Category Archives: Uncategorized

“I think tolerance and acceptance and love is something that feeds every community”

Lady Gaga

Song: What About My Plants? By Blushh

Article: You’re Doing Better Than You Think by Ozan Varol

Thought: Last week was Treefort Music Festival in Boise. I love this festival for the ways it brings our community together through music, art, food and joy. You meet amazing people and hear so much music. This year, I decided to volunteer at the festival, which only added to my devotion and admiration for how it brings us together. Over the last 10 years more than 3,000 people have volunteered their time, smiles and talents to make it a success. COVID tried to take this joy from us through isolation but Treefort reminded me you cannot lose community if you have common purpose – music, food, drinks, fun and acceptance. This festival shows who we are as “A City for Everyone.” Come join us in Boise for Treefort 11 next year; you won’t regret it.

“I think a lot of people want to be given permission to like art, because they think that there’s a whole set of rules.

There is not.”

Jen Bekman

Song: Last Day on Earth by Tai Verdes

Article: How Should We Celebrate Your Day? by Seth Godin

Thought: Seth Godin asks in his blog, “If today was a holiday in your honor, what would it be about?” For me, that day would be about doing something creative. I don’t just mean traditional art forms (e.g., painting, music, dance); I mean creative in its greater meaning. For me, creative means imagination, power, vulnerable, meaning, new way and unique. Sports figures are creatives. Engineers are creatives. Politicians are creatives. Teachers are creatives. YOU are a creative.

Try a new idea. Be uncomfortable. Solicit criticism by pushing the status quo. Practice vulnerability. What I want said about me is “He was creative and tried shit.” That’s the advice and legacy I hope to leave each day: Be Creative.

“The opportunity for creativity begins the moment we don’t know what we’re doing.”

Simon Sinek

Song: Sound of Change by Dirty Heads

Article: How to Overcome the Tyranny of Stuff by Robert Reich

Thought: It’s incredibly hard to find a moment to think. I can’t do it at home; too much laundry, too much Netflix, too much *everything*. I can’t really do it at work with the constant string of Teams messages, emails, meetings, and products. I was reminded where my moments happen: cycling. I used to cycle to work everyday and it gave me the time to work shit out. There’s no ability to multitask or get bored. My routes are familiar so my legs move automatically. The routine lets my mind free up to solve something in my life (e.g., relationship, work, idea). It takes awhile to settle in but once there, the solutions flow easily. I’m not the kind of person who can just grind out good stuff; I need space. What’s your thing where you find flow? How much time do you spend there?

“It’s better to go slowly in the right direction than go speeding off in the wrong direction.”

Simon Sinek

Song: Wait For It by Matt Copley

Article: How To Use Your Regrets For Good by Clay Skipper

Thought: “The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit” by my friend Amy Corriveau quoting Moliere. After some brief research, I’m not sure this quote is entirely science-based but I get it anyways. I’m not patient. I’m ready to move past hurt much faster than the trauma has healed. I’m ready to reconcile relationships quickly when I mess up whether or not they are ready. My world lives in “what have you done lately” with the next project, next proposal, and the next win. Reflecting, nothing meaningful I’ve done has happened fast lasted. That quote is a good reminder than fruit grows from both fast and slow growth but the fruit that’s worthwhile comes from the time to mature. There’s a reason aged spirits and cheese cost more. My new focus is to grow slow rather than grow more.

“It’s hard to beat somebody that never gives up”

Megan Rapinoe

Song: He Is The Same by Jon Bellion

Article: Difficult Problems by Seth Godin

Thought: I have a tattoo on my arm that says “EBFG”; it stands for Eternal Blue, Forever Green. It’s a reference to a supporters song of the Seattle Sounders, my football/soccer club. A new season is just beginning and some of my favorite memories are from the matches – marching together, singing and supporting together, and celebrating or mourning together. It might be just sports but the connection feels deeper. I’m amazed the impact of a singular, focused time has on the connection with other humans; could be a conference, a meeting, or a task. Focus and relationship drive humans working for the good of other humans.

Eternal Blue, Forever Green. Sounders Till I Die!

“The most dangerous stories we make up are the narratives that diminish our inherent worthiness. We must reclaim the truth about our lovability, divinity and creativity.”

Brené Brown

Song: Crazier Things by Chelsea Cutler

Article: The Healing Power of Vulnerability by Chris Peraro

Thought: The Help isn’t a new movie but one character and scene impacted me. Aibileen Clark says to Mae, “you is kind, you is smart, you is important.” I can’t help but think how amazing it would be to have “an Aibileen” tell me those words. How long would it take me to believe them them when I was scared or sad? Now I imagine that Aibileen is me – what do I tell me when I am scared or alone or hopeless? What’s the mantra that gets me through those moments and reminds me of my worth? I don’t need Aibileen; I just need me and my words.

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul”

John Muir

Song: Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Claire & The Reasons

Article: How Nature Can Make You Kinder, Happier and More Creative by Jill Suttie

Thought: I went snowshoeing over the weekend. There are really only two sounds you hear: crunching snow and your own breath. No hum of electronics or appliances. No airplanes or traffic. No music or TV. Even just and hour and a half was refreshing and reminded me how important it is to just listen. So much of my life these days is spent “doing something” with all kinds of audible distractions. It’s easy to forget what my breath and heartbeat sound like in the stillness of nature. Seek some time this week without noise to fill the space; what can you discover when you are forced to breathe and listen?

“Nothing influences people more than a recommendation from a trusted friend”

Mark Zuckerberg, terrible person

Song: Here We Go Again – Marshmello

Article: The wisdom within by Ozan Varol

Thought: Influencers aren’t experts. The consequences of watching a bad movie or buying a crappy coffee maker are pretty low because I read Amazon reviews. The consequence of making medical decisions based on singers, football players or podcasters is pretty high. Like maybe death. Just because I can influence people doesn’t mean I should. Consider where and how you choose to share your advice; it could be more than just a bad day for someone and might change their life permanently. When the consequences get high, find an expert.

“Forget regret, or life is yours to miss.”

Jonathan Larson

Song: Louder Than Words – Andrew Garfield et. al.

Article: Your mind is getting in the way by Ozan Varol

Thought: My theme of 2022 is Fear or Love? inspired by the musical tick, tick…BOOM! The Netflix musical tribute to Jonathan Larson (famous for Rent) and his dream was beautiful; it was hopeful, inspiring, foreboding joy, humorous, and painful. I won’t spoil your chance to experience that journey. This year, I will ask myself – is this fear or love? My actions will show my choice and I plan to choose love a lot. I don’t have time to chose fear. Love – knowing it might break me to pieces, knowing it might be lonely, knowing I’ve got more to give, and knowing its the courageous choice. The people in my life need my love and not my fear.

“Actions speak louder than words”

“We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?”

Steve Jobs

Song: Stellar by Incubus

Article: Lead by leading by Seth Godin

Thought: I’m a huge space nerd (Exhibit A: Space LEGOs in my living room). The last two weeks has been all about the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). JWST looks at the infrared spectrum to travel back in time to the universe’s beginnings (13.6 billion years ago). As the universe expands, the wavelength of light moves from ultraviolet and visible into infrared due to redshift (the light stretches as objects move away). So too with my light – it seems less visible than it once was. But it needs a telescope that looks at where I was (context) and where I’ve gone (growth). Looking at my origin shows the echos of my light; still here, but on a different wavelength needing a different tool to see.