Life Lessons

3 reasons why what other people think of you is none of your business

Jump Off the Career Ladder, Save Your Life

Our inboxes are constantly bombarded with LinkedIn status updates, asking us to…

Existentialism and the search for meaning in our lives and work.

Existentialism — (philosophy) a 20th-century philosophical movement; assumes that people…

Why it’s Never Too Late To Join The Party — What are You Waiting For?

It’s never too late to shape…

RELEASING THE ANGER TOWARDS OUR PARENTS- SEEING REALITY AS WHAT IS

This post is on a tremendously difficult, sensitive, but important topic.

Remembering Leo

I’m writing this in hope that you can take a moment to remember just how precious life is. Be good to each other and focus on what matters.

I don’t talk about Leo much, not even with my closest friends. I still get irrationally uneasy whenever anyone asks me if I’m an only…

To be or not to be…Mixy.

We’ve all heard the term before, “Mixy”. The word is used on a day to day basis, but what exactly does it mean…

That Extra Hour At Work Is Worth… Nothing! (The Genius Formula Is Revealed!)

Growing into Empathy

How to Change Minds. Including Your Own.

Today I’m meditating on denial. You’re welcome to join me. Increasingly, I think it defines the world around us like little else.

If you can’t do it slow, you can’t do it fast

I think I just understood what that means. It is actually quite literal. It’s…

I Used To Rush Through Life…Until This Happened

A Message to My Older Self

I pulled a folder of papers out of my desk the other day.

The Trouble With Passion Based Learning

It would seem that the concept of passion based learning (the other type of PBL) has found…

Your Lack Of Enthusiasm Is Killing You And How To Get It Back

Too Niche For My Own Good

And what to do about it

Over the years, I’ve backed myself…

How a Death Metal Rocker Built a World Renowned Graphic Design Company

Beating Burnout Culture

This time last year I hit burnout.

A personal take on close friendships

I have just had a few days of highs and lows around personal friendships.

Why I became an Au Pair

Sometimes I wonder why I became an Au Pair, and honestly a year ago I could tell you that I just wanted to get away…

How to Leave Your Soul-Sucking Job for Something You Actually Love Doing

We Should Quit Should-ing Ourselves

Let’s rebel against the word “should”. I’m pushing back against all the “should” usage in my world — both self-imposed and externally forced upon me.

The etymology of the word includes the notion of an obligation and derives from the word…

“They need to respect you, but still love you a little.”

“I Walk into the Room as if I own It.” | Anna

Letter To A Hesitant Traveler

Thank you all for reading and to those who have been asking for letters, a deep hug. You give me the joy of writing to you. This letter is for a specific beloved caught at a crossroads, who is also recoverying from a traumatic injury. The words are for her and anyone else who…

Guidelines for Building Big Art*

*also good guidelines for life in general and parenting

As Art resides in the quality of doing, process is not magic. — Charles Eames

“Wear Sunscreen”

… If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it …

… The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience …

Happiness is a choice, choose it

There are people who would look up at their burning house and as they held their kids close exhale, “we made it out alright.”

There are also people who would have their hands cupped over their mouths thinking not of what they’ve saved but of what…

Summer

the grass is never greener on the other side

the sunshine isn’t brighter

the roses aren’t blooming

the birds aren’t singing

the grass is just as dry as it was before!

You Are Not A Smoker

“Are you sure you want one?” Your friend Tony asks, in one of those rare moments where someone offers you an out on making…

On Adulting. Or figuring out what you want to be when you Grow Up.

Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right… But They Might Be More Important

The scene is all too familiar to me: the professor has been droning on for a few minutes, and most people in the room have tuned out. Eventually, the professor stops to pose a question to the class. Sometimes the…

Day 9 — Success

Five years ago, Charlie Dark asked me what success meant to me. 20 year old Nathaniel said this:

“For me, success means achieving your goals, whatever they may be”.

Feminism Isn’t Good For Men.

I was born in the 60’s in South Africa when many women still stayed at home and looked after their children.

A Gili Islands Getaway, a Vacation from Vacation…

(Kindly) F*ck the shaming of hope.

Dear neighbors! 
I’m continuously saddened and infuriated (each in turn!) by the regular practice of shaming hope, optimism, and community trust that happens on community forums, blogs, and media.

