Tag: emotional

  • The Surprisingly Good News about the Change You Want to Make

    The Surprisingly Good News about the Change You Want to Make

    I had a little incident a few months back. It involved some heavy furniture, an awkwardly executed lift-and-twist on my part, and some resulting back pain. And by back pain I mean super gnarly spasms that beat out any pain I’ve ever experienced. (And if you’ve been following my blog at all, you know I’ve…

  • Bruises, Batteries and Beauty: Life Lessons from One Long Night

    Bruises, Batteries and Beauty: Life Lessons from One Long Night

    I recently found myself on a mountain in the middle of the night. Again. Unlike the last time, this event wasn’t quite so…traumatic.  Though this adventure, dubbed Ladies Night by the boot camp that created it, certainly had some special nuances. Behold…the numbers: 29 female participants 12 hours (7pm to 7am. As in overnight.) 3…

  • What’s Up with All the Honking?

    What’s Up with All the Honking?

    This week’s blog is available in podcast form!  You can listen/download here: What’s Up With All the Honking? Want more? Let me know by answering the quick poll at the end of this post. If enough people say “yup” then I’ll keep ’em coming, post some old favorites, and publish them to iTunes. Now, onto the…

  • Things You Learn When You’re Lost On a Big, Fat Mountain

    Things You Learn When You’re Lost On a Big, Fat Mountain

    Today’s post is a bit different. It’s a somewhat intense tale. Get ready. And please don’t judge me. It begins after a good dose of  “you can do it Deirdre!” pep talks, when I signed up for a race/hike up a big, fat mountain in the big, dry, lunar-landscaped desert known as Anza Borrego. That…

  • What Two Girl Scouts Can Teach Us All

    What Two Girl Scouts Can Teach Us All

    It happened at a grocery store on a Sunday evening. Hubbie and I were pooped from a day of errand-filled frenzy and this was our last stop on the journey. As we made our way down to the parking garage, loaded up with bags, there stood two adorable little Girl Scouts. Lily and Lisa. I…

  • Our Little Walk Through the Fear Pile

    Our Little Walk Through the Fear Pile

    Stupid, freakin’ fear. I hate it. And, sad to say, I’m walking in a big, glumpy pile of it as I write this. Walk with me for a moment, won’t you? As we begin, let me first acknowledge how ironic this post feels already. I’ve written lots of blogs on how to tackle fear. Heck,…

  • This is a Test. Let’s Play.

    This is a Test. Let’s Play.

    Well, there’s been a momentous occasion in the life of Deirdre. Momentous, I say. I quit my gym. Those of you who know me will understand why this is such a big deal…that up to now my body-building hobby has actually been an enormous part of my life. Every single day of it. For years.…

  • 8 Awesome and Not-So-Awesome Things that WILL Happen to You in the New Year

    8 Awesome and Not-So-Awesome Things that WILL Happen to You in the New Year

    I begin today’s post with a few obvious facts. I am not a time traveler. Nor am I a psychic. But I am an observer. And I take lots of notes. And so I know a few thing about you. I know, for instance, that a few things are going to happen to you in…

  • When Stupid, Ugly Numbers Freak You Out

    When Stupid, Ugly Numbers Freak You Out

    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…

  • How to Like Your Life More

    How to Like Your Life More

    So it’s over. My little “life sabbatical”, the one that took Hubbie and me overseas for six months, is over. And in the blink of an eye that sneaky little bugger known as reality has quickly set in. Exhibit A? My new living room at the moment: If you follow my blog you know that…

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

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

    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…

  • I Now Pronounce You Happy

    I Now Pronounce You Happy

    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.…