What I’ve Been Up To Lately
A couple of times each year, I post about what I've been doing. Maybe social media has trained me to flirt with TMI-mode, but I think it's because when I work with my clients, I learn so much about what goes on their world that giving people a glimpse into mine feels right.
My New Office
I love, love, love my new office! Virginia Wolff is whispering in my ear that it's okay to want a room of one's own. Okay, maybe she's not, but somehow I've given myself permission to embrace this space.
I swoon over the character of the house, a stalwart brick two-story home that has a formal name "Golding-Dwyre," which I promptly Googled and came up short. Despite its elusive history, finding it remains one of my highlights of 2017. Right now, my little office is sparsely furnished, but I have plans to add a few things in the coming months.
A Sad Loss
My 14-year-old Lab died in September. Her health had been declining over the past year, so we had hints that she was nearing the end of her life. That didn't make it easy, but we did get to say goodbye to her and be with her at the end.
Her full name: Darla, the Love Slut. I adopted her as a 5-month-old puppy, and when I met her, I felt such a strong connection to her that I convinced my reluctant husband that getting a puppy when we had a toddler and a kindergartener was a brilliant plan (and it certainly was!). It was only after we'd had her for a few months that I realized she had the magnetic, you're-the-most-amazing-person-in-the-WORLD!!! energy for almost everyone she met. She was a special being, and she spread love far and wide.
Best Winter Vacation Ever
My mom and sis flew out from the east coast to visit just after the calendar turned to 2018, and we took the train from Denver to Glenwood Springs, six hours of scenic splendor. There are canyons that the train passes through that cannot be seen any other way (unless you're an elite kayaker, and even then, some spots are still inaccessible) - pristine wilderness that took my breath away. And at the end of the train ride, there were soaks in some awesome hot springs, a quaint hotel that makes everyone feel like they stepped into a time machine, and a town where it's fashionable to wear your bathrobe out and about.
Wading into Online Course Development
I spent a massive amount of time in December developing a course that's tentatively titled, "Get Your Job Search Mojo Back: For Job Seekers Who are 50+." It's been a massive undertaking with >25 lessons inside 8 modules. I'm just doggone proud of myself. It's a whole new world for me, and I'm almost done! It'll be ready to release soon (I hope!)
My Content Consumption
I'm a bit of an audio junkie, so here are some audiobooks and podcasts that I've adored in the past few months. Here's what's absorbing me recently:
Brene Brown's Braving the Wilderness. I got to see Brene live in Portland when I visited a friend in September. I was like a middler schooler at a Bieber concert. Such wisdom - what I desperately needed (and continue to need) to hear.
Emotional Chaos to Clarity: How to Live More Skillfully, Make Better Decisions, and Find Purpose in Life by Phillip Moffitt. In November, I attended Phillip Moffitt's Transitions and Changes workshop in Boulder. What an extraordinary, transformative experience. His book has been a wonderful reminder to me of my learnings there.
Dear Sugars podcast. Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond, straight into my ear with wisdom and grace. These two. So wise.
Hidden Brain podcast. I often listen to this podcast with my 17-year-old daughter. It's something that captivates us both. An old episode, but one that endures as a favorite is You 2.0: How Silicon Valley Can Help You Get Unstuck. Dave Evans, co-writer of what I consider the modern version of What Color is Your Parachute, a book called Designing Your Life, is featured.
Thanks for reading my headlines and indulging me in my TMI flirtation.