When Stupid, Ugly Numbers Freak You Out

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Deirdre Maloney

So I got my credit card statement yesterday. Immediately my heartbeat picked up speed. After all, my spending has been a bit…shall we say…active during my recent travels. And so I did what many of us would do. I shut my eyes and willed it to go away. Which, of course, didn’t work. It was easy to freak out. After all, I’d allowed myself to live in blissfu...

The Seemingly-Virtuous, Often-Dangerous Word We All Use Now and Then

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Deirdre Maloney

What I’m about to say might irritate you. And I’ve decided that this is okay, as long as you’re willing to hear my point all the way through. It begins with a few thoughts on Barcelona, a city where I’ve lived in for nearly two months. It’s a delightful place, a place filled with endless sunshine… …sunshine which, I must say, can get a bit annoying. Becau...

I Now Pronounce You Happy

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Deirdre Maloney

No doubt about it…these last few months spent overseas have been chock full of unexpected experiences. Take, for example, my recent participation in Barcelona's fire-throwing parade, and the moment I realized that actual fire was about to be thrown my way. The good news is that not every unexpected experience has been about escaping death. Instead, sever...

Don’t Worry…Be Crappy

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Deirdre Maloney

Life is a humbling thing, yes? I speak from years of experience, which have included plenty of moments that wound up…shall we say…imperfectly. Unsuccessful. Perhaps a bit embarrassing. (Followers of this blog will be keenly aware of this.) Take, for example, my recent efforts to learn yoga...where even the simplest-seeming pose came out like this: Or ta...

What to do about Life’s Little Stinks

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Deirdre Maloney

The day began on a high note. Not only were we about to take a bike tour that would explore the beautiful fields of France’s seemingly endless vineyards, but – perhaps more importantly - we’d also get to try out the wine. And while the tour did indeed begin with lots of bright smiles… …it ended with a significantly more awkward one. It ended at the ho...

How to Kill a Conversation

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Deirdre Maloney

Conversations drive our lives. They mean everything. Yet we all face the temptation to do something every day - sometimes several times each day - to mess them up. I dare you to tell me the following hasn’t happened to you. You’re in the midst of a conversation and someone else is speaking and – BAM! – you are hit with a brilliant point. But the other pe...