If we ever fly together, you may notice that I’m often seated in the exit row. If not, I’m assessing just who is and judging whether those individuals are the jump-into-action types, capable of figuring out the door and strong enough to get it out of the way. If you happen to be in that row and are … [Read more...] about Plan Your Exit Row Strategy
Bonnie Stevens
Mental Toughness Finds a Way Out of the Jungle
If Maui were a woman, she would look like Amanda Eller. At a lean 5-foot-7 and donning a long, breezy, tangerine-colored dress, Amanda seemed to float, not walk, down the main street of Makawao. Her delicate golden leaf earrings dangled and shimmered against her long smooth, shiny, dark brown hair. … [Read more...] about Mental Toughness Finds a Way Out of the Jungle
Be Camera Ready, Like James Bond
The thing about Opportunity is she doesn’t necessarily arrive after you’ve lost five pounds, gotten out of your sweatpants, whitened your teeth and brushed your hair. Opportunity is quite stubborn about being on her own schedule. She’s kind of a brat that way. She shows up when she feels like it, … [Read more...] about Be Camera Ready, Like James Bond
Resiliency in Action: Keeping Calm, Saving Lives
Resiliency is the ability to stand strong through a storm, not buckle beneath the weight of adversity, problem-solve under pressure, remain calm even as others may not and, I would add, maintain integrity through challenging and shifting circumstances. The most admirable examples of resiliency I’ve … [Read more...] about Resiliency in Action: Keeping Calm, Saving Lives
Invest in Yourself: Practice Your Craft, Buy the Dress
A few years ago, I called up a friend I’d known since grade school and asked her if she would go shopping with me. As the mother-of-the-groom, I needed a dress that would not embarrass my son and would fit with the colors and style of his large, formal wedding. Turns out, my friend, Claire, needed a … [Read more...] about Invest in Yourself: Practice Your Craft, Buy the Dress
Appreciating the Value of Knowing Yourself
There is so much to be said about knowing yourself. What do you care about? What interests you? What are your talents? What makes your heart skip a beat? Knowing and honoring your authentic self sets you up for a lifetime of fulfillment and helps you steer away from pain. John Mellencamp says, … [Read more...] about Appreciating the Value of Knowing Yourself
Letters We Will Never Send
The teddy bear cholla sure sounds cuddly, but don’t let it fool you. The spines on these prolific desert plants are often barbed, like a little fishhook. The cactus itself grows in a collection of smaller pieces. The pieces easily disconnect from the main stem and their needles are designed to catch … [Read more...] about Letters We Will Never Send
Encouraging Yourself: Can You Go Three More Feet?
Kyle Maynard and his long-time friend and business partner, Joey Leonardo, know all about failure. Before becoming world-class mountaineers, they weren’t even campers. “We didn’t know how to put up a tent,” said Leonardo. Today, they have over-the-top memories of viewing the world from some of … [Read more...] about Encouraging Yourself: Can You Go Three More Feet?
Know Yourself: Honor Your Heritage, Embrace Your Environment
Knowledge is power. And knowing yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, is critical when embarking on a career path, climbing a mountain, choosing a friend and needing a go-to answer in an interview process in which that annoying question about your strengths and weaknesses is still asked. What you … [Read more...] about Know Yourself: Honor Your Heritage, Embrace Your Environment
Creating Space for the New Normal
COVID-19 has been a horrific ongoing nightmare for many many people, and it is not my intention in any way to make light of its truly awful impacts that have caused such vast suffering. But there are some take-aways from this global experience that may help us as we move forward into the new … [Read more...] about Creating Space for the New Normal
