Four Sets of Eyes
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do that by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Earning my terrorist title
On Saturday, October 18, 2025, 7 million people stood up and sent a message to our President. It was the largest protest in the county’s history. There was no reported evidence of unlawful behavior, yet we were labeled as terrorists by the administration. I wonder if adding that to my resume would give me a…
Hate is taught
“We are not going to know anyone here tonight.” This was my warning comment to Rich, my husband, known to be a man of few words. Attending these events as a couple allows me to initiate conversations. I can even start one on a 47-second elevator ride. The valet took our car, and we stepped…
Life Lessons in Middle School
There were so many reasons to stay silent. It is easy; your social status remains unchanged, and you still get invited to the party. But at this point in my life, I don’t care if I am asked to those parties. One of the most profound experiences a child can face is the sting of…
Cakes, Coffee, and Kalashnikovs
It was the summer of 2011. My six-hour evening flight was uneventful, allowing me to watch “Bridesmaids” and make last-minute changes to my presentations. The plane hit the runway, and I held onto my seat, bracing myself as the pressure ran through the cabin. Frantic clicks of seat belts releasing cracked through the cabin as…
One pencil at a time
Graduation Day at Brookdale Community College is the crescendo of accomplishments that occur each May. The excitement, relief, and pride fill the campus, elevating even the most cynical. But my favorite part is the words spoken by those who have fought hard to cross the stage. Their stories, shared with the audience, inspire us to…
Smoke and mirrors
My father told me to never accept a counteroffer when resigning from a job. For decades, I followed his advice until I didn’t. I was happy in my current role, but recent management changes had left me with an uneasy feeling. As luck would have it, I was recruited by a former manager for a…
Searching for answers, delivered with respect
Mothers know a car is the best place to have a serious conversation. “Can we go into the vault”? Ashton asked as she drove out of the parking lot after Mother’s Day breakfast. “I have something to tell you. I have not even told my sisters because I want you to hear it from me…
Through fear to strength
Last night, I joined my neighbors to meet Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, who is running for Governor of New Jersey. This would not be significant in normal times. Yet, I am a registered Republican. She is running on the Democratic ticket. In today’s political climate, that is considered a traitorous act. I was curious and wanted…
The Political Change Shitshow
It’s 2:28 a.m. again. I reach for my phone to read Heather Cox Richardson’s message, and the emotions return. “You don’t know what you have until it is gone,” repeats in my head. My life has been a cakewalk for the last six decades despite some challenges that would curl some people into a ball.I…
The Gift of the Bubble
It wasn’t all gloom. I met a fascinating lady at the hotel who had undergone cornea surgery and enjoyed a wonderful lunch conversation. My Facebook posts brought reconnection. A two-hour conversation with my college roommate brought me back to OWU. My girlfriends hosted a virtual happy hour, complete with sunglasses to hide the patch. Yvette…
The Journey Continues
May 2nd – Two weeks ago, I was in an Uber heading to Oakland for emergency retina surgery. By now, I was mastering the art of “rest and recuperate.” The dark-rimmed bubble, now noticeably smaller, continued to shrink while appearing to move lower in my eye. As expected, my vision is limited to light and…
Follow the drifting bubble
April 17th – The following day, Dave and Kathleen returned to drive me to my follow-up appointment. I knew I could not fly home for several weeks with the bubble in my eye because the pressure created by ascending altitudes would cause it to expand. The train was a viable option. Here’s the rub, to…
Operation #1
April 16th. Regulations prohibit releasing a patient who has undergone anesthesia to be released to an Uber. I needed a trustworthy person to bring me back to my hotel, which was an hour away. Intervention 3 – Earlier in the week, a former colleague posted on FB, an extreme rarity, that his wife had cataract…
To get to the light, you need to walk through the darkness.
