A Pivotal Moment in a Major Life Transition I experienced an awkward moment at a women’s event when someone asked for my business card. I had recently ended my 30-plus year career, didn’t have a current business card, and when asked what I did, I didn’t know quite how to answer. Without my business card, I had no job title, company, address, or contact information. I felt invisible without my career identity. I responded, “I recently retired.” This answer often stops the conversation cold or elicits benign responses such as “must be nice”, or “oh, I could never retire”. Then the conversation quickly shifts. The better conversationalists ask a second…
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7 Things I Learned in Dealing with My Anxiety
How are you feeling these days? Lethargic? Unable to focus? Anxious? Depressed? Or pretty well considering….? I’ve gone through roller-coaster days of “general, nonspecific grief” over the loss of so much I had taken for granted. Now I’m struggling with anxiety, including clenched teeth, middle of the night “busy brain”, over-eating, and oh-those-so-snarky comments. I’ve managed my anxiety over the years with meditation, journaling, and regular exercise, which all help. But….the pandemic-related issues, social unrest, concern for my family, California wildfires and poor air quality have overwhelmed me. I know I’m not alone. All my usual anxiety-reducing good habits just weren’t working. So…. I dug deeper to explore, learn and…
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It Takes Curiosity and Courage to Have a Good Conversation
Remember a year ago, when we sat down with someone and had a face-to-face conversation? Doesn’t that feel like decades ago? I appreciate meaningful conversations, now more than ever since the pandemic has disrupted our everyday life connections. Technologies, such as video-calls are helping, but I still find it challenging to connect with those I care about. Conversations are where I sort things out, laugh at life’s funny moments, and occasionally cry over a friend’s losses, and make some sense of the events unfolding in our world. Getting beyond “How are you?” Have you noticed how conversation usually starts with “how are you?” And the typical response is “fine.” This is an…
