I was surprised by the emotion that welled up inside me while writing my last two blogs.  Retelling a story of so long ago, yet today it still brought tears to my eyes and heart.   What is that emotion still lingering?  What is it telling me today?   I’m sure you’ve noticed, there are… Continue reading Lingering Emotions

So all is well that ends well right? I did follow Alex to Arizona for college.  He went to the University of Arizona in Tuscon and I went to Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe.  This choice I made from my gut and a knowing that ASU was the exact right place for me.  Change… Continue reading A Distinct Memory Continued…

So how did I get this way? Thinking back there is one very vivid and distinct memory I have of choosing niceness at my own expense. I was young, a sophomore in high school and there was this guy that really liked me.  We’ll call him Alex.  We “dated” for a short time at the… Continue reading A Distinct Memory

Today I find myself thinking about the benefits of being nice and how I have matured in my way of thinking about it.  There is definitely an upside to being nice!   At work, being nice makes me a more approachable co-worker.  Approachability at work can translate into some very real advantages.  In particular: trust,… Continue reading The Upside of Nice

So step one: Where am I currently at with this niceness/boundary thing?   As my recent plane experience clued me in on, I am not as strong as I would like to be when it comes to setting my own boundaries or speaking up for the fear I might come across as not nice. Until now,… Continue reading Where I Am

When it comes to moving these so called bricks, where do I begin?   My typical method of helping myself through a struggle is to seek the wisdom of others.  I start by talking with trusted family members, friends, and colleagues about what I am struggling with and listen intently to what they have to… Continue reading Breaking the Process Mold

One thing I have learned this past year from my coach, Kris Plachy, is that sometimes just noticing something about myself – a behavior, belief or pattern – is enough to get me to change it (if it’s something I think I need to change). Awareness is powerful. Sometimes it is all you need. Other… Continue reading Moving Bricks

If I am going to redefine niceness for myself, I thought I should check out the actual definition of the word ‘nice’ first.  I like starting with the basics. I have to admit in the moments leading up to my google search I was secretly hoping for some deep, inspiring and perhaps exotic definition that would make… Continue reading The Definition of ‘Nice’

I was on a plane to Hawaii with 8 glorious hours ahead of pure “me time.”  Time to listen to my favorite podcasts, read the two books I brought along and journal if I felt up to it.  I usually don’t look forward to long plane rides but for a woman with a husband, two kids,… Continue reading What Got Me Started…