A courage conundrum: Can a strong person have a weak stomach? I won’t burden you with details, but I came down with food poisoning last night. A rough six hours, but it was the cleanup that was most vexing. Willpower alone does little to restrain a stomach in rebellion. I do know that hypnosis can […] Read More

Here’s one of my favorite pump-up songs of all time, performed by one of the great pop artists. Perfect for shaking off any August lethargy. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apd-pkviZCA&hl=en&fs=1&] Add to del.icio.us - Stumble It! - Subscribe to this feed - Digg it Read More

Even to call one’s self a courage expert has to take some spunkiness. So Sandra Ford Walston shows her mettle even before you get to her website–or her book (Courage: The Heart and Spirit of Every Woman)– or her public speaking. (A “handle” like Courage Expert, BTW, is part of what is meant by a […] Read More

Bold this week: …our new Justice Sotomayor. It takes courage to be the first of any group to climb into a highly visible position. …the rescue of the two reporters from North Korea, not with force but with strategy and charm. …Paul McCartney riding city buses (from “Paul McCartney Keeps It Real”, The Week magazine) […] Read More

Peeling a car isn’t everyone’s idea of fun. But my car needed it. It’s an artcar, as I’ve mentioned here before. And my most recent attempt at a white background for the morning glories used housepaint. Bad idea. It started to blister. Then ragged tatters of paint flapped in the breeze as I drove. Something […] Read More

My hip, imaginative dentist (take that, stereotype!) has interesting ways of getting the word out. Note this give-away toothbrush. In case the writing on my portrait of it is hard to read, the inscription says: Rebecca Schmorr, DOS, 834-4450Directions: Use the Fuzzy End Add to del.icio.us - Stumble It! - Subscribe to this feed - Digg it Read More

A wise friend recently told me he feels gratitude is the key to success in life. I already knew that genuinely feeling grateful does a lot for one’s health and happiness. But as I thought about it, I realized how effective a focus on gratitude could be for making alliances, working with people, recognizing opportunities, […] Read More

It’s hard to do the right thing when someone is pressing you to do it. At least I, immaturely, find that so. So congratulations are due today to two organizations: 1. The world’s largest tissue-maker Kimberly-Clark2. Environmental organization Greenpeace (as well as other eco-activists) Kimberly-Clark, after almost five years of urging from Greenpeace, will no […] Read More

The feeling of running behind is one that I find hard to shake. Here, from The Daily Om, is a good way to think of it. Important, because nothing is actually gained from going around feeling pressed. The hurried state of mind makes me clumsy and leads me to try too hard and actually slows […] Read More

“Creativeness is correlated with the ability to withstand the lack of structure, the lack of future, the lack of predictability, of control, the tolerance for ambiguity, for planlessness.” Maslow on Management, Abraham Maslow In about my second year of freelancing (1973), I would walk from my parking place to my office in the mornings, often […] Read More