What I learned networking with an 11-year-old

A little bit of kidspiration.

O estado de ignorância permanente

“Sabe qual é a diferença entre o iniciante e o expert? Na mente do…

Is 2016 the Year of the Hybrid Job? 4 Types of Human Intelligence

3 Free Essential Fitness Apps

Ever since starting my pursuit of sporting achievement I have searched for competitive advantage.

An Ode to Humanity (The Worlds We Lost)

This is an Ode to humanity.

A reminder that a person isn’t just a person,

But rather a great manifestation.

What defines you?

One thing that I enjoy in life is human connections. It is beautiful to meet people from all walks of life and hear their…

Seek to Understand

As social animals who are hardwired to sort chaos into order and turn meaning into chapters and chapters into memories, we find comfort in right or wrong answers.

We do this with politics, parenting, innovation, or holding chopsticks. “What is the right answer?” is…

Fly

Conquered. The fear of being – Me!

Good things come to those who wait. But, the only things that are left by those who hustle!

The First Woman I Ever Loved

Funny thing about this headline. I’ve found, when looking back at the women I interacted with in my childhood, that they all hold that title. For the purpose of this story, though, I am speaking of the glorious Mary K. She was a friend of my mom’s. I was 9. She was younger, an…

Real Talk

I want to talk about something. Something that's been bothering me for a while, now, but came to a head today morning. And if I happen to mention it anywhere, I'm just met with looks of incomprehension, or glances full of pity.

Life With(out) Skiing

…was pure ignorance. The bad experience I had a few years back put a sour taste in my mouth, and I didn’t care to try it…

Do You Have A Dirty Mind?

The brain is fussy and needs a squeaky clean environment to function well. It is not difficult to improve brain health, feel more energy, have better recall and avoid developing dementia. The explanation below dives into the science but your brain will thank you for the effort of reading on.

A Letter to my future daughter

To my future daughter,

Please know that you mean the world to me. I love you with all my heart and no matter what I will try to give you everything that you need. All I want in the world is to make you happy. 
But, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the times…

Great share!

I will definitely put this into practice with my kids when they grow older. But with more twist. Can I share with you how I want to do this? Please do give me response if you think you can develop it into a better system, you have the experience anyway.

Get out, now!

Pick up your remote controller and press pause button. Don’t think about it and do it. At least once a year.

How to: Choose your work.

Our time is limited. I mean, freakingly limited. So, there are only a couple of things and projects that one can do in his/her lifetime. Thus, it becomes very important on how to choose what to work on.

Try and dare

A lot of questions came into mind again recently…
There were a few but impactful changes in my life as I am in a relationship, changed…

Design a life menu

A client of mine recently spoke of the emptiness of his work and the lack of passion and peace he is experiencing. It caused…

The Stop and Go of Stuttering

I am a recovering stutterer. I thought I was cured, but alas, the stutter bug has bit me again. There are lots of cures out there for stuttering. This post isn’t one of them. In fact, it isn’t really about stuttering at all. Let me explain. But first, you need to understand…

Do more of what makes you happy

You probably heard of this saying before, so did I. Yesterday it came to my mind again.

Mudanças… De ares, de casa, de pensamento, de vida

Relatos da minha vida itinerante, mesmo não sendo artista de circo (só no coração)

Anteontem me mudei. Nos mudamos. Mais uma vez! Fomos, enfim e “definitivamente”…

Business is like farming

Most entrepreneurs don’t use natural principles to grow their business. Most entrepreneurs worry. Most entrepreneurs struggle. Most entrepreneurs try to force things.

Things in nature grow perfectly, given the right local conditions. Nature doesn’t worry…

Gibbons’ Comments Cannot Be Laughed Off

In a press conference following a tough loss to the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons used his mic time to express his frustration over the fact that a new rule (except, not really) was misinterpreted (again, not really) and…

7 Steps to Resume Success

“Can you take a look at my resume?”

