How to Deal with Your Whole Lotta Nothing

So recently life got kind of…funky. The schedule, the business, the personal stuff... …all funky. Work projects got all bunched together, with odd, quiet stretches in-between. Same thing with my writing projects. And travel. And personal engagements. And good books. The result? Clusters of weeks where life sped along at an almost chaotic pace. Which...
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When Life Laughs at Your Best Laid Plans

This month found me exploring the country of Japan for the first time. Those of you who know me won’t be surprised to learn that I did a whole lot of planning…or, as I lovingly called it, “Japlanning”…in the months leading up to the trip.  And that Japlanning paid off. Mostly. There were a few moments, however, when things didn’t quite go according ...
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The Number One Way to Get What You Want

So…there’s an interesting trend to report in the life of Deirdre. At first it might sound like it’s the high-and-mighty variety, but I promise you it’s not. The trend? People tend to give me things I want. A few examples: The guy in front of me at Starbucks let me go ahead of him in line because I was in a hurry (and he had a loooong list of drink...
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The Super-Simple, Super-Awesome Word that Makes You Happier, Less Stressed, and Less Disappointed in Life

Recently I took a trip to the poker table. Actually, I took a return trip to the poker table. You see, I used to play a lot of poker tournaments. A lot. In fact, I played in the World Poker Tour. (Note: Just kidding. I’m totally posing in front of the official backdrop after the real players went inside.) Several years ago, I took a prolonged...
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How Your Big Goal May Be Holding You Back

Yesterday found me at a beloved spot in good old Southern California: the beach. Ah yes, the beach. Whether on a lake, the banks of the river or the Pacific Ocean…most of us have experienced that magical strip of sand that meets some body of water and extricates a bit of joy from deep down. Most of us have also discovered the other truth about the beach… ...
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