The Folly of Futurecasting Any fellow futurecasters out there? “Futurecasting” is when we imagine and dwell on scenarios of what may come to pass in any given situation. It’s the “what if” game that many of us play—often in the middle of the night!—but futurecasting can happen at any time. (The middle of the night […]
Category: Slice of Sunshine newsletter
Slice of Sunshine —Where’s the Fire? False sense of urgency; Targeted Task List
Where’s the Fire? My baseline pace is, shall we say, uptempo. Zippy. I walk quickly, talk quickly and think quickly (usually). It is partly because I like to get things done and be efficient, but it is also how I am wired. I may be part hummingbird. A few weeks ago I had my first—and […]
Slice of Sunshine — It Could Be Worse AND It’s OK to Feel How You Feel
When Chickens Aren’t Enough “Bring the chickens into the house.” This is the go-to phrase in our household whenever things are difficult. It comes from a Yiddish folktale about a man who is miserable, living in a cramped house with his wife, mother, and kids. He seeks counsel from the Rabbi who first tells him […]
Slice of Sunshine — Hack it Your Way; Do One Thing Different
Hack It Your Way I can’t resist “life hack” clickbait. Want to be more grounded? Meditate for 5 minutes every day. Want to have more energy? Jump rope. Want to feel less rushed? Get up an hour earlier. Click, click, click. Part of what makes these alluring is that they seem so dang simple, even […]
Slice of Sunshine — Find and Seek Inspiration
Find and Seek Inspiration It has always made sense to me that the word “inspiration” comes from the Latin word “sperare” meaning to breathe. Moments of inspiration can feel like a giant breath of fresh air—elevating, lifting and nourishing. Life-giving. For many, inspiration has felt scarce lately (if by lately I mean the last few […]
Slice of Sunshine — Threads of Hope; Infinite New Beginnings
Threads of Hope So far it looks like 2021 didn’t get the message that it was a NEW YEAR. As some have said, 2021 came around and told 2020, “Hold my beer.” After, shall we say, an unprecedented year, many imagined that along with turning the page on our calendars we could move forward individually […]
Resolution Lessons; Give your shoulds the why treatment
Kinder and Gentler: Resolution Lessons Many years ago, I announced to my family that my New Year’s resolution was to become a “kinder and gentler Elona.” It became a running joke. They would witness my hot-headed reaction or hear a snarky quip and tease: “How’s that kinder and gentler thing going?” I am not here […]
Winter Solstice, Earth turns again towards the sun
Midnight of the Year I like to say that I am “solar powered.” The sun and what it provides—heat, light, energy—recharges my battery. Summer makes me feel alive, brimming with vitality and pep. The sun and what it provides—heat, light, energy—recharges my battery. Summer makes me feel alive, brimming with vitality and pep. […]
Energy is precious, thoughts are energy, have fun with idioms
Let Green Couches Go It was still there. My neighbors down the street moved out, leaving a large, green, faux-leather sleeper sofa on the parking strip (or, my preferred name, the “tree lawn”). The first two days it was there I thought it was just awaiting pick up. Days three and four still seemed reasonable—everything […]
Please don’t worry, Random Acts of Kindness Activist (RAKtivist)
Where you least expect it It was time to put the Department of Practical Sunshine out into the world. Gulp. I’d spent weeks (along with my über-talented designer/husband) poring over the copy, design, and function of my website, and I woke up excited and nervous. As I triple-checked all of the technical aspects (links, return […]