Yesterday I had both the pleasure and the misfortune of witnessing someone I always considered close to my heart, go through something I would never wish on anyone. Through the whole…

Nem sempre é mar

Morei em muitas casas e estudei em muitos colégios. A mudança sempre foi constante na minha vida. Nunca esfriamos muito tempo no…

The are-you-happy conundrum

I’m always surprised when being asked: “Are you happy?” It is a question that troubles me slightly, especially when it is introduced as a rebuttal to something you said, the “yes, but…are you happy?” type of question.

GREEN FLASH

…as of late Ive not been on social media much, Ive been sort of in limbo with my life. I plan to share soon whats been up, but lets just say that JUST when you think its all figured out, BAM life changes.

Things Ive learned in my early professional life.

A year ago I could not have told you I would be living in this little town in Mexico working with…

I’m 58 and let me tell you, furniture is for bourgeois suckers. Don’t fall into the “quality stuff for life” trap of previous generations. It’s all a detritus collar pretending to be a 2 ton necklace. Whether you need to move often or not, live simply and unpretentiously. Have the pieces you need and want — and make sure that they work for you. Some…

The enemy within

Enemies stand in your way and stop you having what you want. They don’t care if you are in pain; they want you to suffer. They stamp on your happiness and laugh when you cry. They have no compassion, no mercy. They take pleasure in hurting you and watch coldly while you struggle. The weaker you…

The Art of Dining-Out: Introduction

Spending the last 6 years on the other end of the restaurant experience has taught me a mountain of lessons. It’s about time I start sharing some of my thoughts and insights on how Hospitality has changed my life. First let’s start with the first of many posts: The…

That Little Sweet Spot

Everybody has some form of art that they are good at. Notice I didn’t say perfect because everyone also has their own flaws, and issues. Somewhere along the way you find that one little thing that makes you tick, what separates you from everyone else, a sense of individuality. That my…

Ten pm thoughts with Spotify…

Do you ever have those days where you just want to escape the world and just hide in the warmth, dimmed lighting feeling from…

Straight lines

I watch them quietly 
they are everywhere
whichever way I turn
whenever I scan the rooms
to understand more
they live around corners…

Why I Quit My Dream Job

A year ago, I quit my job, packed my bags and embarked on an adventure to Asia. Travelling was something I’d always…

I slipped off my routine..

#100DaysofQuatrains #Day40&41

Letting someone go — Toughest thing as an Entrepreneur

The real knowledge and brain power can´t be suppressed or missed!

You are only as important as you think you are or not…

Fear

I was working from a very high place, sitting on a ladder, cleaning the windows. Then I said to myself, “how lucky am I that I’m not scared of…

beberapa orang atau adik lebih tepatnya diluar sana tidak sengaja membaca tulisan ini dan merasa tidak sendirian. terima kasih telah menceritakan kisah ini. saya juga menertawakan (sekaligus sedikit miris) hidup saya sekarang

El difícil arte de empezar

Abandonando el miedo al fracaso

Abrí esta cuenta hace no sé cuántos meses y hasta ahora no tenía ni una sola palabra. Ni siquiera es que me había olvidado la contraseña o alguna excusa menos creíble. Simplemente es que no sabía por…

When Needs Must

I recently had an experience in my workplace that reiterated the simple truth that our greatest opportunities come to us in the moments that we never prepared for. What you do in those moments can determine the course of your career or your personal life.

Standing Strong

It happened in a second. One moment we were laughing and the next my ankle was broken and the pain consumed every ounce of energy I had.

As a kid, I always thought crutches looked like a lot of fun. Whenever my friends had them, I would always take them for a spin and hop…

Get Your Feelings in Check Through Reflection

Every day you have the choice to choose how you want your day to go. You can either wake up and be determined to have a great day or you can wake up and allow how you feel to determine how you carry on your day. Believe it or not, we have more…

“Don’t bite the hand that holds you”

Control: A Week Off for Adepticon

I spent a week preparing for — and competing in — the biggest Warhammer 40k tournament in the Chicago-land area. It’s the biggest tournament of the year. I won the first two rounds and then lost the next two. I was surprised by the result. I had been playing poorly for…

1,837 secrets to find your true path

Okay, I condensed the list a little bit for easy reading…

Snapshots & Big Pictures

Why Context Matters A Great Deal

“For me context is the key —…

Nem sempre é mar

Morei em muitas casas e estudei em muitos colégios. A mudança sempre foi constante na minha vida. Nunca esfriamos muito tempo no mesmo…

Brainstorming: How to Respond, Not React

I was recently reading about Seal Training Tips (check out SEAL SURVIVAL GUIDE: A Navy SEAL’s Secrets to Surviving Any Disaster — Gallery Books by author Cade Courtley). One of the techniques they teach SEALs is to think through scenarios that might occur and…

Every since I start freelance 3 years ago this is still my major problem. I am never sure of my spending. Actually I am now looking for materials on how to know what to spend on as a freelancer.

