Dec 7, 2022Member-only30 Gift Ideas Making Christmas More MeaningfulWhile I was doing some research, I came across an old McCalls article from December 1959. I know, how could something written more than 50 years ago possibly have anything relevant about Christmas today? …Christmas Gifts3 min readChristmas Gifts3 min read
Published inAn Idea (by Ingenious Piece)·Oct 17, 2021Member-onlyKindness MattersEvery once in a while, random acts of kindness warm my heart. Here is one you may have seen. A woman had been at the grocery store — a cart full of food at the checkout — when she realized she didn’t have her wallet. She apologized to the cashier…Kindness5 min readKindness5 min read
Published inAn Idea (by Ingenious Piece)·Oct 6, 2021Member-only3 Tips to Make Your Teaching Moments More PowerfulThe way others treat us, the environments we live in, and our choices influence us every day. We are learning from our situations and growing from our interactions. Whether we recognize it, we all can play a positive or negative role in those interactions. …Parenting Advice4 min readParenting Advice4 min read
Published inAn Idea (by Ingenious Piece)·Apr 20, 2021Member-only4 Tips for Conquering Your Fears“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. …Fear Of Failure6 min readFear Of Failure6 min read
Published inAn Idea (by Ingenious Piece)·Mar 26, 2021Member-onlyThe Benefits of Being Fiercely LoyalWhen I came across the phrase “Fiercely Loyal” and I immediately thought of our dog, Griffin. Most dogs are known for their loyalty to their master, but our dog was what we considered to be fiercely loyal. He used to sit on the back of our couch with the most…Loyalty4 min readLoyalty4 min read
Mar 12, 2021Member-onlyHow to Make Easter More MeaningfulWhen the kids were little, it was a real struggle to help them see beyond the bunny and candy to understand what Easter was really about. I always tried to be purposeful in the way we celebrated the Holiday. …Easter6 min readEaster6 min read
Published inMind Cafe·Mar 6, 2021Member-only5 Steps to a Stress DetoxWhen you’re feeling stress levels on the rise, here are a few tips to keep it a little more manageable. — Stress is rush hour traffic when you’re late, an argument with a family member, or persistent employment worries. It’s the unknowns of a medical diagnosis, the demands of caring for an aging parent, or the looming stack of overdue bills. While our triggers may be different, any situation we perceive…Stress4 min readStress4 min read
Published inAn Idea (by Ingenious Piece)·Feb 21, 2021Member-onlyHow to Navigate our Feelings and Emotional BalanceEmotions are powerful, and understanding how to navigate our feelings is one of the most useful things we can learn. Their influence over us is impressive, and when we recognize their driving power, we can leverage that knowledge to make the changes we want in ourselves and our lives. Thoughts…Emotional Intelligence7 min readEmotional Intelligence7 min read
Published inAn Idea (by Ingenious Piece)·Feb 9, 2021Member-onlyYou’ll Never Have This Day Again, 5 Tips to Make Today CountI love the message of Tim McGraw’s song “Live Like You Were Dying.” Have you ever listened carefully to the words? My take away? — each day is a gift and we have but one chance to make it count. I’ve long been a collector of words. In high school…Motivation4 min readMotivation4 min read
Published inMind Cafe·Jan 31, 2021Member-onlyHow Belief Can Reshape Your Thought ProcessesWhat we think, we become. — It was around Christmas time when I received a “BELIEVE” sign as a gift from a friend. My oldest daughter soon claimed it as her own, and she hung it proudly above her bed. While the sign may have been intended to inspire a belief in Santa or the general…Self Confidence8 min readSelf Confidence8 min read
