Heading on a bus to ski some Spring “powder” a fellow passenger asked, “Are you stoked (about the new snow)?”. With the constant deluge of precipitation falling outside, we indeed felt full of “Stoked-ness”, hoping to experience fresh white stuff on the mountain trails. Although being “stoked” was not necessarily an adjective in our vocabulary, … Read more
Thank goodness we’re not all the same. How refreshing not to laugh at the same jokes. One person’s laughter sounds different than another’s! We love hearing all types of giggles! Last week a sold-out crowd of mostly women enjoyed “Mental Pause” at The DTC Comedy Club. Some of us gathered earlier for Happy Hour and … Read more
Waiting hours on a runway for “de-icing”, standing in three different lines to check odd-sized luggage or sitting squeezed in a middle seat… these are the times we say to ourselves, “It is what it is”. Logistics might go awry. Like Steve Martin in the movie, “Trains, Planes and Automobiles” we end up in … Read more
Gondolas and chairlifts are cozy places. They’re more than a means of transport. Riding to the top of the mountain offers time for conversation. A few weeks ago while on the gondola, my husband and I met two Spaniards, an uncle and nephew. They were visiting the Wild West to experience cowboys and wide-open slopes, … Read more
Beauty is subjective. When seeking opinions on “The Most Beautiful Places in the World”, a fascinating series of photographs by Ester Honig surfaced in the search[1]. Honig starts with a basic self-portrait and then adjusts, aka “Photo-shops”, the image based on cultural norms. What’s perceived as pretty in the United States, for example ,not surprisingly looks … Read more
Where do we feel happy? According to a recent National Geographic article, Denmark, Costa Rica and Singapore represent “The World’s Happiest Places” ¹, providing people with a sense of security, purpose and low stress lifestyle. Let’s move! Or, can we find our own “happy place” right where we are? In Denmark, for example, taxes with … Read more
Not Merry! That’s how it felt after witnessing customers spend precious pennies at Walmart. Then, listening to news filled with acrimony further dampened my spirits. Two worlds, light and dark, seemed to exist: one very merry, filled with joyous possibility; the other glum and unattached. Fortunately, everywhere, holiday lights are shining brightly outside. Blow-up Santas … Read more
When recently travelling to Spain, my husband and I with marginal Spanish abilities and a little effort enjoyed interactions wherever we explored. Sometimes our efforts translated into a bowl of green olives “on the house”! Although starting a conversation required some extra energy, the rewards were worth it, even if just for the smile and … Read more
It’s intimidating to enter a room as the new employee or guest when people already know one another. Conversation is buzzing and you look around wondering how to make a graceful entrance. There doesn’t seem to be a place to sit other than at the end of the table! You don’t want to interrupt. “Breaking … Read more
In Mexico last week, we “hola”-ed everywhere and conversation flowed. With a friendly “Hola”, interacting with new people became easy. What is it about travelling that opens us to conversing with strangers? How might we incorporate a “traveler” mentality into our daily interactions? Oh, to be on vacation all the time! Yes, time was on … Read more