Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying, "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." These words remind me that destiny is not a prewritten script, like some believe, but a path shaped by our choices, actions, and resolve. It’s easy to feel swept up by forces that seem out of our control — societal expectations …
The Gotham Holiday party this past week was incredible. Apart from actually seeing more than just squares on a screen, we were able to mingle, talk, laugh, cry, and enjoy each other in person. This is a similar feeling I had when I met my class for the first time last Monday. It can be a bit awkward at first, but being in someone's presence is so …
The last vestige of fall was scattered all over my lawn. I was compelled to take a picture to remind me of the colorful repast that fall makes before the gray skies and barren trees are in my view. I can only wait for snow to blanket the ground with a white, sound-absorbing canopy of stillness that transforms into a scene of quiet beauty. It is a …
Time is a funny thing. It’s always moving forward, unstoppable and unrelenting. Everything—people, plants, animals, even the things we create—has a time limit. Eventually, everything perishes, changes, or fades away. It’s a humbling thought but also fascinating. I've been thinking about time a lot lately, especially when I reflect on my company’s …
There’s nothing quite like the electric energy of the NYC Marathon—you have to experience it at least once, whether as a spectator or a runner. I know Fred has completed it 33 times, which is amazing. This year, my niece—a track runner living in Chicago who has participated in several marathons—qualified and ran in the race. We went, signs in han …
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), a week ago, declared a drought watch, and New York City issued a citywide drought watch after a historic lack of precipitation. It's really dry which has caused multiple wildfires, including one that burned nearly 200 acres and led to an evacuation in Livingston, New Jersey. The l …
I encountered some new feelings the other day. They were fascinating and changed my perspective. I was driving a loaner electric vehicle while my car was being serviced, and as I passed gas station after gas station, I couldn't help but feel differently about them as I smiled. The car was extremely quiet yet took off like a rocket ship from a …
Had a thought the other day while driving...(how unusual:). It occurred to me while driving next to someone who was talking on her phone through the car, in an incredibly animated conversation. I guess she was screaming because she didn't look happy I wonder what would be THE list of all the things people do in their car while driving. Here's my …
Have you noticed that you tend to think negatively when you don't hear back from others? I tend to fill the silence with negative assumptions—maybe they’re upset or maybe I said or did something wrong. I think this response is from our need for social connection and validation. When I don't hear back from someone, my mind seems to try to solve …
Fred had a big ask the other day. He wanted me to gather all of the blogs he had written and publish a book of them. Now I know that's quite a task given that the site has gone through several iterations (another one right now in fact:) and acquiring the older blogs was going to be problematic. I started digging and found a data dump from 201 …
Last weekend our Gotham picnic inspired a poem: Seven years since I last took a swing,The bat feels strange, a heavy thing.Muscle memory, faint and slow,I grip the handle and give it a go. The ball comes in my heart skips a beat,A rusty swing, unsure on my feet.But as it cracks, I feel the thrill—The love of the game is alive still.
When I woke up this morning, I was looking at the clock thinking about the day and what must be done before I visit my Mom. As I write this, I'm reminded that time governs our routines. Deadlines at work, creating this blog, appointments, and even just hanging out are all ruled by the clock. I sometimes race against it, hoping to fit as much in …
I was asked today (Friday) what I'm doing this weekend. I thought about it and said "Pulling weeds." It may sound a bit odd but there's great satisfaction when you pull a weed out - root and all. Especially those f*&^%$n weed vines that seem to cover everything. You will notice them on some of the trees at the sides of our highways. If left u …
In light of the response to my blog last week, I'm focussing on one of the 15. You can't change people You can guide, support, and offer advice, but real change only happens when someone is willing to put in the effort. No matter how much you want to help, if a person isn't ready to make changes, there's nothing you can do. (And we all know s …
Understanding some of life's hard lessons opens us up to greater achievements and can help us overcome the obstacles that hold us back. Here 15 “difficult truths” that can improve your life (taken from responses to a Redditor named Rare_Can_5418.) 1. Stop comparing yourself "Comparison is the thief of joy." 2. Some people won't like you "You ca …
It's Saturday...and anything goes.
