A Request to PLEASE Do This Important, Simple Thing Already

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Deirdre Maloney

So I’ve noticed a trend lately, and it’s not a good one. In fact, it can be hurtful for all involved. I being with a few examples from just the past few weeks. See if you notice a pattern. Friend #1 recently won a major cooking competition. When I excitedly told him how proud I was of him, he shrugged and said: “Thanks, but that woman who came in sec...

How to Solve the Wonder Problem

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Deirdre Maloney

So guess what? I auditioned for a play! And guess what else? I didn’t get the part. Actually, let me correct myself. I didn’t get the part I wanted. Which was a nanny who oversees one of the most important, coolest, and younger characters in the show. Instead, I got a much smaller part. Actually, parts. I’m in the ensemble, which means I’ll be a pir...

The Big Flaw in Your Life’s Script

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Deirdre Maloney

I had a bit of a personal epiphany recently. As tends to be the case, it came as a burst, explaining a deep flaw in my lifelong thinking. One that sets me up for all kinds of stress. It happened while I was listening to an interview with Cheryl Hines who, among other things, played Larry David’s wife in the show Curb Your Enthusiasm. If you don’t know ...

The Single Word to Make Your New Year Better

Posted on December 27, 2017December 28, 2017 by Deirdre Maloney

Recently, my house was bugging me. Actually, it was just a part of my house. A relatively small part. The closet. The thing was cluttered with stuff…kind of. Now, some readers may recall that the Maloney family was involved in a move just a few months ago. You also might recall it was a biiiiiiit of a challenge: In preparation for that move I’d ...

3 Words to Stop Making People Mad at You

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Deirdre Maloney

A few weeks ago Hubbie and I found ourselves traveling to Prague for a quick weekend of touring before a work project began. All was going just peachy for the first 11 hours of our first flight…until we realized we were landing very late. And our already tight layover time…was now super-duper tight. Which led to those airport moments...in those looooon...

What to do About the (Stupid) Stuff You Can’t Do Anything About

Posted on April 25, 2017October 16, 2017 by Deirdre Maloney

So last week saw the Maloneys taking part in a ritual that most of us – even in the best of circumstances - hate. I mean really, really hate. We moved. Which meant that, for a loooong time, our former living room looked like this: As if the move itself wasn’t enough of a…challenge, a few extra (stupid*) things happened along the way. Things I had a...