With the end of 2025 in sight, I would like to take a moment to honor a client who has made remarkable progress. Over the past six months, I have worked with the New Hampshire Association for the Education of Young Children (NHAEYC). It has been a rewarding experience as the organization and its executive director have advanced hand over fist, demonstrating remarkable leadership and strategic clarity.

Celebrating life's important moments is a vital aspect of human existence.

Our celebrations serve not only as markers of significant milestones but also as opportunities to reflect on personal growth, build stronger relationships, and create lasting memories.

Recently, I met a former colleague for bagels and coffee to celebrate her move to a new position with more responsibility and earnings. As we talked about our years working together, she not only thanked me for the reference I provided for her new job, but she also expressed her gratitude for my mentorship and how much she had learned from me so many years ago. She told me that I had made her feel valued and that she had added value to our organization. In a word, she felt that she mattered, and in return, she helped me feel that I mattered too.

When do you feel that you matter?

What do people around you do to make you feel significant?

Consider your life as if it were a pie. How do you slice it? Need a useful way to step back, reflect, and align how you spend your time with your values? Try this exercise.

Do you have a colleague, friend, family member, or spouse who pushes your buttons?

Just when you think things are chugging along nicely, that person says or does something that sends your emotions soaring?

Leadership development has become a multifaceted challenge, particularly with the current pace of change.

How often have you heard leaders or co-workers refer to work culture as ‘family’?

I’ve heard it throughout my career, especially in the nonprofit world.

Years ago, while attending a webinar on nonprofit organizational leadership, a fellow participant said, “I wish leaders would stop calling their employees family. We are not family.” I wish I remembered who said it, but her words have stayed with me.

Rather than focus on quantity or scarcity,

feel the fullness of abundance.

While quiet quitting has become a phenomenon, being quiet has gotten lost in the noise of everyday life.

Near my home is a network of trails through the forest. I like to walk my dog there in the morning. Often, I don’t see another person or dog, but I hear the birdsong and listen for quiet.

A sense of purpose improves our emotional, behavioral, and physical well-being. It profoundly affects our sense of fulfillment and longevity. So, what is your purpose?

Having a sense of purpose is like having an internal compass that guides decisions, motivates actions, and even provides meaning to life.

Taking care of children can instantly align us with our purpose so that our intentional choices reflect what matters most.

Recently, I traveled to Norway where Pride flags fly in every city and town. The pervasive display of Pride flags clearly signals the country’s commitment to inclusion and equality. It serves as a visual reminder of the progress made in LGBTQ+ rights and the ongoing efforts to create safe, welcoming environments for all.

Maybe it’s the winds of spring or the constant “Breaking News” emails filling my inbox; whatever the cause, I’m feeling distracted, and it’s impacting my sleep. A strategy I’ve been trying to fall asleep is cognitive shuffling.

My go-to guide when I feel groundless is When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron (1997). The title is from the first verse of "The Second Coming," a 1919 poem by Irish poet W. B. Yeats. Both are about experiencing groundlessness as a profound journey into the heart of uncertainty.

In times of confusion and uncertainty, expressive writing can be a helpful tool for making sense of our thoughts and emotions. By putting pen to paper, we create a safe space to explore our inner landscapes without judgment.

Feeling the need for more fulfillment and productivity in your organization or life? Subtraction can be a powerful tool to guide us.

What is Enso? It is a Japanese word that means "circular form” and a visual cue reminding us that challenges are part of a larger journey and lead to growth. #personalgrowth#fulfillment#resilience

A clear, doable, and viable purpose for our lives and organizations is like having a compass. Both a compass and purpose provide direction, allowing us to navigate challenges and transitions with a sense of intention. They show us whether we are on course or need to make adjustments.