Hi Reader, A lot of my time is spent reading. As a writer, it’s my ethical and professional responsibility to read other writers. Thank goodness I love it. Reading allows me to explore the voices of many writers on multiple platforms. There are folks I follow on Medium and Substack, Facebook, in The Sun magazine, and in books. I learn about the power of the written word from the format they use, their style, phrasing, and the themes they write about. One of the writers I’ve been following for...
4 days ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader, Whenever we roll into October, three things come to my mind: How long can I wait to turn on the heat? (yesterday, it turns out) Did I finish off last year’s Halloween candy yet? (nope, still some Snickers to go!) The season of sun and harvests is coming to an end and the magic of Samhain is near 🌘 (boo and yay!) In honor of the cross-quarter day between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice (Samhain, October 31), and in preparation for the coming months of short days and cold...
9 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, If your life has been touched by suicide, you know the awful grip of grief, guilt, and unanswered questions that wrap their claws around your heart. I come from a family with a dark history of suicide. Four generations that I know of; likely more beyond that since mental illness can be inherited and dysfunctional coping strategies are learned. So this Saturday, I'm walking in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Out of the Darkness community walk in Tacoma, WA. This...
25 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Most of my clients are starting a new business. If you’ve ever launched a business, you probably had the same question: How do I get my first clients when I’m brand new? I know it’s scary to “put yourself out there,” to tell people about your services and ask them to hire you when you don’t have a lot of experience. Even people with experience struggle with imposter syndrome! So I’m going to let you in on a little secret…🤫 Most people aren’t looking for the most experienced [fill...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Pre-P.S. If it feels like the world is going to shit…do something good with the life you have: Become a doula! I’ve got a few options for you. Check the P.S. below, Hi Reader, In January, I went on a “news diet.” It’s like intermittent fasting but for consuming news. You stay away from offending news for most of the week, and then take in what you can during a short period of time. My diet: no Heather Cox Richardson emails during the week, no Facebook scrolling, and no TV news, ever. On the...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Three months ago, I started a job. The j.o.b. kind, where you clock in, report to someone, and have coworkers. I haven’t done this in over 25 years. It’s a trip. The logistical adjustments have been pretty easy. I don’t go in until the afternoon, so I have mornings wide open. I actually enjoy the routine of working on my business in the morning, then getting dressed, eating lunch before I leave, packing my dinner, driving on autopilot to the same destination, and parking in the...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Three months ago, I started a job. The j.o.b. kind, where you clock in, report to someone, and have coworkers. I haven’t done this in over 25 years. It’s a trip. The logistical adjustments have been pretty easy. I don’t go in until the afternoon, so I have mornings wide open. I actually enjoy the routine of working on my business in the morning, then getting dressed, eating lunch before I leave, packing my dinner, driving on autopilot to the same destination, and parking in the...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, I tolerate AI. ✋On one hand, I’m appalled that AI companies have stolen authors’ content and violated copyright laws with impunity. And I HATE AI Google results. AI is notorious for pulling inaccurate information, so why do AI results get top spot??? (Plus, it’s ruining any chance of SEO results for small businesses.) 🤚On the other hand, those small businesses can set up AI to function as a virtual assistant, chat desk, analyst, and more, without jacking up overhead costs. Heck,...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, I love to be vulnerable and transparent. It's one of the many privileges that come with the security of being white and having done lots of inner work. Today, I share a story of a moment I'm not so proud of but learned an important lesson along the way. In my second year of being a doula, I was contacted by a potential client planning a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). I was excited to have my first VBAC client and eagerly went to meet them for our interview. Who I met was a...
2 months ago • 4 min read
