After one too many glasses of wine I took my husband’s challenge and signed up for a half marathon. I hadn’t run more than 3 miles in the last 10 years, yet my pride, mixed with a bit of defiance, grabbed my credit card and signed up. Shoes the wrong size, a possible tornado and no preparation was not the running plan outlined in the running magazine!

Shortly after my husband and I were married, we found out I was pregnant. As expected, we were thrilled... then things took an unimaginable twist leaving us to make an impossible decision that would stretch our hearts in ways we never could expected.

Last night I was reminded of a situation I encountered last Summer. My new neighbor, who was 8 months pregnant, went into early labor. I had to put aside any discomfort and show up in a way is never expected.

The tour busses stopped in the middle of Kentucky for lunch. The available options were places I typically never go. I took a risk, went to Bob Evans and came to the realization that our thoughts about what we consume are as important as what we actually eat.

After 30+ years we decided its time to give our Stepdad a new title that better fits him and his role in our lives. I think we were holding off giving him a special role in our lives as a way to protect our relationship with our Dad, but in reality, we were just constructing our hearts. Where can you create new titles to expand the circle of your heart?

Joyful expectation, or future dread? Which do you choose?

Early in my career in drug development I worked on clinical trials for Alzheimer’s Disease. The drugs were mildly efficacious (that means they work) but they had nasty side effect profiles. When I heard the news this week about the drugs being pulled from the market, I began to wonder when we would take some of the less invasive options seriously.

That sudden urge to clean out the fridge may not be what you think it is. Fear manifests in our environment in different ways. Today we talk about what may be lurking u get the surface.

Typically I’m more of a “Lone Wolf” than a “team player” but when my husband had cancer, we had to reach out. We learned that we were supported and that being vulnerable with our community lightened our load. Where can you reach out to your community to get the support you need? As Tim Ferris says, “Life punishes the vague wish and rewards the specific ask.” Be specific!

Suffering in isolation trying to figure out how to be a jack of all trades is totally futile and unnecessary. There’s a cost associated with trying to “figure it all out” on your own.