Things That Make My Heart Race

My kids go back to school this week. Last month’s end of the semester, combined with the December holiday events, seem far away, the frenetic energy a faded memory. Except for this conversation one morning, while dropping the kids off at school: Andy, as he’s getting out of the car: "I have a math final…

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Piano Lessons That Last a Lifetime

The sign of a great community is one that lasts a lifetime. That’s what I observed when I accompanied my husband to a celebration of his piano teacher’s 65th birthday. Patricia Chen has been teaching piano for decades. She’s one of the top piano teachers in the Denver area. Her students range from the dedicated…

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The Whole Package

A Fast Company profile of Shana Fisher, senior VP of strategy and mergers and acquisitions for Barry Diller’s conglomerate, IAC, caught my eye with these words: "…she triple-majored in sculpture, philosophy, and linguistics. But her budding art career …took a backseat to a budding interest in Web design, which led to a job at Microsoft…

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Quitting for the Right Reason

Quitting can be hard. I’m not talking about quitting smoking or some other addiction, although that’s no walk in the park either. I’m talking about quitting something you’ve started, something that was once a part of a dream. This can be especially difficult for women who are over achievers, individuals who are used to hanging…

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The Gift of Long Walks on a Winter Afternoon

During this holiday break, I’ve been taking long walks in the afternoons with my sister. She moved to my town last year, after living in other states and countries for decades. Inspired by the crisp winter air and the snowy landscape, we let our minds wander to places that normal conversation doesn’t usually touch. One…

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