EILEEN MCDARGH'S
Resiliency Report
Published monthly and when the mood strikes.
Springing Up and Out in March and April
March/April
Update from Eileen
Perhaps you have been flooded with articles warning about AI or been hit with dozens of political texts asking for money. Perhaps you’ve been digging out the piles of snow surrounding your house while relatives in California show pictures of sea and sun. Or perhaps you are like me, not wanting the time to change because—as an early riser—that means running in the dark.
Whatever and wherever we find ourselves, these coming months can be filled with joy and discovery if we are open to possibilities.
In this issue, you’ll read about plants and people, pauses and possibilities. Just sit back and enjoy this season.
Lessons From An Amaryllis Bulb!
John came for dinner and brought me a “plant”. Not your ordinary plant, mind you, but a big, dried bulb nailed onto a piece of wood. “Don’t touch it or water it,” John warned. “Just set it on the counter and wait.”
So, for weeks, this ugly, dried-out brown bulb that looked like a huge potato sat on the counter. I noticed its girth was reducing, but that was it.
One day, I saw a small green shoot beginning to peek its head out from the dried covering. I didn’t water it. I didn’t touch it. The bulb was so ugly and certainly must have hated being nailed to the base of the wood.
A Movement That Gives Me Hope
There are places in the world where learning is not confined to classrooms, but lived out in service, courage, and connection. At UWC Costa Rica, that philosophy comes alive in extraordinary ways. Each year, students step beyond their daily routines and immerse themselves in meaningful, hands-on engagement—an experience that reflects the school’s deep commitment to shaping compassionate leaders who actively contribute to a more just and sustainable world.
As a former educator, I applaud UWC Costa Rica’s commitment to moving students beyond the confines of books and exams to become responsible citizens of the world.
Click below to read more about their mission for uniting people, nations, and cultures.
For Fun!
This is what I got when I asked AI for an image of me. Whatcha think?
Must Read Book
The Last American President by Thom Hartman
Thom Hartmann is the four-time Project Censored Award-winning, New York Times best-selling author of 25 books currently in print in over a dozen languages on five continents.
WARNING: Only read this book if you want to understand how this nation and our democracy got to the place where we could lose everything. Read only if you also want to understand what we must do to save our democracy. I grew up in a family where Dad would ask, “What did you do today for your country?” Mom flew for the military in WWII as a Women’s Airforce Service Pilot (WASP). My brother served four years in the Coast Guard.
I don’t want to read this book, and I must. For all those reasons.
To Know More—Notice More!
Just as nature offers metaphors that can become new products or solutions, using metaphors as a method for team conversation and personal inspiration offers a safe, unique way to deepen conversation and personal insight. Notice more about the tangled burr in a dog’s hair, or the padding on a gecko’s feet, or that slime mold as a model for creating traffic patterns.
Want To Improve Your Brain?
Look at the wisdom from Michigan State University Health Care:
Doctors generally agree that any kind of movement is good for your brain (and your body) compared to doing nothing. “The best advice when it comes to exercise is that some is better than none, and it’s never too late to try,” said Amit Sachdev, M.D., the director of neuromuscular medicine at Michigan State University Health Care. But this particular study found that certain types of exercises provided specific cognitive benefits.
Aerobic exercises like walking, jogging, swimming, and biking enhance blood flow, stimulate BDNF release, and support memory and executive function, Singh said. , including resistance exercises such as weightlifting and bodyweight movements, helps regulate insulin levels, reduce inflammation, and improve cognitive resilience.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to boost neuroplasticity and cognitive flexibility,” Singh said. “Mind-body exercises such as yoga, tai chi, and dance combine movement with mindfulness, improving coordination, reducing stress, and enhancing cognitive function.
PS: Now I need to find a dance class!
About Eileen
If you are looking for a unique keynote speaker in resiliency, a facilitator for executive retreats, a speech coach or an emcee/moderator, then you want to work with Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE. Eileen has spoken for audiences as large as 15,000 and facilitated groups as small as 18! She is the author of seven books and other products that you can find in her online store. The British Research firm of Global Gurus ranked her #4 among the top 30 communication gurus worldwide. Why not hire Eileen for your next event?
Dear Friends,
It’s that time of year again to vote for Global Gurus in various categories. I’ve been in the top 5 of Communication Gurus for many years. Global Gurus is a British research firm that goes out to some 20,000 people to determine standing.
Click below to nominate me as inspirational. It might ask you to log in using either Linked in or Google. You are asked to log in to assure people can only vote once. You’ll then see my face pop up along with other nominees. Select and then near the bottom, you can rank me as “inspirational ”or not.
Please let me know if this works. You are all the best.
Many thanks. I am most grateful for YOU!!!!!
Ranked 7th in Communications
This is the 8th year in a row that I have been ranked in the top 10 in communication. Global Gurus surveys some 26,000 business professionals to determine rankings plus professionals also vote.
