Buona Befana

In Italy, especially this region, Le Marche, they celebrate Befana on January 6th. She’s pictured as an old crone covered in soot who comes down the chimney on the eve of Epiphany and leaves gifts or lumps of coal for the children. She sweeps away the old year and its problems with her broom.  As […]

Big Girls Don’t Cry

The other week I landed a great opportunity. I was invited to submit an article proposal for an online magazine and my idea was accepted. I discussed it briefly with the editor, gave myself a short deadline, worked hard and wrote a piece I was really proud of. The day I turned it in I […]

Planning for Serendipity

Yesterday in conversation I was describing how a certain event in my life came about and realized that many if not all of my major milestones happened by chance– or at least that’s the way I think about them. My college major, my best jobs, meeting my husband, our home in Italy. I stumbled upon […]

How to maintain productivity when the world as you know it has ended

I received some bad news this morning. Really bad. Likely to have far-reaching consequences. I’m distracted. I feel shock, sadness, shame. I want to run to social media to find out more and the thought of wallowing in the commiseration revolts me. I’m struggling to remember the good advice I know about catastrophe. Breathe. Put […]

What To Do While You’re Being Patient

This week I launched a revamp of my website and a brand new giveaway e-book. This is an exciting change of focus for me and I’m raring to go. I’m sparking like an Italian electrical outlet with ideas for programs and content to offer. Am I writing them? No. All I want to do is […]