Relationships & family
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Monday, June 29th, 2009
We were 20 feet off the ground, suspended among the treetops in a dense forest in Western Massachusetts.
My little girl looked up. “Daddy,” she said, “I’m scared…”
She just turned 8, so I wasn’t surprised. What did surprise me, though, was that 30-minutes and 6 stations into her first ever high-ropes course, this was the first time she voiced her fear. She’d pretty much flown through every challenge, scampering across wire bridges, floating block ladders and navigating itty bitty platforms wrapped around trees high above the earth without a hint of hesitation.
Is Gifted and Talented a Life Sentence
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
I recently finished reading a book that blew me away, called Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
Unlike so many other books that have the words “mindset” and “success” in the title, this was a serious book that steered clear of pop psychology and soundbites and offered a simple, yet astonishingly empowering concept that will forever change the way I approach challenges…and teach my daughter to do the same.
It’s not based not on abstract metaphysics, but on hardcore research conducted by the author, Stanford University Professor and acclaimed developmental psychology researcher, Carol Dweck, Ph.D. The fundamental idea was that, from the time we are little kids, we approach challenge with one of two mindsets:
Give Me a Break: Are You Busy For a Reason?
Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
I see it all around me. And, yeah, lately, I’ve fallen prey to it, myself…
I’m the guy who’s usually insanely effective at focusing in on what I want, plotting a course, then doing anything and everything to make it happen. I’m “That Renegade Guy.” Got a cape and everything.
So, I’ve been wondering “what’s up with me?” lately.
Damned if it doesn’t suck just a little bit when you’re confronted with your own humanity and fallibility. Turns out, I’m great at giving everyone else a break…not so good when it comes to me.
Are You Asking the Wrong Questions?
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
When I was down in Austin for SXSW back in March, I had the privilege of being interviewed for a very cool indy film called Life In Perpetual Beta, produced and directed by blogger, mom and all-around cool person, Melissa Pierce.
While the movie is still in production, Melissa’s been doing the very 2.0 thing and posting interview segments on the movie’s blog, so people can participate in the entire process. And, guess what…she just posted a decent chunk of mine. So, I thought I’d share it with you guys here, because toward the end, I answer that age old question - Are you asking the wrong questions?
How Do You Handle Change In The First 30 Days?
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
When I first heard about the book, The First 30 Days, by Ariane de Bonvoisin, I was intrigued…
Maybe it was due to my longstanding interest in Buddhism or because the central message resonates so closely with one of my favorite books, Comfortable With Uncertainty by Pema Chodron.
Fact is, about the only thing we know for sure is that life is uncertain.
Change is a regular part of the process. Sometimes we see it coming and embrace what it’s bringing. Other times, we’re blindsided and hope desperately to sidestep it’s impact.
Nobody Completes You
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009
It was an iconic moment…
Jerry McGuire, played by Tom cruise, walks into a room full of women and professes his love to Dorothy Boyd, played by Rene Zellweger, saying, “you complete me.” Dorothy, in tears, walks into his arms as she reveals, “you had me at hello,” while the audience stands, claps madly and cheers triumphantly.
It was a magic moment. Too bad it was based on a lie…
Are You an M.O. Snob?
Friday, April 3rd, 2009
I write really slowly. Always have. Which became a problem back in law school…
In the first year of law school, your grade for an entire year in many classes is based on a single exam. And, most exams were essay. Old school, handwritten, blue-book style. The exam would offer a 10-page fact-pattern scenario, followed by a single question that read:
Please identify every potential cause of action, the parties involved, the arguments on both sides, the applicable laws, then resolve each one and explain your reasoning.
ACK!!!
Are You Open And Deep?
Monday, March 23rd, 2009Something went down at South By Southwest last week that you probably didn’t hear about.
And, it involved well-known bloggers, Chris Brogan and Naomi Dunford…
It was the first Friday of the conference and, like most other days, 6pm rolled around and everyone gathered around a local bar. The crowd, on this occasion, poured out onto the street, along with me and a bunch of newly met friends. A quick glance over my shoulder revealed uber-blogger and social media dude (don’t call him an expert), Chris Brogan. I turned to say a quick hi and we chatted for a minute.
Annoyed or Blessed, You Choose
Thursday, February 26th, 2009
So, I was watching Good Will Hunting with my wife the other night…
And, there was a part where Robin Williams’ character, a worn-out, sharp-witted, yet deeply intuitive and loving therapist named Sean, is counseling the brilliant, yet emotionally withdrawn Will Hunting. Sean’s wife, we learned, passed two years earlier after an extended bout with cancer.
The following exchange ensues…
Sean: My wife used to fart when she was nervous. She had all sorts of wonderful little idiosyncrasies. She used to fart in her sleep. I thought I’d share that with you. One night it was so loud it woke the dog up. She woke up and went ‘ah was that you?’ And I didn’t have the heart to tell her. Oh!
Santa Ain’t No Bigot?
Friday, December 26th, 2008
I have to admit, I never played it out this far…
But, Wednesday night, I found myself helping my daughter put out cookies and milk for Santa. Problem is…we’re Jewish.
Here’s how it went down.
I was raised in a household that was one part free-loving hippie, one part Jewish, one part academic and one part art rebel. My wife was raised Jewish, but celebrated Christmas, out of respect for her Roman Catholic dad…and her chance to double down on presents.
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