Preparing for School is Different Today How well I remember all the preparation Mom went through to get us ready for returning to school: getting our uniforms, finding notebooks, pens, pencils, and arranging carpools because there was no public transportation where we lived.   It’s so different today.  The students in my neighborhood have electric bicycles (at a minimum of $1,000). Their cellphones are charged. Uniforms are absent, and so fashion takes whatever is the mode of the day.  But one thing remains:  school is still the place where minds can be stretched with new ideas. It’s where books open worlds unseen and creativity can blossom if encouraged.  The Greater Challenge at School Today As a former teacher, I believe today’s greater challenge is to foster connections and appreciation of differences. I believe that the soft skills of listening, speaking, and expressing empathy are more essential than ever.  I’d have my students silence all phones and literally write only by hand on paper. Research suggests that we retain more information when our brain and hand are moving in sync with the information.  Yes, I’d also be strict. There would also be boundaries, as well as courtesies, expressed to students and parents alike. Such an atmosphere offers security and safety,  In my last year in the classroom, I was Teacher of the Year for Nassau County.  But what mattered more, years later, was that when my students graduated from high school, they asked me to return as the teacher who had helped them the most. I believe that soft skills, boundaries, and an intention to honor each child still offer rewards today.

With my hang gliding instructor and short hair! In my 20s, I had long, straight dark hair, parted in the middle. Living in South Florida, I also had a deep tan. My brother’s friends thought I was a Native American. “I’m a Shawnee”, I told them. But with age, job demands, and little time to mess with my hair, I got it cut, permed, highlighted, and used hair rollers. Girl friends, you know the drill. Short hair was my go-to solution. And so, it was for more than 35 years. I kept my hair short.  Dealing with Hair as We Age But with age, my hair texture changed to frizz. The solution: grow it long and hope the weight of my hair would smooth it out. Now with chin-length, straight hair, I went to my annual National Speakers Association conference this July.  These are colleagues who have known me for decades. Comments ranged from “Oh, you’ve grown your hair!” to “It’s different.”  A few people said they liked it, but my good friends said it was too much hair for my small face. I came home and got it cut three days ago.  I must admit it:  it did look better. As with so much of life, I   stepped back and took in the lessons. Learning the Lessons After the Hair Cut Lesson #1 Accept what is.  It’s one thing to try alternatives in life, but at a certain point, I realized the wisdom of working with reality.  Lesson #2 What a gift to have good, honest friends. We all need those few friends who have our best interests at heart, who tell us the truth even if we don’t want to hear it. Lesson #3 By extension, dangerous “leaders” are those who are surrounded by sycophants, self-serving folks who “kiss the ring” so they can stay in a position of power. It’s what we have now in our United States government. I hope you, my readers, take these lessons to heart. Not just for physical appearances, but for what it means today in our country. Become quiet, and the democracy that is here today will be gone tomorrow.

This was the point underscored by Bishop Mariann Budde at a conference earlier this year in Germany. Some 100,000 attendees from 80 nations converged for a discussion on faith, politics, and culture. Bishop Budde, an American Episcopal prelate who has served as Bishop of Washington since 2011 and oversees the National Cathedral in DC, addressed the conference.  Her words are so profound: “ Our   challenge: a culture of contempt that has normalized hateful speech and encourages violence. Actively promoted within and outside the US by those who benefit financially and politically from our divisions.   We are not made of stone—often discouraged and saddened by what we see around us. What is needed now is hope… Hope that we can stop the damage being done and work toward a society in which all of us, in our God-given diversity, can thrive. We must invest in what we believe in—to find shared ground and work toward common goals for different reasons.  Pray daily for wisdom, strength, and grace. Hopelessness is not an option.” Amen

On one day in March, the Trump administration fired half of the Department of Education. One thousand three hundred employees, many with decades of experience and advanced degrees, came into work on a Tuesday morning, were told to leave early, and were fired by email that night.   Except that wasn’t the end of the story.    A federal judge put a hold on the layoffs, and workers were left in limbo until the Supreme Court approved the firings last week. Not Just Workers, but All American are Suffering, and Time to Wake Up!   Fired. Not fired. Laid off, forced to retire, asked to come back. Government workers have been jerked around like puppets on a string by the Trump administration –  and not only are the workers and their families suffering, but the American people are also suffering.   What happens when expertise is discarded, departments are hollowed out, and essential functions of government are crippled?  275,000 Employees Target for Layoffs Since January, more than 275,000 employees have been targeted for layoffs by Trump’s DOGE and other reductions in force, and the administration has already been able to fire more than 128,000 of them.   But the confusion surrounding these layoffs and their legality is causing ongoing problems.  Denied Retirement and Unemployment Benefits   Employees are being denied early retirement or unemployment benefits that were promised to them because the Trump administration doesn’t file the right paperwork or didn’t file it at all. They’ve received no information for how to apply for insurance benefits.   We’re all feeling the impact of these firings, as critical agencies like Social Security, FEMA, and the National Weather Service are now understaffed. I write this because too many of us are asleep at the wheel while this democracy is on life support. To be silent is to be complicit. Kristi Noem—who delayed responding to the devastating Texas floods for two days while posing for press photos—now leads ICE. ICE is now the country’s largest federal law enforcement agency, bigger than the FBI, bigger than the DEA. Not Political, but Fact Base This is not a political article—it is a fact-based editorial. Politics often divides, but the truth should unite us. I believe it’s up to us—the everyday citizens who aren’t worried about losing a government seat, money, or perceived power—to speak out on behalf of all our fellow Americans, regardless of race, color, creed, or gender identity Time to wake up! Will you join me in saving this democracy?

