Fierce Urgency of Now
“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there “is” such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”
― Martin Luther King Jr. , April 4, 1967, Riverside Church, New York
Stencil Art by The Dude Company
What Have You Done For You Lately?
I’d never worked with a coach until I trained to become one, and it was part of the requirement for certification. It was then that I experienced the benefits first hand. I’m a fairly motivated person, and good at creating structure when there is none. So I didn’t need a coach for that. But I did need to appreciate what I’d accomplished every week, even when it didn’t feel like much. So before each session with my coach, I’d write out everything that I’d done since the last time we’d talked. Even the tiniest stuff that hadn’t produced any visible results. After reciting the list to her, she’d remind me to celebrate the victories. And sometimes, that celebration was chocolate.
MMM&MMM by Adam Hillman
What’s for Dinner?
I did a lot of fancy cooking and eating for the holidays. And now, I’m hankering for salad and pizza. How about you?
Illustration by Laura Berger
Yes, We Can. Yes, We Did!
With such grace and vision, President Obama says goodbye. I’m sad and scared.
2017 Wish List
When coaching clients come to me in career transition and they have no idea what they want to do next, I might ask them to do some visioning. A few people balk at that, and I understand why. When people are in a state of financial stress, visioning can seem like a frivolous exercise to do. But it provides useful clues, and can be the beginning of intention. So, what’s one thing on your wish list for 2017?
Neon by Stefan Bruggemann
End of Week Zen
We did it! We’ve made it through the holidays, and the awkward first week of January. Do something nice for yourself this weekend. You’ve earned it.
Flowers by Maxime Causeret
If Cats Ruled the World
When I moved into my condo more than 5 years ago, I decided to give up my cat, Lily. It was a wrenching decision. She’d been a happy, outdoor cat for all her 12 years of life, and I couldn’t give her that in my new apartment. I knew she’d be miserable indoors. So I left Lily in wonderful, loving hands and still visit regularly. She’s 18 now and not doing so well. This afternoon, we spent an hour together with her purring in my lap. It was a very emotional day.
Illustration by Mrzyk & Moriceau
New Year’s Resolution, 2017
Welcome back, everyone. I hope your holiday was a good one, and that you’re having a soft reentry into everyday work and life. I’ve never been a fan of the New Year’s resolution, but I really like this sentiment illustrated by Lee Crutchley.
Do you have a goal in mind for 2017? For my Career coaching site, I’ve just written about transforming the New Year’s resolution into an achievable goal. I hope you’ll check it out.
Archive for January, 2017
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FIRST PERSON SINGULAR is a guide to surviving, thriving and sometimes just getting through a single day. Created by Wendy Braitman (more…)
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