Last week was one of those weeks when everything seemed to land on the calendar at once. I had client work to finish. My mom was visiting. There were dentist appointments. And somewhere in between all of that, I was supposed to write this newsletter. I kept thinking I’d get to it. Then Friday came and went, and I hadn’t. I was annoyed with myself. Maybe even a little nervous. I only recently started sending this newsletter again after ghosting it for far too long. I’ve been consistent for the...
9 days ago • 1 min read
"Have you written anything I’ve read?" It's one of the first questions people ask after I tell them I'm a writer. My answer is almost always the same: “Maybe, but you’d never know it. Most people picture writers as authors, novelists, journalists, or poets. And that's a perfectly reasonable assumption. While I have written a handful of articles with my name on them over the years, most of my work takes a different form. Website copy, newsletters, LinkedIn posts, keynote speeches, course...
23 days ago • 1 min read
About halfway to Snow Lake, I regret every decision that brought me there. At the trailhead, though, it’s pure optimism. I've packed my snacks, filled my water bottle, and convinced myself that climbing a mountain sounds like a lovely way to spend the day. Then, somewhere around the 3-mile mark, reality kicks in.The rocky switchbacks seem steeper than I remember. The elevation gain sets my lungs on fire. I'm tired and my legs hurt. I stop and pretend to take a drink of water so I can secretly...
30 days ago • 1 min read
The best souvenir I brought home from Oaxaca wasn't something I bought. It didn't come from a market stall or fit in my suitcase. In fact, you can't hang it on a wall or put it on a shelf. The real souvenir I brought home was the habit of paying closer attention. Travel has a funny way of making me notice things I'd otherwise miss: the way bougainvilleas pour over the tops of terracotta walls, the sounds of geckos chirping when darkness falls, the feel of time-worn cobblestone under sandaled...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
I’ve spent more time thinking about grocery stores lately than I'd like to admit. Not because I particularly enjoy grocery shopping (home delivery for the win). But because one of my copywriting clients lives and breathes everything grocery. That’s the industry they serve. And as it turns out, grocery stores are pretty fascinating places. More accurately, the way people shop and behave in grocery stories is fascinating. Did you know that 75% of people don’t stick to their shopping list? In...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read