Emotional Alchemy: Turning Timidity into Confidence

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]I recently fulfilled a dream of singing a solo with a big jazz band. We did four performances. They all went well and I loved it. I received lots of praise […]

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 […]

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 […]

How much fear is the right amount?

We felt a couple of earthquakes last night (10.26.16)– a 5.5 and 6.1 plus some noticeable aftershocks. Good sized shakers worthy of some fright. No noticeable effects other than rattling dishes and some cupboard doors opening. The epicenter was 100 km south of here. After the initial thoughts of “oh shit how bad is this […]

Waiting Your Turn

The other day we went to the Immigration Office to pick up my husband’s permesso di soggiorno. Usually there are some people waiting, between half a dozen and twenty maybe. This time there were probably 200 plus all crowded into this room on a hot summer day with no apparent organization– nowhere to register, no appointments, […]