I lived in Boston for 17 of my adult years. I think of those years as my creative power years. We were creating babies and families, building careers and businesses, designing houses and homes that would be our best effort at secure bases for our children. It was truly the full-on time of life and I am deeply grateful for the families and soul sisters who were navigating similar journeys, and for all the connection and memories we share to this day.

Last weekend I had the huge parent joy of seeing my oldest son graduate with his Masters in Public Health from Westminster College (how I got old enough to allow that to be a reality astounds me – but not relevant here J). The Dean, in his commencement remarks, said something that has stayed with me all week. He said, we ask all incoming students, collaborators, donors and faculty one question when they begin our program: “Does your health matter to you?” While you and everyone else typically responds to that question with a resounding YES – the data around our behavior shows a very different story.

A few days ago, I got a call from my dear mom, Irene, who’s 86 and still lives in my childhood home in Livonia, MI. Her greeting went something like this: “Hi Sandy. I just wanted to tell you that I love your blogs….and I had one little question…are you breathing in what you’re writing???”…

Between the moment something triggers us and our reaction, there is a space. Within that space, we have a choice. And with the choice we make, our reality emerges. Even if that space is a split second, there is time between the stimulus and reaction to check in with our values. We can ask where…

For almost 40 years now, I have felt like I woke up 10 minutes late. The to-do list of kids, work, dogs, life stuff started running before I even opened my eyes. If only I were smarter, faster, more organized, more efficient…. Now, I realize I was starting my day from the wrong place. When…