Category Archives: Inspiration

Look Up from Oahu Hawaii to Prepare for Japan

Look Up from Oahu Hawaii to Prepare for Japan
Revisiting the Hawaiian Islands The beauty of Hawaii never gets old: majestic mountain views and dreamy seascapes; however, it is a long way from everywhere. Last month, on a return visit to Oahu, I used both Mother Nature and distance to my advantage to inspire this Look Up lesson and new adventure. Time Zones Away…
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Look Up from Walden Pond

Look Up from Walden Pond
Walden Pond This month, I revisited a special place, Walden Pond. Located a short drive from my mother’s home in Massachusetts, this small pond and wooded area was made famous by Henry David Thoreau in the mid-1800s. Its small, wooden cabin was his home for two years, two months, and two days. During which time,…
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Look Up Crib Sheet from Hell

Look Up Crib Sheet from Hell
Have you ever been to H-E double hockey sticks (H-E-L-L) on Earth? Well, sometimes when you are in a terrible situation, you often times feel like you got a First-Class ticket to infierno.  This month, I found myself in Hell, figuratively, but also literally. On June 5th, I was delivered very unfortunate news about my…
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Look Up Tutorial Beachside

Look Up Tutorial Beachside
There’s a famous quote by Karen Blixen, “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, and the sea.”  I stand behind my peer author’s wisdom as I know a good workout, cry, and/or beach time can cure just about anything. I’ve used Blixen’s tip before. However, I would like to add my two cents…
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Look Up and Small Changes Equals Big Shifts

Look Up and Small Changes Equals Big Shifts
My Routine is Traveling I travel a lot. In fact, today I’m traveling. Over the last month, I have been on four cruises. Unlike many people that have a Monday-Friday job in an office, school, or other, I am on the road or the high seas Monday-Friday or perhaps Sunday-Thursday depending on how the cruise…
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Look Up Mantra Around the World

Look Up Mantra Around the World
The Backstory of Look Up Mantra For those of you that are new to my monthly Look Up posts or just need a refresher, I created the Look Up Mantra after a life lesson in the fall of 2009. I’ve written an entire book about my When All Balls Drop moment, but I can do the…
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Reinforcing the Look Up Mantra through SCUBA

Reinforcing the Look Up Mantra through SCUBA
How can I combine two of my favorite topics, adventure and the Look Up Mantra, into one story? That's easy through scuba diving. Over the last two years, I have been fortunate to speak to thousands of guests onboard Carnival Cruises going to Cuba. As the CEO (Cuba Experience Officer) onboard, my topic of expertise is…
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Why Traveling Reminds Us All to Look Up

Why Traveling Reminds Us All to Look Up
From an early age, I caught the travel bug. At the time, it was because I was curious. Today, I continue to be curious about new people, cultures, tastes, sounds, and sights, but also I have found that traveling reminds me to Look Up. Look Up Mantra Look Up is a mantra that I created…
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Look Up Lesson for the Holidays

Look Up Lesson for the Holidays
Author Heidi Siefkas and Father Looking Up for the Holidays  After a two-week work trip, I returned home for the holidays. I was eager to sleep in my bed, drink from my favorite coffee mug, and even take a long, warm bath. However, this year’s holidays reminded me more of hurricane season than holiday season.…
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Look Up from Ground Zero Hudson River Valley

Look Up from Ground Zero Hudson River Valley
Look Up from Hudson River Valley, New York Earlier this month, I revisited Hudson River Valley, New York, a region that holds a very special place in many hearts. It is a beautiful area, not far from New York City, that was carved out by glaciers, leaving a gorgeous outdoor adventure playground with rolling hills,…
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