I have never declared July a month “dark.” Holiday weeks, yes — but a whole month? Never. Perhaps you will join me in stepping away from your work for a while, time off for good behavior. I will confess that this month is bookended with two events. The first is in Malaysia, where I am the opening keynote speaker for a double-header: and Global ESG and Sustainability . Yes — all in the same conference room. It draws leaders from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. I said “yes” months ago. I leave in five days for my 22-hour journey to Kuala Lumpur. Sometimes I follow my heart rather than my head. I will close out July with my dear colleagues at the National Speakers Association . I have the honor of introducing the opening keynoter, Australian Amanda Gore . We became friends 26 years ago when she agreed to come to the U.S. to speak at the NSA national conference I was chairing. What a joy to be with her again. In between these two events, I will seek out what is juicy and unusual. I will say yes to what supports this nation’s democracy, which I love. And love is the theme at a time when hatred, division, and cruelty are all too common. Hmmm. Join me?

June is known for gray skies and stiff winds in Southern California—not what you’d expect in this part of the world. Somehow, this mirrors the bleak outlook for grocery and gas prices, the continued corruption in Washington, the ongoing war against science and medical research, disdain for the rule of law, and so on. Now that I’ve thoroughly depressed myself…STOP! Resiliency can’t grow in the dark. Time to turn on the light of kindness and compassion, petting dogs and kissing babies, feeding neighbors and mailing lemon cakes to sick friends, dancing on the beach, and planting flowers. In our workplaces, what turns on the light? Can you start June by complimenting a colleague? Can you surprise someone by buying their lunch?  Can you bloom where you are planted by taking a moment to write what you do that is meaningful to you, and if not, what changes must you make?   With June, the year is half over—no time to waste. Love to hear your thoughts.

For example, did you know any of the following? • The largest dam removal project in history is underway, allowing the Klamath River in California and Oregon to run free again. • The Thames River was declared “biologically dead” sixty years ago and is now one of the world’s cleanest urban rivers. • Solar and wind installations are projected to make up over 70% of new electricity capacity in the U.S. this year. • China has re-greened vast areas of the Loess Plateau, once considered “the most eroded place on Earth.” • In March, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on the text of a peace agreement to end nearly four decades of conflict. Sadly, the mantra for traditional media is “If it bleeds, it leads.”  Market crashes, hate crimes, wars, White House attempts to thwart the rule of law, and on it goes.   I realized that to lower my blood pressure, I needed to find GOOD factual news. And I have!  The list above comes from recent editions of Fix the News, a weekly newsletter that presents stories of progress from around the world that delight and inspire.  Numerous other online sources – daily meditations, podcasts, newsletters, and opinion essays  – expand your sense of possibility and energize rather than depress you. Some of these require subscriptions, and why not pay for these non-mainstream sources? They need our support! I just signed up for FIX THE NEWS. Please tell me what you will do.

Springtime has always meant “housekeeping” to me. That’s not just about cleaning, dusting and ironing (yes, I love to iron and so does Sandra Bullock).  No, it’s more about putting away, giving away, and throwing away. Ah, but letters!  I just went through a file and found letters from my dear friend Rosita Perez.  Rosita was a one-of-a-kind speaker. She always had a flower in her hair, played the guitar (with probably only four notes), and sang in between her very wise advice and insights.  Her megawatt smile would brighten a ballroom, and her laugh could shake the rafters.  She called me “Lassie” for my Scot-Irish heritage.  No email for Rosita—nope, her notes were typed on a Smith Corona. Every word of those notes meant she had found something unique and marvelous about a piece I wrote (LA Times op ed) or a speech she heard me give. “That was some LA Times piece: poetic, rough, intelligent, informed, and very real.”  Wow.  She saved her longer letter for one of my books that came out after 9-11: “The Resilient Spirit: Heart Talk for Staying Rightside Up in a World That's Upside Down. Rosita wrote, “The book is truthful, motivating, a breeze to read, and memorable and real… I’d be hard pressed to come up with another gift that is so valued and brings greater joy. Good work, Lassie.” As I re-read her letters written in 2003, I realized two truths: Real letters—not email that is easily discarded—are a gift beyond measure. Writing to someone from the heart carries a lifetime of benefits. The National Speakers Association and I lost this beautiful lady 20 years ago. Thanks to my housekeeping, I found her again.

