Archive for December, 2011

I think of my mind as having aisles like at the grocery store.

Some aisles are more chock-a-block than others.

One in particular is bulging at the seams. I call it the Junk Aisle.

Lots of things in there, bits and pieces.

For example, there is a big section devoted to quotes from 80s movies.

I can recite pretty much any line from Better Off Dead:

• “I’m sorry your mom blew up Ricky!”
• ”Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way, turn.”

…or Christmas Vacation:

• “Eddie, if I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn’t be more surprised than I am right now.”
• “Then WHY is the carpet WET, Todd?” “I don’t KNOW, Margo.”

Why, you say?

Well, the quotes come in handy at parties….

A few weeks ago, I went back in time.

I did this by attending my 25th high school reunion. Menlo-Atherton High School Class of 1986 – Go Bears!

Not everyone goes to their reunions. You may be reading this and saying, “Why would I subject myself to that? Those people are not my friends anymore.”

I totally see your viewpoint. For me, my curiosity got the best of me. This event only happens once in a lifetime and I didn’t want to regret not going later. I reasoned that I’d just go for a little while and then leave if I felt uncomfortable or bored.

My close friend who’s accompanied me to past reunions decided to skip this one. I admit, the prospect of going alone was almost a deal-breaker. I bought my ticket before losing my nerve and then furiously perused the event’s Facebook page to see who else was going to be there….

“Can you kids just go play by yourself and leave us alone for a few minutes so your father and I can sit here and relax?”

As the phrase came out of my mouth, I was horrified to hear the message I was sending and to watch my daughter’s face fall.

Ah, stress.

I wear it like a coat this time of year.

In this instance, I was finishing a day taking care of my two toddlers on my own.


I was wiped.

The day had included, among other things…

I’m writing today to say that I don’t have an inspirational story to share this week.

Yep, you heard me right. I’m plumb out of ideas.

I’m not sure why. Fatigue? The holidays being upon us? Preoccupation with creating my exciting upcoming programs? Who knows. Probably a little of all of the above.

The important thing is that I want you to know that I’m not over here with all the answers. I’m creating my life as I go too. I’m a professional experimenter in terms of how I’m making decisions and venturing forth in my business and in my life. I’m noodling my way along.

Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s not random, my approach.


I have done the thought and heart work to figure out what makes me energized and happy. And I’m living that.

But within the parameters of what I know works to make my life feel fulfilling, I’m creating it as I go along. Coming up with an idea, putting it out there, gathering some feedback, tweaking and then implementing it. This is my process, my way of being a light bearer, which is how I see my role.

More and more, I’m letting go of the drive to be perfect, to get stuck in analysis-paralysis, in favor of a simpler approach that allows me to live in the creative space I crave more than in the analytical space that I have spent so much of my life in….