Love & Wisdom
Moxie on Monday: The Antidote to Exhaustion Isn’t What You Think
Maybe you don’t need more rest. Maybe you need more heart.
Burnout is real. It can also be a tricky devil, misleading us into believing that what we need is more rest. I believe it’s something else altogether. The antidote to exhaustion is living life with more gusto and gumption. You know, jumping in with both feet rather than tippy-toeing in from the sidelines? Life’s a…
Moxie on Monday: Let It Take Root Before You Reveal It
Some things grow best in the dark
We live in a world that celebrates the loud, the visible, the shared. Social media turns our lives into highlight reels, with ideas and dreams posted before they’ve even taken root. But the most powerful growth happens in the quiet. Life-changing ideas often rise from solitude — like mushrooms, meant to grow in the dark,…
A Disco-Inspired Love Story
A Bellevue wedding, 27 years in the making
A chance meeting. A long love story. One unforgettable night. Randy Gantenbein, who once managed Paul Allen’s properties and has spent decades in hospitality, and Ernie Vigil, a Navy veteran and longtime nurse, first met in a San Diego Starbucks on Easter Sunday. Randy was sipping coffee and flipping through his horoscope. “It said, ‘You’ll…
Why Text Therapy Works for Teens
Seattle’s free therapy program meets teens where they are — on their phones
When teens in Seattle need someone to talk to, many are starting with their phones. The city launched a free virtual therapy program for teens and young adults in December. It’s open to residents ages 13 to 24 and includes unlimited messaging with a licensed therapist, one live video session per month, and access to…
Moxie on Monday: Don’t Resist. Accept.
Longing alone won’t carry us to freedom
Have you ever been gobsmacked by a quote? This happened to me recently when I came across the words of Neville Goddard, long considered the father of the law of attraction. They were packed with potent wisdom: “Don’t hate where you are while trying to get to where you want to be.” His words were…
Heartbeat: I Have My Escape. What’s Yours?
My post-election trauma has me seeking solace in anything but the news
I am in a cycle that certain people are going through after the presidential election. It’s a classic case of grief, refusal, some level of acceptance, and hopefully renewal. I don’t know if just avoidance and escape are part of the model, but they certainly are for me. My reaction? The morning news was part…
Moxie on Monday: Make Your Own Path
Step off the expected road. Start building the one that's yours.
What if the path you’re meant to walk hasn’t been created yet? What if the roadmap you’ve spent your life clinging to — the one drawn by parents, teachers, friends, and society — was never meant to lead you to joy? What if the only real way to find bliss is to step off the…
Moxie on Monday: Your Life, Their Lens
Perception isn’t truth — and that's a good thing
Have you ever thought about how every person in your life holds a different version of you in their mind? There’s only one you. And yet, there are infinite stories being written about you by others. Each one is shaped by a different lens, a different experience, a different moment in time. Many of these…
Moxie on Monday: Live For Now
This moment matters more than you think
What if today was your last day on Earth? The last time you’ll see a sunset. The last time you’ll hug a loved one. The last walk on a beautiful beach. The last nap. The last dance. Would you see life differently? Would you savor every moment? Would you finally say the words you’ve been…
Moxie on Monday: Be the Rainbow
Storms pass, revealing colors that are yours to claim
Bad weather appears when you least expect it — suddenly, brilliantly — like a promise from the universe that light always follows the dark. Living on the Puget Sound, I’ve seen more rainbows — and double rainbows — than any other time in my life. Maybe it’s the endless misty showers, or maybe it’s something…
Moxie on Monday: The Power of 100 Hours
How to master almost anything — no expertise required
Have you heard of the 10,000-hour rule, popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in his bestselling book, Outliers? The premise is that it takes thousands of hours of dedicated practice to become a true expert. And while that’s great for aspiring concert pianists or Olympic athletes, most of us aren’t striving to be world-class. We just want…
Grudge Detox: Purging Toxic Thoughts
Refocusing on the future rather than holding onto the past
I spent 20 years waiting for some sort of an apology from my stepfather. I was not entirely patient about this. For most of that time I was pretty furious, actually. And while I certainly wouldn’t characterize this as good or healthy, I don’t think it was entirely unjustified, either. My mom discovered he had…
Avoid These Common Conversation Crimes
When to talk, when to not, and what not to say to your partner
Because of my work with couples and relationships both as a researcher and an on-air relationship expert, I have observed many intimate conversations ranging from sweet and loving to harsh, nasty, and even vindictive. I have noticed when the best course would be just to listen, and when it’s time to respond. I am also…
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