Moments that make me realize I should make a bigger deal of the books I've published. Incident Number One In the staff room at school, two colleagues—part of our school’s mental health initiative for youth and staff—were chatting about which books to choose for a staff book club. I was filling my water bottle at... Continue Reading →
Team Building in the Mornings
David and I are committed to the time we’ve set aside and we meet most mornings—barring the occasional event. For example, I recently had parent-teacher interviews and had to leave for school at the time I would normally be meeting with David. We always start with a “hello” and “good morning,” then ask how the... Continue Reading →
Let Me Explain
When I first started blogging, I had no idea what my focus would be. I read all the advice — endless lists of what I should do: find a niche, choose a category, define a purpose. Travel blog, wellness blog, creative blog — the suggestions blurred together. I didn’t know how that focus would find... Continue Reading →
A Note on the Risk Vs. Reward of Honesty
I have readers overseas. My cousin is one of them. She got a copy of My List, My Rules last year (tap the title to check it out), and this year while I was visiting, we chatted about it. She loved it—I’m glad. But she also asked a very interesting question that no one else... Continue Reading →
Show and Tell A Social Media Struggle
I hate show and tell so much that I’ve even stalled making a post about it for fear of resolving it and then having to show and tell! How messed is that? I’ve realized I have a massive resistance to posting on social media—especially TikTok, but really, any reel. It’s got me wondering: why am... Continue Reading →
Now That’s Exciting
In the washroom at school, over soapy hands, a colleague asked if I had any exciting plans for winter break—traveling anywhere, doing anything thrilling. "No. Nothing exciting. No. Not going anywhere." I watched the temperatures drop. Drop. Drop. And with them, my enthusiasm for anything beyond crawling into a warm, cozy cave with a hot... Continue Reading →
Write Fast. Read Slow: The Art of Purposeful Speeds
I write fast Diane Stewart, a brilliant English teacher and colleague who has long retired once said that "such and such (I'm not brave enough to name the writer she mentioned) is a good writer but his editor is better." That made me laugh, but that also gave me reason to write---Like. A. Savage. Since... Continue Reading →
I Prefer Ms.
I've been feeling restless. So, you know, that was my sign to make a list. Yeah---I'm the queen of lists. I love lists so much that I wrote a book about it. This is a shameless plug for my book (in case you didn't notice). Check it out here if you want. I'm not posting... Continue Reading →
Amor Fati
The valedictorian I've seen over 30 graduations in my career---30 valedictorian speeches. Only a couple stuck. This is one of them. The usual It was time for the valedictorian speech. Ryder Wesson was introduced as a graduate, as a student with a 98.11 GPA, and as a member of the championship football team he played... Continue Reading →
Highway Feels
Sunday night I drove back from the lake with my window down. I don't often do this. It's noisy. I can't hear the radio. My hair blows around. It's annoying. But, for whatever reason, as I drove through the quiet village streets of the lake towards the highway I didn't roll up my window---and I... Continue Reading →