It happened at a town hall conducted by our fabulous Congressman Mike Levin. Given the divisive nature of my country right now, my emotions were high. I was talking to Louise, sitting next to me and, I must admit, had a rather loud voice. The woman seated to my right gave us curt looks, rolled her eyes, and “humphed.”   Louise determined she was from the “other” political party. I agreed. But then I decided to reach across the seat and tell her how much I liked her hairstyle (which was true).  She smiled. During our conversation, we discovered that both of us have hearing loss. My new friend can’t wear hearing aids, but I can. Louise’s loud voice was irritating and stopped conversations. Over the next hour, we found much in common about what was so scary and wrong with our nation and what we might do to help right the massive swing to the right.  Bottom line: I think my new friend Frances and I will meet at another meeting. We might share some wine together—or not. My lesson: Reach out and find something neutral and kind. I was surprised by the outcome. Let me know what you discover. Also, my assistant tells me that she looks for people she can complement because it makes her happy to create smiles.

Action is the antidote for anxiety. That’s one of my key learning points when I speak on resilience—sitting still and stewing, doing the “what if” game in your head, or envisioning all the worst scenarios will make you crazy! I know. I get stuck in that futile cycle. Given the outrageous, horrifying behaviors and pronouncements that are happening right now in my country, I can feel my anxiety level rising. Some days, I want to stay in bed, pull the covers over my head, and rock back and forth.  I would do that as a child when I was afraid. I’d keep my head under the covers and repeatedly say, “I’m going to the moon. I’m going to the moon.”  Doesn’t work as an adult, though.  What is causing this anxiety is to watch the rapid destruction of this democracy under the hands of the most unqualified and dangerous administration this nation has ever experienced. (I can hear the whispers now: “OMG, she’s getting political.” ) Hmmm—yes and no.  I’m also not happy with several Democrats. Instead, the lack of critical thinking, accountability, and honesty in the last two months has caused great concern. Actions are taken without acknowledging the harm done to my fellow citizens. Actions taken by a non-elected mega-billionaire are not only illegal but also unconstitutional. The system of checks and balances and the rule of law are thin and fraying quickly. My actions: write letters to the newspaper, write postcards to voters, attend rallies and protests, AND ignore television news. Stay educated by reading posts by people whose intelligence and analysis I respect: Heather Cox Richardson (award-winning history professor from Boston College), Joyce Vance (lawyer and author of Civil Discourse), Robert Reich (former Sec. of the Treasury), Scott Dworkin (fearless, independent journalist), Meida Touch (three brothers who are very independent and beating the socks off mainstream media in ratings). Am I still anxious? You bet. But by staying informed and taking what action I can, I am not hiding under the covers.

My Courageous Mom In 1956, this was the title of a book authored by John F. Kennedy with Ted Sorenson as a ghostwriter.  It was the biography of eight senators who defied the opinions of their party and constituents to do what they felt was right and suffered severe criticism and losses in popularity.  I can’t help but wonder who would be in such a book if it were written today. This is not a political blog but a questioning of courage in an environment without truth and the rule of law.  It Takes Courage It takes courage to leave a decade-long employment rather than abandon principles. It takes courage to point out fact over fiction. It takes courage to seek many long-term benefits rather than a few short-term ones.    And yes, even my ever-faithful operations manager is aghast that I would share these thoughts with my readers. But if I don’t, where is my courage? Is playing safe and writing about general work and communication topics better? Indeed, there is much to think about. I am Best Supported by the Courage of My Mom, a WWII WASP I am best supported by remembering my mother, who, against some public sentiment, flew for the military in WWII. Mom was a WASP, a Women’s Air Force Service Pilot.  She put her country before the fact that politicians and journalists would state that women didn’t belong in military planes—that they would be disbanded and sent away without any acknowledgment that they flew 60 million miles of military service. And yes, 36 of them died in duty—a service that freed up male pilots for combat duty.  Courage?  You bet. So, I suspect I will continue to carry on her legacy and do whatever I can to save this fantastic nation.  Do you want to join me?

I admit, I am a peanut in stature. Always said it was because I have a twin brother, and half of me just retired as a professor from Boston College. But this idea of stretching is about growing my resiliency muscle. Three years ago, I made a January resolution to do at least one thing I had never done every month.  I write down what I did and then capture it in my monthly journal.  You get the picture from taking Pilates to eating a raw oyster, from going to a huge farmer’s market to traveling along Bake Oven Road in Oregon. But the biggest “never done” has been happening for 14 months. I study Spanish twice a week, for one hour each class, with a marvelous virtual instructor from Columbia.  Christian DeSilva has created a language school with students from around the world. Most want to learn English. I’m into Spanish. I don’t always have the best discipline, but I am determined.  So here is my challenge for this month:  What is at least one thing you will DO that you have never done before? It doesn’t have to be big. It doesn’t have to be scary. But it needs to be an activity that you stand just a little taller when you have done it. Maybe you feel a little braver.  Perhaps a little wiser (as in I will never do THAT again)! We discover strengths and insights when we push ourselves out of our comfort zone—even in small ways.   I will go tandem hang-gliding in the spring with Owen Morse, a dear speaker buddy and a champion hang glider.  Note that I did not pick anyone off the street. Owen knows what he is doing. Will I be scared? Yes. Excited? Yes!  I will keep you posted. Now, it’s your turn. What is the stretch you will make?  Hasta pronto! Tengo que estudiar ahora mism.