Attention is the main currency in any situation. When you’re a child, you want your caregivers to look – look at what you did, look at what you found, look at you. As you get older, attention shows up as recognition in school or sports, where suddenly everyone is looking at you. When you are acknowledged in different areas of your life, people “take a look” at your accomplishments, and for a moment, the room’s attention is on you. Of course, things happen whether we are looking at them or not – but our attention to something, often in the form of physically looking, is what gives it weight, meaning,…
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Over the years, I’ve crossed paths with people who held different levels of responsibility in their work. They weren’t celebrities or familiar names, but they were people who played roles that shaped the companies and teams around them. Some had built decades-long careers, growing with their companies one step at a time. Some folks were just stepping into larger leadership roles. What stood out to me was never quite their title – it was how they showed up, what they brought to the table, and how they made other people feel. Once, I heard a man speak just before retiring after nearly fifty years with the same company. He had…
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When was the last time you were upset about something? Maybe you had a fight with a friend or colleague. Maybe you had a breakup, or someone slighted you in public. Whatever the case may be, it’s likely that there have been times in your life where someone hurt you – and you had to move on. Moving on from conflict can be difficult, especially when there’s a lot of emotional charge attached to it. The end of a long-term romantic relationship, the betrayal of what was once a strong friendship, or misunderstandings with a family member can all leave lasting effects. Feelings of anger, injustice, shame, embarrassment – or…
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The universe communicates with me all the time. Sometimes in “mysterious ways,” sometimes in ways that are so direct it’s undeniable. Synchronicities show up, such as numbers on a clock, the perfect lyrics in a song, or even through conversations with others. We can always learn and grow and expand – even in moments when someone directs a throwaway comment our way. Sometimes what feels meaningless to one person can drastically impact another’s life. Maybe our higher power speaks to us in all kinds of ways – if we only listen. There are messages in times that are happy and growth-filled, and other times, when we feel lonely and unseen.…
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Everyone craves validation. People want to feel like they matter – that they’re important, attractive, successful, and ultimately acceptable to the group. Validation, whether it comes from within or from others, mirrors our emotions and inner world. It helps us know that we’re okay. You can think of validation as emotional feedback. When we’re infants, we look into our caregivers’ eyes for confirmation that we’re safe and that we matter. As we grow, the smile a parent gives us when we seek reassurance, the friend who listens when we need to talk, or the encouragement from a teacher when we’re struggling – all of these are forms of reassurance. They’re…
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I was with a couple of friends recently. They were talking about some home renovations they were making, when one asked the other, “What if so-and-so moved in next to you?”. Without missing a beat, my friend replied, “I would move.” They both laughed at the idea, and then the one responded with, “Wow, they have a lot of power over you.” I thought about that quite a bit. What does it mean to let someone have power over you? I’ve actually heard that phrase all throughout my life. From middle school, to college and even in my adult life. Some advice that’s been consistently given to me is “don’t…
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When I was in sixth grade, I was bullied pretty severely. It happened on a daily basis, and it eroded everything about my self-esteem. My bully was an eleven-year-old boy who called me names and encouraged the other kids to taunt me. Many of them would join in. At that time, I didn’t know what to do or what to say, so I did my best to ignore it. By ignoring it, however, that meant he got away with more and more. This went on for the whole school year and eventually became normalized by the kids in my class. I don’t remember most of what was said, but I…
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Life keeps going; so do you. So many times in life we are presented with trying situations. Challenges that might make us feel alone, or small, or scared. These little “tests” ask us to be strong, to remember our boundaries, and to stay true to who we are – just like the values Rosie stands for. I remember times in my life when I felt challenged and tried. These are times where the concept of life moving on – whether I was actively participating or not – kept showing up for me. For me, both the ideas of not giving up, and that life keeps going on are intertwined. No…
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I used to be really afraid of ghosts. Sounds at night (or even during the day), weird vibes, things moving that shouldn’t – any of it would creep me out immediately. I never wanted to watch scary movies. And I could tell you a few stories about some unexplainable events in my childhood home. I had always just assumed everyone else was afraid of spirits too – especially since you can’t see them. It’s a prime example of fear of the unknown. Plus, based on the messages I was receiving from others, it seemed like most people felt the same way I did. Then one day, I was watching a…
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If there’s one thing that catches my attention almost immediately, it’s when I hear someone talk down to themselves. Whether it’s a friend, a family member, or a colleague, I’ve heard so many people say really harsh things after a simple mistake – things like, “I’m so stupid,” or, “What an idiot.” Every time, my heart sinks a little. I would never say something so cruel to them – and I certainly wouldn’t stand quietly if someone else did. When it comes to building self-esteem, this kind of talk is detrimental to your progress. It makes me wonder: what kind of mindset creates that inner dialogue? What do people say…
