Earlier today I was trolling Facebook for inspiration. I know, I know, there are probably MANY better places than Facebook to find inspiration but there I was...you just never know right? While cat videos and recipe demonstrations don't tend to make inspire, a recent video of an emu and ostrich reacting to a "weasel ball" … Continue reading Conflict…and the Ostrich
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Think of a Conflict…
"Think of a conflict that's on your mind right now. It can be anything but let me warn you, we'll probably talk about the conflict in this workshop, and this isn't group therapy. Maybe don't choose the biggest baddest thing you have on your mind..." I often start my workshops with a question like this, … Continue reading Think of a Conflict…
Millennial Madness
Yesterday during a community workshop I hosted, the challenges of working with and managing millennials came up as a specific conflict at one table. We were exploring the idea of conflict styles and whether/how our natural styles for managing conflict were working (or not working) for the variety of people in the room and their … Continue reading Millennial Madness
When Your (Relational) Pipes Leak, Who do You Call?
When you have a problem with your pipes, you call a plumber. When you have a problem with your colleagues, neighbor, spouse, etc., who do you call?
I Love You the Way You Are But…
The new year provides us with a predictable, sometimes relentless opportunity to look back on one year and resolve to do something differently in the year to come. A ridiculous number of these resolutions don't last long but for these first few weeks, we find ourselves renewed with hope and commitment. We invent versions of … Continue reading I Love You the Way You Are But…
White Elephants, Capuchens, and Human Behavior
When you receive a gift, what do you expect? Given the wrapping etc. most gifts are a surprise but that doesn't mean we don't have certain expectations for them. We hope for something thoughtful, useful, or beautiful. We hope to not have to feign gratitude over something we immediately can't wait to get rid of. … Continue reading White Elephants, Capuchens, and Human Behavior
Lifetime Benefits of Siblings
This story on the long term benefits of siblings from science writer Robin Marantz Henig on NPR recently grabbed my attention. Perhaps it was Thanksgiving and the recent push of additional family time, perhaps its moving back to Colorado and simply seeing my siblings more often than I used to, perhaps its watching my … Continue reading Lifetime Benefits of Siblings
But What’s the Story?
The last few days have brought more than their fair share of unexpected loss in our communities. As a world, we are still reeling from an uptick in horrific terrorist attack and squabbling about how to move forward. Closer to home, we recently learned that a friend from Oregon was killed in a hit and … Continue reading But What’s the Story?
Volunteering to Connect
Today, I'm really struck thinking about connection. This might be a bit rambling but let me try to explain. Last week I boldly did what few of my peers have braved to do...I went (basically) without an Internet connection for an entire week! We had just moved into our new house and our new Internet … Continue reading Volunteering to Connect
How much structure do we actually need?
I met a teacher friend for lunch today and, as always, it got me to thinking a lot. We are both in a transition phase. My friend is retiring from a successful career as a teacher, coach, and principal while I find myself in between careers, homes, and more. Given these big shifts, we spent … Continue reading How much structure do we actually need?
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