Moments & Mindshifts

Throughout my journey, I regularly encounter interesting people and provocative ideas. As a leader, lifelong learner, lifestyle aficionado, and a mother of three, I am grateful to collect and share those moments that make me stop, look, listen, and (re)think.?See below for this week’s collection of shareable moments, in hopes that they will resonate with you.

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QUOTE I’M LOVING

“Life begins at the end of our comfort zone.” Neale Donald Walsch

WHAT (AND HOW) I’M LOVING

Celebrating sisterhood!?Coming off Valentine’s Day, I’m thinking a lot about all the ways love shows up in my life, from my partner of twenty-five years to my children and parents. But it’s sisterhood that I’m also grateful for, and in advance of this Valentine’s Day, we supported each other by combining creativity and resources to create care packages for our college-age kids.

This marks fifteen years or so of this “MAMAS” group convening through every life stage of our kids, and our own significant life changes as well. (Click?here?to read more about this community I love and cherish!)

WHAT I’M RECOMMENDING

Get a little uncomfortable.?Whether it’s pushing yourself physically or mentally, we can always use a tune-up.?It’s all too easy to stay complacent, but we’re constantly changing, and the world is changing even faster. Here’s what I’m doing: For my body, I joined a yoga studio to stay disciplined with my stretching and movement. I borrowed my husband’s trainer for a few months to help me get out of the one weight routine I do over and over again. And I even tried boxing for the first time (not sure I’m a fan). For my mind, I’m playing with different generative AI platforms to learn how to use them more effectively.??

My recommendation: Take a class. Get a certification. You might discover a passion for something that changes your entire trajectory.

WHAT I’M READING

The lost art of gathering.?There was a recent?article?in the Atlantic about how we’ve stopped “hanging out” as a society, a phenomenon that has troubling implications. It’s not surprising that screen time is one of the biggest culprits in edging out time spent with other people. The author makes an especially worrisome point about how the “hang out depression” correlates with?actual?depression, especially in teens. It seems clear that trading in socializing for time spent staring at the phone is bad for all of us.???

I also worry that our lack of social connectivity costs us more than loneliness, anxiety, and depression. We lose our sounding boards that help us make important decisions about our lives.?Personally, I’m doing my best to leverage the power of gathering. Since the top of the year, I’ve met weekly with six girlfriends to re-read?Designing Your Life, by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. There is an accompanying?workbook?that facilitates the life design process with proven reflections and exercises. We’re at the point now where we’re creating prototypes and motivating each other to act. Stay tuned for the results!

WHO’S INSPIRING ME

Gloria Steinem at 90.?I just read an article in?Esquire?about this feminist icon, and?wow! What a great reminder that we stand on the shoulders of giants. Gloria is a living testimony to how we can walk in power and exude beauty and dignity at every age and stage. For sure she has not slowed down or shut up as she approaches her 90th birthday. When I think about how long she has been in this fight and how true she has stayed to her convictions, it inspires me to double down and keep striving to elevate women everywhere.?

Gloria…I’m grateful to you, your message, and your warrior spirit. May we all keep your message, and your hope, at the forefront of our work.

WHAT’S BLOWING ME AWAY

Typewriter art.?We all know words create vivid mental images. But check out this?article?in My Modern Met: Artist James Cook uses typewriter letters and symbols to create gorgeous physical images. This kind of creativity inspires me to think about things in new ways!