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My life flashed before my eyes today. Again. It's the second time in a month. There's a busy intersection in Woodside that we cross every day to walk the dogs. A few weeks ago, the walk signal came on. We stepped toward the crosswalk when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a driver in the car to my left glance left, tap the brakes, and gun it right (without even looking to the right.) He missed us by inches. I may have yelled something less than inspirational. Since then, even when the walk signal says "Go," I wait a beat. Today, that one little habit may have saved us - again! The walk signal came on. I paused. A split second later, a car came flying through the red light. If we'd started walking when we were supposed to, we would have been standing in the middle of the intersection.  A few months ago I watched the cutest little chipmunk get hit by a car on this same street. The driver never stopped. I was convinced he was dead. He didn't move. Not an inch. ...

Last weekend we bought a bag of pears at the Pear Fair. As we were loading them into the car, Don looked at the bag and said, "There's no way we're going to eat all of these before they go bad." I looked at the same bag and thought... "We'll make a dessert and share it with our neighbors at Wine Down on Friday." Same pears. Completely different perspectives. Don saw fruit that might end up in the compost. I saw Friday night's dessert. It made me realize that's how I've always moved through life. When I discover a buttery Chardonnay, I immediately think of my mom because I know she'd love it. If I find a great restaurant, I text a friend. If I visit a museum, a winery, or a little festival that's worth the drive, I usually end up sharing it—not because I want people to know where I've been, but because I'm already thinking about who else might enjoy it. I've realized I don't just collect experiences. I collect things wo...

Years ago, someone told me that if you wear pink on Monday, you'll have a better day and a better start to the week. Is it true? I have absolutely no idea. I've never looked for a scientific study. I don't know if psychologists have measured the mood-boosting effects of a pink sweater or whether wearing a rosy blouse increases productivity by 17%. But I kind of hope no one ever disproves it. Because every Sunday night, when I'm deciding what to wear, I still think about it. And more often than not, I reach for something pink. Maybe it's because pink feels optimistic. It's hard to be in a bad mood wearing a color that reminds you of spring flowers, sunsets, cotton candy, and birthday frosting. Or maybe it's because the ritual itself matters. We all have little things we do that probably don't change the outcome—but they change us . A favorite coffee mug. A lucky pen. The same playlist before a big meeting. Walking the dog before opening the laptop. Sittin...

Shortly after we moved to Sacramento last August, Instagram started serving us ads for Ruth's Chris Steak House happy hour. A burger. A drink. Walking distance from our house from 4pm - 6pm.  One Friday we finally decided to check it out. We walked in around 5pm, looked around for the bar...and immediately realized every seat was taken. "Wow," we thought. "Happy hour must be popular." As we stood there deciding whether to stay or leave, we turned around. That's when we saw them. About a dozen people sitting quietly in chairs near the entrance. Toes tapping. Hands clenched.  All staring directly at us. They had been waiting for a table. We had unknowingly walked right past the entire line. There are few feelings more awkward than realizing an entire room thinks you just cut in front of them. We looked at each other, quietly backed out, and went to the restaurant next door for happy hour. Fast forward to this morning. After walking the dogs, we s...

What years of skipping breakfast, sugar cravings, and learning about food taught me about feeling like myself again. I remember pulling on my favorite pair of jeans one morning. I got them buttoned. Barely. Then I looked down. The dreaded muffin top. A few days later I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror...from the back. Where did those rolls come from? The muffin top had invited friends. And somewhere along the way... My butt packed up and moved out. What the fudge? I stood there thinking, I miss me. Not the wrinkle-free me. Not the twenty-five-year-old me. Just the woman who felt comfortable in her own skin. The woman who wasn't wondering if her shirt was long enough or promising herself that this Monday she'd finally start another diet. Then I realized something. I've had an unhealthy relationship with food for most of my life. As a kid, my mom handed me a piece of toast every morning as I walked out the door. Every morning... I'd throw it in the bushes. The bir...

One of the best marketing tools doesn't cost a thing. Well, maybe it costs a little. But it's worth the investment in a tank of gas. So, what is it? Leave the office. Go visit your stores. Walk your clubs. Spend time where your customers actually experience your brand. Watch what they do. What do they notice first? Where do they hesitate? Which team members create great interactions without anyone asking them to? What questions are customers asking? What are they taking photos of? Ignoring? Talking about? Dashboards tell you what happened. Your customers will show you why. Some of the best ideas I've implemented over the years didn't come from a conference room. They came from walking a club floor, talking with members, listening to team members, or simply noticing something that didn't feel quite right. Those visits have influenced everything from marketing campaigns and sales tools to club layouts, member communications, and training. It's easy to get buried i...