Reading Time: 2 minutes Rethinking Kindness: Actions vs. Thoughts We often emphasize kindness in our interactions with others, but how often do we extend that same grace to ourselves? The truth is, many of us are far kinder to others than we are to ourselves. Several days ago, I read a quote by well-known author James Clear, which caught …
Reading Time: 3 minutes Ever felt like it’s too late to change your life? Think again. Last week, I listened to an intriguing podcast interview with Sarah Sarkis, a psychologist, writer, and performance consultant. She shared a powerful story about how, at 55, her mother separated from her husband and completely reinvented herself. This taught Sarah a critical lesson: …
Reading Time: 6 minutes According to James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, “Genes do not determine your destiny. They determine your areas of opportunity.” We all possess personality traits we were born with, natural areas of strength and weakness. These natural abilities don’t lock us into a defined future but are areas we can consciously build on. “The …
Reading Time: 3 minutes Image is all-important in our social media culture. People regularly post carefully curated photos on Facebook and Instagram to project the image they want others to have of them. They select images that say, “Look how exciting my life is,” “Look at what a wonderful family I have,” or “Look at how cool I am.” …
Reading Time: 4 minutes What you allow into your mind makes a difference in your life, positive or negative. “You’re only going to be as good as the stuff you surround yourself with.” Austin Kleon, writing in Steal Like An Artist.“ We’ve all heard the old saying, “Garbage in, garbage out.” If we fill our minds with mental garbage, …
Reading Time: 4 minutes Too often, we let others define success for us. It’s “better to thrive at what you’re wired to do than to aspire to something that others tell you that you should want.” Daily Creative: Find Your Inspiration to Spark Creative Energy and Fight Burnout, by Todd Henry. Last week, my wife and I watched the …
Reading Time: 4 minutes We’re in Panic Mode! As I write this, my wife and I are in panic mode. We’ve been talking for some time about moving from our home in Phoenix, AZ to Rapid City, SD. Last month we spent several days in the Rapid City area, taking a hard look at it as potential residents. We’d …
Reading Time: 3 minutes When we discuss intentional living, we typically discuss topics like relationships and work. However, we can also be intentional in creating the type of environment we’re the most comfortable living in — our homes. Clutter Stresses Me Out Some people seem to enjoy living with lots of clutter, but that’s not me. I feel more …
Reading Time: 3 minutes In today’s quote, Adam Grant writes, “As consumers of information, we have a role to play in embracing a more nuanced point of view. When we’re reading, listening, or watching, we can learn to recognize complexity as a signal of credibility. We can favor content and sources that present many sides.” In our fast-paced world, …
Reading Time: < 1 minute Yesterday on his weekly podcast and report to MacSparky Labs members, David Sparks made a media recommendation — the movie “Spirited” on Apple TV+. When we were done with dinner, I suggested to my wife that we might want to watch it. She wasn’t sure about it, and I wasn’t either. I said, “Let’s watch …