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Stress of Being Praised

Personal Note In the midst of a flurry of speaking activity, a friend and I took a trip on one of Lake Minnetonka’s “streetcar boats,” the only such boats in the world.  It was a perfect day; just warm enough to be very pleasant.  At one point, we sailed through a...

Creative Writing for RAWs

Personal Note   Last week I coined the acronym, RAW, to stand for Really Advanced Worriers: those people who have spent their lives practicing and developing their skills at writing dramatic mental stories.   It takes time and patience, but RAWs can switch from drama...

What If…?

Personal note A friend and I took a lovely paddleboat ride on the Mississippi River on Sunday afternoon, past old crumbling brick walls backed by sparkling new skyscrapers, learning a lot of history that we had never heard. I had arranged to take my disabled friend,...

Does persistence really pay off?

Personal note My internet access was down again – for most of last week. It was frustrating to log on over and over again only to see a spinning disc that kept on revolving forever or to write a message and then find that I couldn’t send it.  These problems have...

Recapture Delight In Your Life

Personal note: I went to the lake yesterday. The same lake I went to as a child.  The same sun-sparkled lake I dreamed about for years, while living in another state where summers were foggy and cool , and gray sand beaches were pummeled by huge waves that could knock...

The Power of “Yet”

Personal note: As a writer, I believe in the power of words.  Words can heal and bring hope.  They can also destroy hope.  This week’s article is about one little word that can carry a lot of power. The Power of “Yet”   When I had a heart attack a little over...

Why Are You Running, If There’s No Prize?

Personal note: My recent trip to San Francisco left me feeling mellow and creative.  I had to take a deep breath as I stepped back into my ordinary life, and remind myself not to repeat automatic (and stressful) patterns of thought and behavior. One good antidote to...

More On Luck

Personal note: A week in San Francisco with the support of loving family and friends was extraordinarily refreshing.  Reconnecting with an old dance friend – unexpectedly – brought an added dash of excitement. And a week away from my office made me reflect on many...

Why do some people just seem to have all the luck?

Earlier in my life, I was bemused at the sight of a number of people who had talent and persistence, but never seemed to get the break that allowed them to display that talent.  At the same time, it was puzzling to see much less qualified people rise to the top.  Not...