I believe in being real. After the disaster that was my second marriage, I realized that I was no longer willing to hide, pretend, or sugar-coat in attempt to get love or acceptance. It didn’t work and only made things worse, and I was done with it. So I decided […]
You know how some people can change your mood, just by being around them? Some people spread happiness like grass seed. On the other hand, you might be feeling fine until you run into Mr. Pit of Despair. If you’re not careful, you can absorb his mood and feel like […]
What are you afraid of? I’m not talking about things like spiders or snakes. I’m talking about your real fears. If people saw the things you’re trying to hide about yourself, what would they see? And what are you afraid would happen if they did? This is on my mind […]
I know I’m not the only one who seems to get around to solitude, creativity, and recharging only after all the “serious work” is done (i.e., never, in some cases). What if you broke your Dig Deep button and put coming alive first?
Have you ever been so tired, you find yourself wailing despairingly, “I just want to go to bed!” …when you’re already on your way there?
“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you say to someone when you’re being uncool.”
— Almost Famous
Sometimes, you’re so fired up, your energy feels like a big glistening color-filled bubble in your chest, pulling you irresistibly toward creativity and success. But then there are the other times. If you’ve experienced The Pull, and then experienced the lack of it, you know what a slog it can be to try to work when it’s gone. So, what can you do?
I used to think something was wrong with me. I need to eat frequently or I get grumpy, then stupid. Shrill noises give me a headache. I can’t think when there’s too much going on or if there’s a loud environment. A scratchy tag in my shirt can ruin my whole day. If someone makes a careless remark, it can bother me for days afterward. Sound familiar?
I stood frozen, watching the car speed toward me. It was a deer-in-the-headlights moment: I knew I had to get out of the way, but there I stood, rooted to the spot as the car got closer.
If you could do anything, if nothing was holding you back and there were no rules, no constraints, no money problems, no judgmental faces… what would you do?
I’m afraid of lots of things: car accidents, getting mugged, running out of money, being laughed at, getting rejected, failing. I’m kind of used to those fears. But this was something different.
A few months ago, my friend Ethan Waldman told me he was taking off work to go on a long bike tour of the Northwest. I’d call this a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, but Ethan is the kind of guy who will go on to have many more. Here’s his story.