On The Transitional Nature of Love

On last Sunday’s episode of Girls, Hannah comes to the startingly realization that her ex-boyfriend…

Trump is not trying to divide us. He just wants to do whats best for all Americans. He has no problem with immigrants from all around the world. He just wants to stop illegal immigration and reform our broken inefficient government. I have never heard him actually say anything that indicates any prejudice against a specific group, besides career…

Ever Been to the Big Apple or Big Easy? What about the Big Happy?

Eating Oreos at Thirty

Happy birthday Oreo! You turned the big 100 this year. Don’t worry, I celebrated with you. I polished off a whole bag to ring in the occasion. Birthdays demand some level of indulgence, right? And now, I’m just in the middle of turning the big 30.

Shitty Jobs are like Truffle Fries

The moment I took a bite of truffle fries, I realized I hated truffles. I gave it a shot a few more…

What to write?

Not interested. Tired. Lil drained. Still typing. Not trying to make sense. Something which has been trying to in the past couple of days. Just distracted. Which is essential? To stray away and finally come back to the right path. This disorientation to orientation has been a long play now. When the…

Our Best Selves

We are always striving to be our best selves. Don’t get me wrong, I think that is a worthwhile goal. Stretching our limits can give us a fresh perspective on the gifts God has given us, and the reality of what we are capable of in this life. But every once in awhile, this is the “me” I want to be.

20 Things Mentally Strong People Do

1.They move on

It is like loneliness. Without it there would be no joy. Light and dark always go hand in hand. One can’t live without the other. Thus, embrace it we must.

What to Do When You Are Between Teachers

I’ve outgrown my last teacher. My path has moving away from his. His lessons were profound and life-changing.

I watch for signs. I explore what shows up. I have strong inner urgings that show me where I’m going next.

5/30: traveling

what were the odds that i would look out the window just as you were driving away

I want to tell you you’re amazing

But people probably tell you that all the time

生命中的最后一天？要么拯救全人类，要么只关心你

前两天突然开始脖颈疼，每呼吸一次都像是喉咙里有针在刺，跟被鱼刺卡了差不多，唯一不同在于，假如真是鱼刺我就不会如此恐慌了。疼了两天，渐渐地，右侧肩膀下约一掌的部位也开始疼，感觉身体被一根中空的骨头贯穿了，疼痛感在空荡荡的骨头中回响。

从昨晚开始，脑袋也加入了这队伍，担心它随时会爆炸。临睡前，这痛感更剧烈了，神经发麻就容易胡思乱想。第二天早上六点起床去驾校练车，当时已经是晚上十二点半了，对于早上能不能准时爬起来，我非常怀疑。

Thank you for writing this article. It was a long journey before realising the difference between beauty and Beauty. I had to battle body image throughout my teenage years. The whole community considers size 4 to be the only size - if you want to be considered beautiful. I used to hate looking at myself in the mirror. It even got ugly and led to an…

basic info

I’ve been trying to whittle down my life and focus on what is truly important and meaningful (is anything?).

It’s been a bit difficult to do so — depression intercedes, my vices intercedes, my selfishness intercedes. But there is one thing that I have found that works; moving…

Well it looks as if my life story combined into a place of what the hell? So my story was “ ********” by my friend. The odd feeling of reading your name on her syllabus definitely freaked me out. But then I thought or tried to remind myself that everything happens for a reason. Though I can’t see a reason nor understand the roll of this dice by…

Slower Vehicles Keep Left? (Correction to 1st publish)

I am one of those who gauge common sense in a person based on their driving habits that I witness. To me, driving is all common sense. Sure, we know that initially you must know the driving etiquette and laws of your state and then pass a written and road test to secure…

a realization;