inspiration

Why You Should Take That Leap Now

April 18, 2011

~ A follow-up to How to Find the Guts to Take a Leap When I was 23 and interning at The New Zealand Herald in Auckland, I heard the Associated Press, a news service, was hiring a correspondent for their South Pacific bureau. I’d already fallen in love with New Zealand, knew I wanted to […]

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How to Find the Guts to Take a Leap

April 7, 2011

I bet, after reading that headline, you know what leap I’m talking about, what “leap” means for you. Chances are, if you’re reading this blog, you’re looking for the guts to throw yourself into your writing or take a career break to travel. Or maybe you want to change jobs or move to a new […]

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How to finish your book (or accomplish any dream)

February 9, 2011

Last week I called the cable company to ask how much it would cost to get Internet installed in my apartment. (Until now I’ve managed to use my apartment complex’s access.) The guy on the other end of the phone tried to give me a price for both Internet and cable. “Oh, I don’t need […]

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Even with baggage, you can still run

January 26, 2011

I love running in Arlington, my new home in northern Virginia. I love it because on super cold mornings, when I think I’m the only one who’s crazy enough to jog outside, when I’m cursing the fact that I can see my breath, a pack of Army guy will come running toward me, two by […]

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In which yours truly turns — gulp — 30

January 5, 2011

I never thought I’d be the type to freak out over turning 30, but apparently I am. Which is why I’m making goals for this coming year. Because it helps me focus my energy on something productive. I wish I had two decades of my 20s. Because right now, at this very moment, I’m right […]

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Why you should be psyched about 2011

January 1, 2011

When I tell people I used to go to a mega-church in Houston, they usually look shocked. And slightly horrified. (Admittedly, that’s why I don’t usually mention it.) I know what they’re thinking: I don’t seem like the type to belong to a mega-church. Am I one of those religious nuts? Not so much. Reciting […]

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Don’t wait for a brush with death to pursue what matters

December 20, 2010

One of my new favorite blogs is Chris Guillebeau’s The Art of Non-Conformity. Partly because I loved his book. Chris writes a lot about travel, but his main theme is living an unconventional life. Chris had a post a week or two ago that really resonated with me — so I’m figuring it will resonate […]

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If you’re bad at something, should you still do it?

September 13, 2010

I’ve never been good at running. Sure, I’m good at making myself run, at getting my butt out the door for a morning jog. That’s because running makes me feel good, keeps me healthy and helps me relieve stress. Plus, I do some of my best thinking while pounding the pavement or the trails. But […]

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When you feel lost, look out for your lifeline

September 6, 2010

The universe has a way of throwing us a lifeline when we need one. Not long after I blogged about feeling lost — and got so many encouraging comments from you all — an e-mail appeared in my inbox from The Hambidge Center. Does the name ring a bell? Hambidge is the artist’s colony where […]

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Why feeling lost is the same as finding your way

September 1, 2010

I like to keep this blog upbeat. Optimistic. Positive. But the truth is, I feel lost. I’ve got a lot of great things going for me — I know that. I’ve got my book. My new business. A life of exciting things ahead. But I don’t know where I’m going — both literally and figuratively […]

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