I love the message of Jaime's writing below. It has me thinking about how it can feel challenging to detach from the natural tendency to be in hyperproductive mode throughout the day, jumping from one thing to the next. But there are ways to step out of this mindset by checking in with myself and my body more - perhaps through simple self-questioning, slowing down daily tasks a bit, or taking a minute away from everyone and everything to be in solitude. And by doing these intentional check-ins, I can welcome more presence and ease into my being, and therefore my doing too.
- Amanda
Read MoreNEW lead-in from Christina Posa:
A client emailed me today asking if we could have a two-hour touch base at 6am tomorrow... It is those types of emails - the kind that make it feel like time is out of my control - that I easily categorize as a pet peeve. Lisa's blog makes me think of what I do when the opposite occurs: when time is suddenly freed up in my schedule. Do I scroll Instagram? Do I eat? Or do I call my mom, go for a walk, FaceTime my nieces? Do I simply fill my time, or do I do something to make my time fulfilled? I don't know if I have the answer in retrospect, but I will definitely be more conscious, and a bit more intentional, next time this anti-pet-peeve presents itself.
- Christina
Read MoreI love these reflections from Jaime after time spent out in the woods. I too go for a woods walk every evening, but the way Jaime notices the tiniest gifts from nature always inspires me more deeply. Reading this makes me want to slow down more, to pause and observe what is going on around me, and to really soak it all in because there are so many wonders taking place simultaneously right at my sneakers as I put one foot in front of the other. I’m in constant awe of the different findings that exist here in our natural world, and Jaime captures this diversity so beautifully in both her words and pictures (which I made into a little collage at the bottom). :)
- Amanda
Read MoreNEW lead-in from Neeru Garg:
Even what would be considered a routine in everyday life one can always find unexpected and beautiful. Sasha has a wonderful message, something I can very much relate to.
- Neeru
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I love that many answers to life's questions can seemingly be discovered through nature's gifts. This descriptive note from Jaime makes me feel as if I'm right there in the woods with her, letting a wave of peace wash over me. And how transformative that feeling can be if I immerse myself, fully engaging my body and my senses. What a wonderful escape it can be... to bask in the light, to breathe in the fresh air, and to be where my feet are planted, even if just for a few moments.
- Amanda
Read MoreWhat an interesting distinction between two seemingly similar words Steve writes on here. It has me thinking more about the kinds of activities I love doing simply for the process of doing, not for the end result. One thing that comes to mind for me is running. I never time my runs, and haven't since I was on the track team. It's the time alone, the music, and the fresh air and oxygen high that drives my motivation step by step. I hope you enjoy this note from Steve! It's now left me thinking about what other hobbies I'd like to learn or pursue next.
- Amanda
Read MoreA couple weeks back, I asked a few people in the community to share something small that brings them great joy. I loved going through all the different responses, and am sharing this compiled list of anti-pet peeves below. Hope you enjoy it too. Happy Tuesday everyone!
- Amanda
Read MoreNEW lead-in from Richard Sugarman:
Such a beautiful touching story from Niko.
It’s made me think about reducing people to numbers or not seeing them at all. The people around us every day struggling to make a life often under the most difficult circumstances. They can seem invisible. Just a blur in a moment of a day. Who are these people? What are their lives? Who do they love and who loves them?
There are real people behind all these numbers. Real people quietly getting through the day, loving and being loved, building a life brick by brick day by day.
Maybe there is richness and healing in…Stopping to See them. Pause with them. Honor them.
- Richard
Read MoreAs someone who likes to partake in yoga, I found it interesting to get to hear what the experience and process is like from the instructor's end. Corey’s blog reminds me of one of my teacher’s styles - she teaches the vinyasa flow slowly in steps, and then gives us a few minutes to practice on our own afterwards. During this time, there is no guidance or help or feedback given. She simply turns up the music and allows us to practice at our own pace. I appreciate the sense of freedom here to work independently and attentively, even though I often forget the order of which pose comes next in the sequence of the flow. Yet it still feels empowering, mistakes and all. And as Corey mentions, this practice time and being able to take the reins to teach myself is crucial in that it provides the opportunity for personal growth and new learnings.
- Amanda
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Sadly, I am not the sister accredited to the quote Amanda cites in this blog. But I do believe I should receive honorable mention for keeping that quote alive. Nonetheless, I love each of the stories Amanda shares in this blog that so accurately embody what one sister or other other said years ago. I am left thinking of all the tiny compartments that make up this bigger, good life...
- Christina
Read MoreMy brain went into a red alert after reading the first sentence of this piece. It seemed to contradict an idea I hold dear from The Alchemist, "don't take anything personally". And how can I not take anything personally AND care about something at the same time? But my perceived paradox is neatly resolved when I change my scope — don't sweat the small stuff, and care deeply about the big stuff.
Thanks for this piece, Sasha! I dug reading more about the values your company champions.
- Corey
Read MoreIn a breakout room last week, Richard Sugarman asked some great questions around what may be the indicators of trust being evident and connection to be felt between people. It had me thinking more about how one might start to build the foundation for this. I immediately thought about the importance of expressing curiosity for others through asking questions, particularly meaningful ones as Rich had just done, as these can truly serve as bridges amongst individuals from all different backgrounds. Jaime's writing below inspires me to think more about the beauty of learning about others and their interests and beliefs, with both friends and strangers. And how doing so can expand not only my perspective but my empathy for others.
- Amanda
Read MoreNEW lead-in from Alex Tulloch:
Whenever someone asks about ReShawn or Sedric or Floyd or Cedric or Calvin, I always introduce them the same way: as my brothers. And every time I say that, the response I usually get is "Well, not your brother brother." That's always confused me, because while we're not biologically related, we're certainly connected in a way that I could primarily describe as brotherly. So Irwin's piece helped me add another word to describe the connection that we share; a sensation that I've grown to feel amongst our CFC, a family family (whatever that means).
Read MoreI recently picked up an old software project that had been collecting a bit of dust. It was something I worked on with a friend a couple months back, and we had a lot of fun making it. But life things crept in and took focus for both of us, so we got it to a good place where the project could be left in “storage” for a while, its future features’ by-when dates set to the nebulous “TBD”.
And then last week, I decided it was time to give our project the nice coat of paint we always wanted it to have. I checked out our prototype, decided on the feature to fix, and a feature to add. Keep it simple to start. My brain reached for the next step…
…but nothing appeared.
Read MoreZoom is here to stay, an integral part of our work lives and work culture.
I’m a big fan for lots of reasons: gone are the days of faceless phone calls, and our work norms have finally shifted, making it professionally acceptable to ditch the logistics of unnecessary travel for in-person meetings.
Read MoreIt's easy to feel obsessed with convenience and quickness.
Doing things faster. More efficient.
There's a desire for the quick high of the left lane
We grow the “most food for the most people”.
And I know I can buy anything from anywhere and have it tomorrow.
But what if going slow was sexy?
Read MoreAs someone who spends a good deal of time in technology, it’s always hard for me to gauge when something “big” has really arrived. I’ve come to depend on my lovely wife as that signal. We have a daily ritual where we end our work days, and a bottle of wine (or Tequila depending) comes out. And if she opens the cocktail hour like a comedian (“So, what’s the deal with this thing”), I know that the thing is starting to get some buzz. Well, like many I’m finding, she’s equally frightened, fascinated, and filled with wonder with what’s going on in AI right now.
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