The journey to embracing imperfection isn't about lowering standards – it's about expanding possibilities. In coaching, we call this "creating and increasing capacity for joy."

Blessed lands as something that happens to us, and perhaps my disquiet stems from the lack of choice implied. This is where Gratitude triumphs.

"When you don't know what to do, just do the work in front of you. At the end of the day at least your chores are done."

Everyone has a system so primed by the compounding, cumulative toxic stress and trauma of recent years that activation misfires are happening more frequently.

As Winter Solstice and the longest night approaches, here is a bit hopeful prose to serve as reminder that the light does come.

Lodestar's ICF accredited Trauma-Mitigation Master Class for coaches are now open for registration.

Maybe Broken is an opportunity to sift through the pieces, mindfully choose the beautiful and useful bits of value, and build something better.

But the fun and screams and laughter and joy that surround deliberately created scary moments during the Month Of Halloween are different from the swamp of Fear and uncertainty we've collectively endured.

Our bandwidth is both a precious and limited resource, deserving of recognition, honor, and guarding against wasteful expenditure.

Learning to connect and intentionally hold space in a manner that responds to and mitigates the trauma (Big T or little t) that shows up in others is an essential skill we all are capable of learning.

Wilderness makes you work – planning, packing, paddling, portaging – for the rewards. Wild places aren’t easy comfort, and that is exactly what makes the experience so powerful.

The chaos cracked systems that were long overburdened and strained. The harm – the trauma – can no longer be denied, and relief can no longer be delayed.

What stands out most, though, is the importance of time spent deep in imagination before a masterpiece can be created.

Our job, then, is to find and create and nurture relationships with other adults who will share the joy and a piece – no matter how big or small – of the responsibility.

In life, as in fiction, we can always ReWrite our story.

Not everything is a Face-Eating Bear.