Each morning I start my day by writing three things I am grateful for. Today I was overwhelmed with gratitude. I wrote three things and then I wrote more.

I suddenly stopped and realized that I am living the life I dreamed of years ago. I am happy. My working is meaningful. I have great relationships. I have a lot to look forward to.

And six years ago I was miserable.

Your values, vision (purpose), and lifestyle need to be in alignment to be compatible.

It applies to personal relationships. And it applies to your relationship with your employer.

Does the job and company allow you to live the lifestyle you want?

When I am talking with other HR leaders, I hear the terms "well-being" and "employee experience" a lot.

And sometimes it is just talk. They know what needs to be done and are trying to influence the C-suite to make decisions and take action that balance the business needs with the well-being of their employees - and sometimes the planet too.

When someone responds quickly to a question I ask, I am delighted. It rarely happens.

I'm busy. We are all busy. And when you make something a priority, it can be a huge help to another person.

I was talking to an executive coaching client recently. They asked, “What is the most important ability I should be looking for when I interview candidates to join my team?”

When we don’t accept what is, we struggle.

I continue to learn that lesson over and over. I create my own suffering when I don’t accept reality.

I used to have a huge garden. Over the years it has become smaller and smaller.

My passion for gardening was high in April but by August I was done. I didn’t water or weed the garden anymore because of other priorities.

This year the garden area was converted…

Business suits and dresses aren’t worn much anymore. I had oodles of them until I recently decluttered my closet. I kept a couple and said goodbye to the rest.

I felt lighter after taking the big box to Goodwill. I let go of a version of myself that isn’t needed anymore.

I was talking to a friend recently about her boyfriend and she is confused. He isn’t spending as much time with her as he used to. He isn’t calling, texting, or making plans to spend time with her as often he used to.

She made the comment, “I deserve better than this.” I agreed.

A definition of validation is “recognition or affirmation that a person or their feelings or opinions are valid or worthwhile.”

I went to breakfast with a group of friends recently. We’ve known each other for more than 20 years and originally worked together in the HR function of a Fortune 500 company.

Each of us deals with situations we didn’t expect to have to deal with.

When my husband was 38 years old, he was diagnosed with tongue cancer. We had just purchased the home I am sitting in now.

My neighbor, who lives across the street, has a three year old son. Preston is great at repeating what you reward.

If he wants to hang out with my 13 year old son, he yells “Ben come sit” from his front yard.

When I was a kid growing up in a small town in Kansas, we had a Dairy Queen-like store. They had things like soft serve ice cream, burgers, hot dogs, french fries, and ice cream sundaes. It was a treat to get to go there as a kid.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. My 18-year-old daughter is going to college in August.

I’ve failed to teach her a few critical life skills. I certainly won’t win the “Mother of the Year” award.

She can’t fry an egg. Seriously. Burns them. Every. Time.

The executives demanding that their employees work from the office believe it is the best way to get the work done so they can meet their goals.

The employees, who work from home and want to continue, believe that is the best way to get their work done so they can meet their goals.

Both are demanding that their approach is the best way forward.

I've been thinking about my personal definition of success.

In my 20s it was my job title, how much I earned, and an apartment with a washer and dryer so I didn't have to go to the laudromat.

Most of us will say "good" and then move on in the conversation to something else.

But I'm willing to bet, you aren't "good" or even "okay."

Many years ago, I had a co-worker ask me in the hallway at work, "How are you?"

More states and cities in the U.S. are passing legislation requiring employers to post pay ranges on their job openings.

I wish that this wasn't something the government required but few employers have done this without being required to do so.

I’ve been thinking about how people say one thing and do another.

Words are easy to say. Following those words up with aligned actions is another.

When was the last time you received handwritten note in the mail?

I'm thinking about this because my daughter is writing her thank you notes for her high school graduation gifts this week.

I remember doing this a lot in the 1980s and 1990s. Not so much now.