After umpteen visits to Cuba, the country and its people continue to amaze me. Many will argue that Cuban perseverance, sense of community, and ingenuity are its biggest strengths, but I think Cuba’s approach to happiness is paramount and my greatest takeaway from Cuba. That is why I wanted to share this unforgettable conversation about…
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Hey You Remember to Look Up
[caption id="attachment_3673" align="alignright" width="300"] Look Up from Cuba[/caption] As I witness people walking across the street glued to their phones or catch myself Snapchatting while on a mini-getaway to the Bahamas, I have to slap myself and virtually you all too. What are we doing? Are we living life in front of a screen instead…
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FIGT – Friday Is Good Therapy
WooHoo! The time has come. Drum roll, please... It's Friday Is Good Therapy time! Now, if you haven't heard of FIGT. Well, it's about time you do. Background: Roughly five years ago, I flipped the traditional TGIF to FIGT; thus, Friday Is Good Therapy was created. What was I thinking? As Friday typically marks the…
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Take the Time to Look Up – Because this Life is Pretty Frickin’ Amazing
Hey you! Yes, you, the one with the never-ending to-do list. I know you. I bet that sometimes you have nightmares about your to-do list. Yeah, when you should be dreaming of pleasant things and recharging your battery, you're up late at night with your lists. Why? I have been like you. And, I admit…
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The Secret to Turning 81
This week, my father is turning eighty-one. Ok, for those of you that know him or have read about him in my books, you know that he is really eighty-one going on twenty-one in maturity and just general behavior. Now, my father won’t say that the only secret to turning eighty-one is acting young, but…
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My GPS is Set on Happiness
Seriously, why on earth would you ever choose another setting than happiness for your GPS? I came to this epiphany after a chardonnay lunch in Fort Lauderdale. (Yes, I come up with great ideas with a little liquid inspiration.) Now, I'm not talking about not using your GPS or Google Maps to get to your…
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What Cuba Taught Me About Being in the Moment Featured in The Mighty
Do you ever hear a song and it immediately takes you back to a special place and time? I do with “La Vida Es Un Carnaval” (“Life Is a Carnival”). It is a popular song by the late Celia Cruz, a lady known for her vocal pipes, but also her loud fashion statements and sometimes…
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A Dose of Aloha and Adventure in Kauai
You know that Jerry Maguire line, "You had me at hello." Well, Kauai had me at aloha. Nearly three years ago, I got my first taste of the Garden Isle and aloha. Shortly thereafter, it became my writing abode and basecamp of many adventures whether on foot, in kayak, or by helicopter. Why did I…
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The Adventures of Architecting a New Life, Life 2.0
Did I get you with adventure, Life 2.0, or both? Whichever the case, you landed in the right place. I'll start by explaining Life 2.0 because I imagine you are on a Smartphone or laptop right now as you read this. Just like the software or app updates you receive on your tech devices, life…
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Best Life Tool – Remember to Look Up
When others ask me for words of advice or encouragement, I revert back to the lesson I learned six years ago: Remember to #LookUp What is so valuable about #LookUp? With only two practical, yet powerful words, #LookUp can help you shift your mental channel and gain perspective. Regardless of what you're going through: a bad…
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