For the past two years, I’ve met a friend of mine for a business strategy retreat. We’ve done three retreats now—two in California, one in Idaho—and most recently met last November in Santa Cruz, California. We spent a few days disconnected from client work, immersed in nature, and engaged in strategizing for the year(s) to […]
On July 12, we set out for our first international move as a family. Along with our tribe, we checked nine bags and carried on two, plus the running stroller and two cats. Not only was this our first time moving overseas, it was our first time traveling overseas as a family of six (the […]
We had a going away party last night. Friends from all areas of our lives came to wish us well on this next adventure as a family. This morning, one of my dearest friends stopped by, and I gave her a hug goodbye—the last for several months. About a month ago, I said goodbye to […]
It was 2005, and life was bleak. I was 20 (I’m 32 now) and working in a bank as a teller, going to school in the early mornings, at night, and online. My employer was fine, and the job was OK. I justified my dissatisfaction with my work because my employer reimbursed my tuition. On […]
When I was pregnant with my oldest child, my husband and I took nightly walks. One evening, when I was about six months pregnant, we did a big loop around our north end Boise neighborhood. The streets in that part of town are lined with big trees; the neighborhoods are a mix of diverse structures—new […]
Ah, October. The month when writers all around the country ready their pens and keyboards to write a first draft of their books during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and National Nonfiction Writing Month (NaNonFiWriMo), which takes place from November 1–30 each year. The goal? Write a 50,000-word book in 30 days. Don’t break stride […]
Anyone who knows me even slightly well knows I’m a podcast fanatic. I listen to one or two episodes every day, and my subscriptions span business development to crime dramas. Why do I love podcasts so much? Efficiency, for one. I can listen while I’m running, getting ready for the day, or driving to point […]
Sunday late morning, I went for a run in the Boise foothills. The path is familiar: an 8-mile loop with a short, steep climb. I felt awful on Sunday—headache, tired, the works. I had planned to do at least 11 miles that morning but decided to cut it short with less elevation. Still, in spite […]
It was 2007. I was a 21-year-old who had done lots of exotic travel—you know, California, Oregon, Mexico, Canada. Far-off, distant lands, right? To be fair, I wanted to travel. I wanted to get out and experience the world . . . or at least take two-week guided tours through parts unknown. My version of […]
It’s here! My TEDx talk has been published. I’m thrilled to share it with you. If you’ve been following my journey, you know this talk has been a long time in the making. I’ve written about how to get selected for a TEDx talk and what it’s like to prepare for and give a TEDx […]