutral,...
Lost in Translation
When my son went to China and started a relationship with his (now) wife, he said the most difficult part of communication was not the language, it was sarcasm. It just didn’t translate well. This could have been a major problem, as our family is just a tad sarcastic...
Shifting My Perspective…Again
I have been on a mission this year, with the end goal to look good in the pictures at my son’s wedding in December. I had wanted to “release” a few pounds and get back into shape (again), and this was good incentive. I put myself on a very realistic and reasonable...
Because I did that, I now…
One of the fun facts about me is that I was once a security guard at a GM plant in Detroit. Actually, it was one of the most fun summer jobs I ever had. Definitely the most unusual and interesting! I was sharing the story of how I found myself in that position with my...
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