Thoughts about designing (“designing”) an ideal life: From Alice in Wonderland “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat. “I don’t much care where—” said Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat. A truth: If you aren’t clear on where you want to go, any road will take you there. In an attempt to design an ideal life, ask yourself this: What do you actually want you

There comes a point where our foreign service journey ends, and we find ourselves leaving this space, this label, this persona for ... who knows what to expect?  Finding yourself facing this as your next move?  Listen to Sharoya share her wisdom, and Lisa shares some of her concerns and solutions.  Join us for the chat. Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2304981/episodes/18062301-moving-out-of-the-fs-heading-to-the-u-s

(ha! See what I did there? No? Read on, you'll get why that's funny!) You've all heard about osteoporosis.  Like almost all ailments...

New podcast: It used to be that employment with the government was a stable option. Now, it feels like we are in an in-between place, where job certainty is iffy and now, no paychecks thanks to the government shut-down. What to do? Angi and I talk about the situation, and offer empathy and support. I wish we could offer jobs and funds, too, but we are in the same boat as everyone else. Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2304981/episodes/18027629-unexpected-financial

Sharoya, Angi and I talk about different aspects of kids leaving the house, having fewer family members around, and what happens when they come back home?  Some great suggestions for keeping the peace, making the most out of the new additional space ... and making sure you have beds for everyone when/if they come back home! We all know that our kids are supposed to grow up, go to uni, and then go off on their own. This is our primary goal as parents: help foster independence

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your body is to rest. How many times have you just not been motivated to exercise? Or to move? ...

“Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting." ~ Joyce Meyer  "Adopt the pace of nature: her...

I do love a good run. Having been following this pattern since college days, it feels comfortable to fall into the rhythm that is...

Please see below for the episode posted in the last few weeks.  We’ll be back up to our normal posting pace as the Fall gets rolling....

Wonder is not exactly knowing. “The world is full of poems,” Mary Oliver said, “but you have to be quiet to hear them.” An important...

Why I wake up early Hello, sun in my face. Hello, you who make the morning and spread it over the field and into the faces of tulips and...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM “… people can say whatever they want about us at any time, and we cannot control that. The...

Dear boys, We’ve talked so many times about change.  We’ve experienced big hard changes, our little family unit.  One of the prices we...

Links to recent episodes on The Big Purple Blob, a podcast supporting Diplomatic families From July 189: Service Work, Purposeful work in...

I have a big secret to share with you: you are what you eat.  Literally, what you put in your mouth -- every.single.bite -- is the...

In times of stress, it is very easy to fall into the habit of being reactive and, if it goes on too long, resort to fight or flight mode....

Did you know that in the grand scheme of things, you ARE very important and you are also not at all? Honestly, it is good to have the...

I am so proud to be a part of this project. Available in 2 weeks on Amazon, you too can read this amazing compilation of Letters Now...

Or is it 80/20? Perspective is an amazing gift, you know? It is so so easy to let one big fat F ruin a series of A's. Even if your life...

I’ll give you one guess: what is the one aspect of modern day reality that causes the most amount of angst and who knows what sorts of...