Live Like There Is No Tomorrow
I have always been a person who tries living each day fully. It’s important to me to put in a solid day’s work, love like there is no tomorrow, have some fun (of course) and say what’s needed to be said to those in my life. As you know, it’s tough to stay on task. We’re all so busy, but focusing on what’s truly important is critical for true...
Continue ReadingChange is Inevitable – Happiness is Optional
I’m certainly not the type of person who would encourage any individual to stop reading or watching the news, but sometimes the information is so negative that I believe you have to put on a filtering cloak of optimism to make it through each day’s news cycle. I need a balance of unbiased, solid-reported, real news (and I’m aware that sometimes it is...
Continue Reading
What A Year!
I made a simple decision last year. I wanted to resolve to do something interesting and I wanted to make sure it wasn’t just a January fleeting moment — after all it was my 40th year on the planet. It was time to reach out of my comfort zone. Now, I’ve had resolutions before, and like many of you, I didn’t quite complete the quest. Whether it was to...
Continue ReadingFrom The Publisher: A Year of Powerful Personal Lessons
This has been an exciting year on so many levels and in so many areas of my complicated life. I really feel like I’ve learned a few things through the many ups and downs. To recap this year, I decided to jot down a few “aha moments” I’ve experienced in the following areas. Family life… Well, as many of you are aware, I was understandably anxious...
Continue ReadingFrom The Publisher: The Capital Area Provides the Perfect Place to Hold Myself Accountable
There’s a lot to be said about Lansing, isn’t there? I’ve always called it the biggest small town. I grew up in the Detroit area and although I would never put down where I came from, it simply doesn’t have the connectedness that I’ve come to really love here in our Capital city. I love that I can go almost anywhere and see someone I know. It’s...
Continue ReadingPersevere Under Pressure: Chaos can show your strength
Have you ever had something go wrong – terribly wrong? And, to top it off, it wasn’t your fault. You had no control over the situation, timing, others involved and the ultimate outcome. Let’s face it: things do not always go the way you plan. Most of the time, you don’t even see it coming. On really stressful days, when more than one problem occurs,...
Continue ReadingRoutines … not so bad after all
I think it’s fun that I can still have self-revelations at my age. I’m not talking about the physical ones. Yes, those are happening too, but I’m really talking about changes in behaviors, how I view the world and how I spend my time. I have always had obsessive tendencies. It’s not the obsessive nature of Monk or anything like that, but interesting...
Continue Reading
I’m changing — not jumping — in July
The days are flying by. It took me a while to begin writing this column — and not because I didn’t have anything to say (When does that happen?). It was more about the silent protest I was making regarding the fact that I already have to write a column for July. July? Seriously, it feels like I just jumped into the icy waters for the polar plunge in January...
Continue ReadingSpring Forward with Eco-Chic Flair
Sometimes we simply take things for granted. It’s so easy to just go about your merry old way trotting through life, not truly seeing or appreciating how we’re taken care of. Do you know what I mean? We just don’t pay attention to the details. I get it; the details can be hard to understand or seem boring on the surface, but it’s truly the minutia...
Continue ReadingBeauty Goes Beyond
There are so many clichés when it comes to being beautiful. It’s in the “eye of the beholder” or it’s “only skin deep.” I say that no matter what is on the outside, it shouldn’t compare to what’s on the inside. There are so many ways to show beauty in this world. I think it’s beautiful when I come to work and see people giving their...
Continue Reading
Perspective. Eat it up.
Each person is born viewing life from the same place. You need food, shelter and the loving arms of a caretaker. After those first few moments, we begin having experiences or enduring circumstances that shape our unique perspectives. How you’re treated, the schools you go to, the friends you make and the jobs you hold all impact the person you become. It’s...
Continue ReadingHappy Birthday, Baby!
I’m struggling to identify the perfect gift for my two-year-old … I know what you’re thinking. But I do have a baby. You’re holding her right now. She is two this month, and I’m ready to celebrate. December is always a month of celebration for me, but this occasion is especially gratifying. I can still remember the original discussion about launching...
Continue Reading



