Oregon Trail crossing site at Rock Creek Station State Historical Park near Fairbury, NE.
Quick Note on Listening to Your Body
Your body is a fantastic piece of organic machinery. It knows when something’s wrong or just a little off. If you pay attention, you’ll know when your body’s telling you that: Your body has ways of communicating its needs to you. Are you listening? If you don’t already, learn to pay attention to your body’s…
Photo Friday: Homestead National Park
Homestead National Park is near Beatrice, NE
Quick Note: It’s Not About You
Did someone give you the finger while you were out driving? How about the eye roll from your server when you last went out for coffee? It’s easy to get offended. You might be tempted to react or vent to someone about it later on. Maybe take it for a grain of salt and realize…
Photo Friday (a day late): Arbor Day
Arbor Lodge Mansion in Nebraska City where it all started. Happy Arbor Day.
Quick Note on Your Impeccable Word
If you’ve read don Miguel Ruiz’s book The Four Agreements, you might recall the phrase, “Be impeccable with your word.” Ruiz argues it’s the most important agreement. He states that with your word, you can go in one direction and strive for excellence. You can act with integrity, love yourself and others, or show your creativity to…
Quick Note on Seizing the Chance
Think about the last time you thought, “I should give so-and-so a call. It’s been a while.” Did you follow through? What if you never again had the chance to let that person know how loved they are or what they mean to you? If there’s a person you’re thinking of right now, put down…
Photo Friday: April is National Humor Month
Loosen up a little during National Humor Month! Share funny quotes, memorable memes, or your brand of dark humor with someone who’ll appreciate it.
Quick Note on Compartmentalization
Psychologists talk about compartmentalization as a way to cope with cognitive dissonance. It’s when we mentally separate feelings or thoughts that clash with each other to avoid discomfort. However, compartmentalization is not always a bad thing. You might need to compartmentalize to function or take care of something important. Suppose you’re recovering from the recent…
5 Ways to Formulate and Master and Professional Development Plan
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash Happy Tuesday, Everyone! Here’s another great guest post from Real Life Home. Growth is part of life, but many professionals forget that it’s part of careers, too. Even if you’re making strides in terms of earnings or job titles, a professional development plan gives you new and rewarding challenges to master….
Quick Note on When to Ask
A task can seem daunting if you’re unsure how to do it. If so, ask someone for help. Or get your boss to give you more detailed instructions. As a freelancer, I work mainly with clients. If I get stuck on something, I email the person who ordered the work to get more clarification or…
Quick Note on Doing It Now
Suppose you’re sitting on the couch watching TV (or reading this blog). You suddenly remember something you need to do—pay a bill, water your plant, respond to that email, file that tax document you got in the mail, whatever. If you can do something in less than a minute, do it . . . Ummm, now would…
Photo Friday: Something Else Besides a St. Patrick’s Day Reference
At least there’s some green!
Quick Note on the Bigger Life
When faced with a significant decision, sometimes big-picture thinking is the way to go. To stay true to your goal, which course of action will serve you better? According to Gretchen Rubin, if you want to achieve your true desire, choose the bigger life. There are no right or wrong answers, just those that correspond with…
Photo Friday: International Bagpipe Day
Read more about this fascinating instrument!
Quick Note on Owning Your Mistakes
You can’t be perfect. In your personal relationships and professional life, you will eventually mess up, no matter how hard you try not to. If you mess up, fess up and own up. If the mistake was indeed yours, don’t try to hide it, lie about it, or blame someone else. Just own it. To…
Photo Friday: Moscow Mule Day
It’s Moscow Mule Day! This is one observance I can get behind. Go to allrecipes.com to learn how to prepare and serve Moscow mules.
Quick Note on Going for the Heart
Whether writing your first novel or opening the bakery you’ve always dreamed of, you want that hard work and time equity to pay off. Maybe you hope for a monetary return on your investment, or you think it would be nice to get some recognition for what you’re going to accomplish. It’s great to have…
A Quick Note on Not Taking It Personally
Was someone short with you yesterday? Did your best friend snap at you for no apparent reason? Sometimes you can’t explain other people’s moods or reactions to you. If you’re the sensitive type, it can be challenging to separate yourself from how others might act toward you. I have some good news. Unless you were…
A Quick Note on Productivity
When pursuing your goals, do you sometimes humble-brag about how “busy” you are? It’s easy to get caught up in busy work and to feel like the days need to be longer. Maybe you get trapped into spending disproportionate time making lists, checking off to-do items, or clearing out your email. Those activities aren’t necessarily…
A Quick Note on “What Do You Do?”
