Sips of Silence (SOS) Make no mistake, I love a well-planned day. Because of this, my life has no shortage of routines—including my full-glass-of-water-before-coffee habit stack and my targeted task lists—that help me to feel efficient and productive. I also spend a lot of time working with clients to help them adopt tools and mindsets to break through feeling […]
Author: Elona
Slice of Sunshine: Now, Next, Later
The Department of Practical Sunshine celebrates the arrival of spring and all that it brings (except, maybe, for the high pollen counts)! While a lot of ink gets spilled about New Year’s Resolutions, I do not believe January is the best time to set goals—it’s hard to feel inspired during the time our bodies are […]
Slice of Sunshine: (often) Direct is Kind
People who are “good” at relating to other folks are often agile communicators. They are able to adjust their words and approaches so their message will be received and simultaneously help the receiver to also feel heard and seen. Sometimes that’s through humor; other times through adjusting one of the four T’s of communication (Tone, Tenor, Texture and […]
Slice of Sunshine: Not One Size Fits All
For those of you who do not know me personally, I am what one might call “petite” (or, as it has now been re-branded, “fun-sized”). For this reason, I am not well suited for clothing that is labeled “One Size Fits All.” Sure, there’s something to be said for a manufacturer to not pre-determine who […]
Slice of Sunshine: Autumn?! Already??
As a visual learner and luddite, I still post single-month paper calendar pages above my desk to keep track of the days. At the beginning of each month I print out a blank calendar page which I tape to my wall, removing the old month.This ritual does not often evoke much emotion; it’s just another […]
Slice of Sunshine: Wooden Knives
Here we are on the threshold of the autumnal equinox, a time where I would normally wax rhapsodic about the fading glory of summer while also reflecting on the gifts of fall. Instead, I am using this Slice of Sunshine to announce that I have finally (finally!) updated my website. 🥳 It’s still practicalsunshine.co (and […]
Slice of Sunshine: Teflon/Velcro
I recently had the privilege of leading an in-person “Feedback as a Value and a Skill” workshop for over 100 people. It was great to be out of Zoomworld and back in the wild! While I sensed people were engaged, I was eager to read the post-event evaluations to get their unfiltered and anonymous opinions, […]
Slice of Sunshine: Acceptance is an Option
I don’t like giving up. Some people call me “competitive,” although I prefer the more nuanced labels “determined” or “ambitious.” (To me, competitive is linked with both aggression and I win/you lose, which is NOT what I am about.)But it is true, I have often demonstrated that I am willing to keep driving forward […]
Slice of Sunshine: Where Can I do Less?
It is no secret to my regular readers that I am a fan of efficiency. Whether it is about practicing my pomodoros, prioritizing tasks, or habit stacking, I am always seeking out methods or processes that will help me feel more efficient. A friend commented once that even my body type (a compact, under 5 […]
Slice of Sunshine: Persephone’s Return
In sixth grade, our teacher led a semester-long study of mythology. We marked the end of the term with a “bacchanalia” (no alcohol of course, even though it was the ’80s and rules were different then). We listened to Greek folk dancing music, I had my first taste of moussaka and baklava, and we were assigned to […]