JennyPaulin

“When can I get a full data plan?” asks my son as he opens a conversation about the upcoming school year. We’ve been sitting around our kitchen table and nearing the end of a robust discussion on making personal choices, taking chances, listening to instincts. But applying life lessons to data plans just feels entirely too much for me. I can tell we are at the close of open-minded parent/child dialogue and also, discussing cell phone use or any kind of screen time these days with my children is about [...]

These long summer days have given way to afternoons spent huddled, feet tucked under bums, watching movies to pass the afternoon storms, the stifling heat, and through the luxurious stretch in summer's time. And so it is with this week's post, entrenched in the soundtracks of family movie classics, that I write in response to the life lessons taught from these epic films. My personal favorites revolve basically around anything Julie Andrews. We (the females in the household) pump the good vibes of these tunes throughout our days, singing, dancing [...]

I had a visit from one of my sisters this weekend. She rustled up her large family and joined mine in an effort to relax and enjoy some time at the lake. Together we packed chips and guac, water bottles and rosé and headed to the beach where we let our big collective family play. Between head counts and sunscreen applications we sat knee to knee gabbing about all things on the heart – like what it’s like to work as a mom with littles, goals we’ve set for the [...]

These are troubling times. I think sometimes people expect, as a coach, that I put my game face on, see the sunny side of things and move forward. But the truth is, sometimes you need to put your face in your hands and just weep. It might be the current events of our aching country. It could be a personal moment that takes you by surprise. I recently found myself seized by a song as I was driving on a sunny afternoon (You Should Be Here by Cole Swindell). All [...]

The power of your universe is strong. It’s hard to tell sometimes, as we get stuck in the chatter of our ego and we walk around in our human skin feeling every emotion. It’s an incredible gift, actually, to be human and think and feel - to have the capacity to engage so deeply with other human beings that we no longer feel our separateness. Our world is trying so hard to grasp this idea of unity and yet it is our rightful “home base” when we tap into our [...]

There’s a lot of talk about saying “No”. Especially in the world of motherhood, where we are often stretched paper thin between the social calendar, the work duties and parenting, learning to say No can be a challenge: “No, I cannot be Lead Parent for the little league team (I’m starting a business this year and will need all the extra time I have,”) “No I cannot meet for dinner this week (sitting with a glass of wine and watching HGTV is on my mental calendar instead,”) “No, I won’t [...]

You know those moments when you get an idea that just sends shivers through your body? Before your mind begins its fear-based chatter of how irrational and out of reach it really is? And maybe the truth of it stirs so deeply in your being that tears spring to your eyes and humility settles in. This is inspiration at its finest and we call it intuitive “hit” for a reason. If we allow it, it can be quite bold in getting our attention. As fate would have it, this was [...]

When we were little we dreamt big. We thought of things with strong feelings -- like "Policemen are so powerful and firefighters so brave." Like: "My mom is beautiful, mighty. And I want to be just like her." We had big stories to fulfill. Our stories were just beginning and our courage was boundless. Some of us still have big dreams. We might dream of some grand thing that encompasses our desires, our gifts. We might dream simply of living a best life, sacrificing nothing in the wake of doing [...]

It has been said that hope is a waking dream (Aristotle) and that gratitude unlocks the fullness of life (Melody Beattie). I fully believe in both. I often say as I look back on the more troubling times of life, that if I could speak to my past self, I would say "It's all going to be OK. " or "This will be a blip." Don't we all? How many times have we acknowledged that, in fact, letting go of our attachment to the outcome we desire has opened the [...]

Do you ever look into your closet and wonder what the WHAT is actually going on in there? Looking at the abyss which houses all manner of wearable items that you either love to wear, hate to wear, don't wear or don't even know exists in there? Usually around this time of year I make a practice of sifting through the exorbitance and with the conviction of a professional organizer I try to rid the hoggish space of all that no longer serves me. The words "If you haven't worn [...]