Barbara Brooks created Flamingo Strategies LLC to help clients stand up and stand out, through telling and sharing their stories of impact and purpose.
Hacking Away at Happiness is her blog.
All in Life
So here we are at Thanksgiving. Appreciating our plenty. Acknowledging the people we love. But it’s also okay to feel a bit afraid.
I packed in a hurry because I’m a girl who beats deadlines. And I’m an editor, so I knew I’d have other chances to crystallize my thinking.
For us mere mortals, to stick the landing means to complete a process in an impressive and conclusive manner. So, how can we land squarely the next time we’re lost in space?
When I got Greta, I imagined she’d be the best dog of my life. But that’s a lot of pressure to put on a dog. And even more to put on myself.
Conflicting desires make peace of mind seem impossible, especially as we age. But longing is what makes us human. And without our longings, we’d be numb.
Maybe we all need to do things that make our heart pound. Dive deep enough—or climb high enough—that we have to truly focus in order to stay alive.
Last-time meditation is the perfect gratitude practice for our time. Because we have so much. And we never know when things may change.
This year, I forgot about Halloween. Until a pack of kids and their parents came to the door. I froze. Then, this morning I remembered why Halloween is so hard.
Whether our trips are long or short, to the beach or to the mountains, solo or with others, we’ve got to make time to unpack. And not just the dirty clothes.
If I’m not not careful—if I’m not aware of what I’m doing—I’ll not only ruin the rest of my time in Solana Beach, I’ll also ruin the imperfectly perfect life I have in Denver.
Serial daters aren’t so bad. Here’s a spoon in cheek guide to recognizing the real culprits. They’re the cereal daters. Perhaps you know a few.
Smart people like to know stuff. We talk a lot. Go many places. Read many things. We write down our thoughts and share them.
Over the past six weeks a lot has changed. Maybe that’s why we all need a puppy. To help us notice change. To help us lose control. And to see it all as growth.
Even when we notice the cues, the real work still lies ahead. As we search for certainty, a sign can only get our attention. It can’t tell us what to do.
A trickle charger maintains the perfect balance of power. It puts energy in at the same rate it’s draining out. It’s slow going, but it’s better in the long run for battery health.
My current streak on Wordle is 41 days. So what? How about we take a peek at our streaks? Be sure they’re serving us well.
If we don’t have actual Shabbat candles, we kindle tea lights. Or birthday candles. We hold up Bic lighters. Or nothing at all. We make it up as we go along.
It’s hard to celebrate this calendar turn as either Happy or New. So, instead of staging a hollow celebration—or ignoring the day altogether—why not open our hearts and forgive?
I bumbled around looking for a match, but frustration set in. The heads were too boxy. The legs too short. Some pups were born too early. Others already were taken.
The central issues of our lives, from falling in love to facing death, require an ability to surrender that often eludes us.
