Wanderlust: The Man on the Bicycle

A lone traveler on a bike, examining his wrinkled, printed maps, unsure about the route to Fort Collins, traveling with time on his hands. A German-speaking Italian from the Dolomites, Heinz started in Mexico City, met a companion then biked until reaching Colorado. Other than visiting a Hutterite community in North Dakota and Chicago, his … Read more

Anticipatory Stress: Managing Horrible Thoughts!

    You’ve already imagined the cancerous spot. The long-anticipated trip to France won’t happen and the money invested will be gone. Even with chemo on the horizon, will you live? Then, in contemplating these dire circumstances, you cognitively decide to create a super tough coping mechanism, fight until cured. You will “win” no matter … Read more

Feeling Groovy Where?

  Slow Down You Move Too Fast…You’ve Got to Make the Morning Last   Perhaps Simon and Garfinkel witnessed traffic on the NYC 59th Street Bridge and wished for the frenetic energy to wane just a bit: “Slow Down (people); You Move To Fast (up and down the streets, seeing no one, always in a … Read more

Noticing The UnAgenda

  Pedaling placidly: aware of my legs straining to quickly rotate. Mind quiet. Biggest obstacles are the yellow goslings crossing the path, heavily guarded by their mothers. Stretches of tents along the river bank. It’s suppose to snow again this week. Cold in a makeshift house. Sadness. Crossing a bridge, then a second, third, fourth, … Read more

The Very First Time of Travel: Miss Not

  Going almost anywhere for the very first time is Exciting…Fresh…Hopeful. We’re stepping out of everyday life into the unknown of our own choosing. Whatever it is, the “adventure” is decided. Plans curated and time set aside. “Explorer” is our upcoming title. Anticipation is high.    Extra effort is required to “get out of Dodge”, … Read more

Last Minute Switcheroonies: Dealing with the Unexpected

  “How could this have happened? We’ve planned for weeks and must drastically change the plans. Answer: “No surprise here. Things happen and it seems almost more so when you’ve invested time constructing the perfect agenda!” Sound familiar?   Whether it’s creating a travel itinerary, for example, or mapping a well thought-out meeting, unforeseen circumstances intercede. … Read more

Backdoor Surprise: Similarities and Kindness

  Watching a bird gently gliding way above you, noticing crimson and purple in an evening sky, bringing your partner a fresh cup of coffee, sharing a smile with a fellow human being…everyone wants to feel connected to something bigger. Yet, when we encounter unfamiliar cultures or walk into a meeting fraught with tension, uncertainty … Read more

P and L or F and E

  A profit and loss statement helps a company guide decisions based on how the “Net”, the bottom line, looks. Reflecting back on a recent family weekend, the “Net” was an extraordinary experience, a weekend packed with F and E, Fluidity and Ease.   Besides type-A personalities coming together (me included), we felt some apprehension about the visit. It … Read more

All In: Pinching Yourself

“It’s a GREAT Tired,” said my friend. We had skied hard all day, hardly taking a break, gobbling Gorp on the lift. The snow on the slopes, in the trees, off of the main trails beckoned: Come into my playground. Relish the views. Feel the strength and challenge to your body. Let the cold air … Read more

The Second Sharing: Finding Common Ground

Sharing Halloween candy was never easy, especially giving away cherry flavored Tootsie Pops. As learned in Kindergarten and along the way, however, “the more we share, the more we have”, the sweeter life becomes. Sharing our resources and gifts multiplies happiness. Yet, sharing of ourselves at a deeper level can be a rarity. It’s not often … Read more