Your thoughts have the power to shape your life — “So if you think you are a pineapple, you’re a pineapple!” She said sarcastically. The time was the late 80’s and as a freshly minted newbie with my first job in the grown up world, I was chatting with a fellow colleague. As sub editors in a major newspaper back…

Life is not something you wait to start — A friend was telling me why her husband broke down in tears. He met up recently with a long-time buddy and his wife. As they caught up in conversation, he learned that his buddy had dementia. Shocked and distraught, the news had caught him off balanced. …

Steal my hard-earned wisdom — Another year is almost over. I dare to say I am older, yes, wiser, still pending. Thinking back to a rather chaotic year, one question stands out above all: What the f*ck did living my life even mean? People pleasers are masters of living for others. So much so, that…

Some thoughts you should keep to yourself — “Don’t be overheard complaining, not even to yourself.” – Marcus Aurelius You have the right to have an opinion but not all opinions need to be expressed. Especially if it will do more harm than good. Words, depending on the order they are strung together, can start or stop wars…

No excuses necessary — No is one of the hardest words in the language for people pleasers. You want to say no but the lure of being needed, swooping in to save the day because if you don’t, who will, lights you up more than a kid on Christmas morning. Operating under the misguided…

The secret mind-flip of truly confident people — People pleasers have had a long history of playing the sidekick roles to over-the-top personalities. Not believing in their own voice and confidence, such “out there” personalities become both an enigma and idolized. It is no wonder that confidence is the Holy Grail to the people pleaser. They have witnessed…

Your silence is only hurting you — My marriage was in a bad place. Insecure, I was hedging between staying because I had managed to convince myself I could never find love again, or leaving because I was tired of living like a married/single person. Not one to give up easily, I continued to hang on for…

A playbook for the average People Pleaser — Statistics from the World Health Organization suggests that about 4% of the population suffers with high levels of anxiety. As I watch my own daughter grapple with her fears, I often feel an overwhelming sense of helplessness to aid in lightening her burden. I want to make it all go…

You are living in a never-ending classroom — “An awkward moment when a zombie is out looking for brains and walks right past you.” – Seen on a sign board You just never know what you could discover when you are out and about. Even since I started my writing career, I have become more aware of life…