You & Improved

I was sitting in the backyard, reading a book, enjoying the fine summer day. All was calm. Out of nowhere appeared a whirling dervish of purple and teal. My youngest daughter came zipping around the corner on her bike, sporting an oversized helmet and a big toothy smile. The sun illuminated her light hair, making it look like a halo on fire in the golden sun. Saying not a word, she pedaled through the grass like she was on a mission – and I've no doubt she was – but with a look of contentment as if she had not one care in the world.And then, just like that, she was gone.The moment lasted all …

[Read more...] about Your Happiest Year Ever is One Habit Away

Have you kissed a frog lately? This painting was inspired by Dig 'Em, the cartoon mascot of Honey Smacks. But it represents something deeper than a favorite Saturday morning breakfast cereal from my youth. Whether it's a beautiful princess or a handsome prince disguised as a slimy wart-ridden amphibian, frogs often find themselves in fairy tales as hidden forms of something else.Fairy tales aren't real, but sometimes real life does mimic them.For example, do you know someone in your life you weren't very fond of when you first met? When I was in Little League, Scott D. was the best player …

[Read more...] about Are You Missing a Surprise in Disguise?

What if your biggest problem isn't a problem at all? I love watching otters do meal prep.They float on their back as they work to open an oyster for lunch. They put off a nonchalant vibe, like they're nursing a margarita on an inflatable raft in a pool at an all-inclusive resort. They have the cool confidence of Vanilla Ice, who famously rapped, "If there was a problem yo, I'll solve it."The situation is actually a matter of life and death because if they don't eat, they don't last long. But of course, they are well suited for the task, so their body language gives away the fact there's …

[Read more...] about The Secret Lives of Problems

In July, the front office of my beloved Chicago Cubs ripped my heart out, stomped on it, and threw the shards into Lake Michigan. Ok, maybe it only felt that way when they traded away all three of my favorite players, iconic heroes who helped end a 108-year World Series drought.Truthfully, I agreed with what they did. The team was 50-55 and appeared to be heading nowhere, especially after a massive losing streak that dropped them from first place to fourth in the standings. With all three players headed to free agency at season's end, most analysts considered it a smart move to get some …

[Read more...] about No One Knows Anything (And that’s good!)

Over the last few weeks, I've been reflecting on a family trip to Hawaii and the lessons we learned on our Lanikai Pillbox hike. The journey up the ridge overlooking "The Mokes" was not a reckless one, but some of the stretches were somewhat treacherous for the five-  and seven-year-old. During those times, each step was meticulously planned out. I'd help the kids look for, plan, and take the obvious next step."Grab my hand and step over there.""Put your hand there and step onto that rock.""Get down on your butt and schooch to that one."Of course, my layman climbing terms aside, …

[Read more...] about Baby Steps Count

In September of 2019, I was booked to speak at a nurses conference in Hawaii and we decided to make it a family trip. The gig was in Honolulu, but we spent the first week on the windward side of Oahu, in the shadow of the ridge overlooking Lanikai and Enchanted Lakes, suburbs of Kailua.  On that ridge snakes the Lanikai Pillbox trail, boasting one of the best views in Hawaii. There are pillboxes throughout the Hawaiian islands, typically built to be military observation stations. Although this particular one was built after the attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II, it is …

[Read more...] about You Can Do Hard Things