Quilting is a delicate art that is created one stitch at a time. It is a slow, gradual process, similar to moving through the grief process. I come from a family of artists, although I personally have only begun to claim that title in the last five years. Recently, one of my mentors told me that she used quilting to handle her own depression. I was delighted and pleasantly surprised to find that she and I share this healing modality.

Have you ever noticed that some people maintain a positive attitude no matter what is happening around them? Just like most people, they appreciate good times, they also seem to be positive even when something negative occurs. This positive attitude is cultivated by practicing gratitude. When you practice gratitude, you find a powerful way to overlook negativity and instead look at the small things that make your life feel lovely.

It was an absolute privilege to spend three days with Brené Brown and other smart driven powerful change-makers. And I walked into the training and shame was knocking at my door. Here is what she (my inner bully) said, “Don’t be too big. Don’t be too much. Don’t sit it front. Don’t complain. And for God’s sake, keep your artwork in your notebook. Don’t try and be liked. Don’t try and spread light. Just sit there are learn.”…

I walked in to my second home and the smell was familiar. The people were too. The stickiness on the ground was comforting although I don’t usually like the two-step my shoes take with sticky floors. I was walking into my morning office – Peets.

It’s my freshman year. I walk down the hall. I’m late. I hear my shoes echo. I’m heading into the classroom of my least favorite teacher of my first year in high school, Mrs. Smith. I knew about Mrs. Smith before I meet her.

I recently had the pleasure of presenting the value of Brené Brown’s work to a group of Executives at Salesforce. Everyone responded openly to share in the powerful social-emotional work from her latest book, “Dare to Lead.” Out of nowhere an incredible teaching moment hit me!