When I’m at a networking event (which is rare these days), I get that here we go feeling when someone turns to me, gives me the up-and-down look, and asks, “So, what do you do?” That’s “life’s most dangerous question,” according to Joshua Fields Millburn. In reality, that person might be asking: How do you earn a paycheck?…
A Quick Note on Mistakes
It’s easy to feel like a failure when you make a big mistake. Any time a blunder results in a significant setback, it’s easy to want to kick yourself. However, no mistake, no matter how huge, justifies self-loathing. There’s a mantra I often tell myself: You only fail when you quit. A mistake is no big deal in…
Photo Friday:
Spread a little cheer on National Random Acts of Kindness Day!
A Quick Note on Microbreaks
When I worked my office jobs, I looked forward to going out to lunch. But I always felt a twinge of guilt about it when some of my colleagues humble-bragged about having to eat at their desks because, you know, they were “sooooooooooo swamped!” However, taking breaks, especially small ones, is not a sign of…
Photo Friday: National Umbrella Day
Go for a little shade today!
A Quick Note: Choose Your Friends Wisely
The people you surround yourself with can support you and your dreams. They can also drive you off the rails. I’m not talking about casual friends, acquaintances, or work colleagues with whom you share less consequential moments. Instead, it’s those folks you count among your inner circle that matter the most. Not everyone deserves your…
Quick Note: Get Better at Remembering Names
When meeting someone new, I have a terrible habit of forgetting their name just seconds after they introduce themselves. It’s something I’m trying to change because remembering people’s names is good for building personal and professional connections. It’s easier for someone to like you if you address them by name. If this minor mental lapse…
Photo Friday: Have Fun at Work Day
National Have Fun at Work Day falls on the last Friday in January. Enjoy!
Quick Note: When You Know Better, Do Better
Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Perfection can be the enemy of good, great, or excellent. When you mess up, recognize your mistake, fix what you can, and move on. And try to avoid making the same mistake again. Don’t worry that…
Photo Friday: Take a Walk Outdoors Day
It’s Take a Walk Outdoors Day! Let these “warm” images inspire you during the cold months.
Quick Note: Keep Going
Perseverance can be the one thing that gets you to the finish line or just over the next hurdle. If you lack money, energy, motivation, or hope, deciding to stick with something means you’re not giving up. If you’ve received rejection after rejection, persevere. After so many “no” answers, you’ll eventually get a “yes” if…
Photo Friday: National Blame Someone Else Day
Some people use the first Friday the 13th of the year to blame someone else. It might be a go-to tactic if you’re superstitious.
Quick Note: Do the Scary Thing
Life can be full of icky, uncomfortable, and demoralizing—but necessary–activities that fill us with dread. Being an adult means having to face things that are unpleasant or downright scary: Scheduling a dental checkup after a couple of years away Having that difficult conversation to end a relationship Organizing paperwork for tax season Tackling a household…
Photo Friday: National Cuddle Up Day
Today is National Cuddle Up Day!
Quick Note: Own Your Day
Think about the last time you reached the end of the day and wondered how time got away from you. How likely is it that it could happen again today? Despite what you have going on, take the day and make it your own. This is about maintaining productivity. You can remain productive during the…
Hate New Year’s Resolutions? Try a Different Approach
Another year has arrived, and you might be thinking of making a change. Want to lose weight? Considering giving Dry January a try? The new year often reminds us of changes we want to complete. Therefore, making a New Year’s resolution might seem like the logical thing to do. However, does the idea make you groan? Do…
Quick Note: Don’t Wait Until You’re Ready
If you’re telling yourself that you’ll act when you’re ready, you’ll be waiting forever. There’s no perfectly convenient time to get out of your joy-crushing situation. If you keep waiting for the time when you’ll be really ready, you’ll remain stuck. Perhaps you’re worried that you don’t have every potential contingency figured out. While it’s essential to plan…
Photo Friday: Army National Guard’s Birthday
Photo courtesy of http://www.sandboxx.us On this day in 1636, the National Guard, a branch of the U.S. Army, was established.
Quick Note: Persistence
It can be hard to keep going if you feel stuck in a rut or can’t seem to make something work. You can easily overlook what you have accomplished when you brood too long on your setbacks. Roadblocks are inevitable. Sometimes you might feel like a failure, but that’s only true if you quit. As…
Quick Note: Take Time to Zone Out
When you’re staring down a problem and can’t seem to move beyond it, purposefully zone out. If you let your mind wander, you might stumble upon a solution. Research suggests that mentally pulling away can boost your creativity. You can also pull yourself away from the immediate task and focus on something else. That problem will…
Quick Note: Just Breathe–Expectations vs. Reality
Just breathe. When I typically see or hear this phrase, I roll my eyes. If you feel the same way, I understand. But before you dismiss this thought as some “eat pray love” BS, hear me out. When you’re feeling anxious, desperate, or up against a wall, sometimes the best thing to do is take…
unsettled essence 