(How to Protect Your Good Mood) We’re all works in progress. Every day we take steps to improve our lives. We study hard to get a good job.We work hard to earn a promotion.We exercise to stay fit and feel good.We pay attention to what we eat and drink to improve our health.We meditate and practice mindfulness to stay in the moment, be intentional with our thoughts and feelings, and nurture an attitude of gratitude. Yet as much as we work on ourselves, we don’t live in a bubble.We’re constantly buffeted by winds of change and chance. Things don’t always
You know how people say that long-time married couples start to look alike as the years go by? I think that’s happening with my dog and me. It’s not just appearances—we share mannerisms, habits, even likes and dislikes. Weird, right? I rescued Aspen, my half Siberian Husky, half Golden Retriever mix, 12 years ago when he was about a year old. Now at 13, he still looks great! People stop me on walks, surprised when they hear his age, impressed by his good looks, attitude, pep, and strength. At 61, I feel much the same—peppy, strong, and (mostly) positive. I
Lately I’ve noticed how quickly conversations snap into right/wrong. Certainty feels safe, and it rarely moves us forward. Progress usually happens in the humble space of “what if.” What if your way of thinking is just that—your way of thinking?What if other people approach the same thing differently—and validly?What if you’re absolutely convinced you’re right?What if you agree there are moral absolutes and still see gray areas where reasonable people disagree?What if considering viewpoints beyond your own makes you anxious because you “know” you’re right?What if you try—really try—to step into someone else’s shoes?What if you start to see their