April 15th After a six-hour flight from NJ, I headed to the office and noticed my right eye was still blurry. Later that night, it changed, and I knew I had a problem. I could see what looked like a line of black oil swishing along the bottom of my right eye. It was creepy,…
“The music is all around you; all you have to do is listen.” August Rush
This year I am trying something different. Instead of striving for the seldom achieved BHAG, I accepted the challenge of noting and recording moments during the day that made me think. What made a difference in the way I see the world? It is incredible how noticing the small stuff can impact my perspective. Day…
The magic of the season
I read somewhere that while Thanksgiving is a day, Christmas is a season. That was all I needed to jump-start the celebration. The tree went up over Thanksgiving weekend despite looking weary on Christmas morning. Brittany & Robbie, Donovan, Ryder, and Tasha were living with us while their house was under renovation, so holiday cheer…
Grit & Grace in 22
Last year brought signature moments, beginning with an elegant wedding ceremony on LBI for Ashton & Paul. The birth of our fifth grandchild, a daughter named Tessa, wound out their year. The surprise birthday party for Rich with all his children validated his wish for a big family. I fought for those who could not…
The Summer of 22
Sitting on the deck looking at the scaffolding on Old Barney, I am reminded of the similarities. The 163-year-old structure needed refurbishing, and, in some ways, so did I. The break from my full-time job was the unexpected answer. A girlfriend asked what my favorite part was about not working, and my answer was having…
When the wrapping doesn’t match the gift
“Did Sean fill his open job?” popped up in a Slack message from our Chief People Officer, and I had my answer. Without significant revenue, the company could not survive. Over the weekend, the leaders met to decide who would be laid off to make up the shortfall. Just like that, along with 17% of…
Because I loved a dog
I am a cat person and have always been a cat person. If there was a stray cat within 25 miles, they would find their way into my home and heart. And then I met Sophia. In 2005, Brittany continued to struggle with the loss of her father. She dropped out of college, spending the…
That’s a wrap
While 2021 brought incredible beginnings, 2022 looks like whiplash on steroids. After selling my parents’ home on Long Beach Island, I felt a physical ache. My place of solstice and peace was gone. A random call from a realtor about an area we had never considered and a price that gave us palpitations, we wrote…
Every ending is a new beginning.
For months I have dreaded this morning. After four decades of hosting multi-family Christmas celebrations, today will be different. My daughters have families of their own, and there is nothing better than spending the morning in PJs watching the kids enjoy their gifts in your own home. Selfishly that is why I began hosting Christmas…
Reflections from 2020
Sitting around Sheila’s kitchen table, she announced, “I am in my final 20”. Care to explain? She shared that as we mature, we realize that our time left on this earth has an end date. This year COVID gave me a gift of reflection, and I am grateful. As I write this, I am sitting…
Silver Lining
When we learned that graduation was canceled, we all felt the void. We knew our students earned and deserved a celebration. The concern was short-lived because the Brookdale Community College family began planning to make it happen. Graduation Day was hot, really hot. We didn’t have the speeches, the luncheon, or much of the pomp…
Lighten the Grip
Seven years ago, I reluctantly took up the game of golf to appease my husband. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner. The lessons of the game continue to weave into my life. During a clinic last week, the pro reminded us that the only thing we can control is the setup.…
The Motive
When I was in fifth grade, I attended summer school for reading and can still remember the feeling of embarrassment. I am not sure if that summer shame led me into teaching, but I do know that it ignited my love of reading. On this Saturday morning, I cracked open Patrick Lencioni’s new book, “The…
Share the moments
A moment captured. Six years of infertility treatments, emotional mayhem, marriage, and financial strain. We stood together in gratitude for the gift entrusted to us. The message was simple; Thank you for walking with us as we traveled to today. We would be honored to have you in our circle as the next chapters unfold.…
Culture in real – life
Lately, I have read a lot of posts about company culture. While some strike and miss, I proud to share that my company hits the bull’s eye. A few weeks ago, I shared that my Co-CEO’s wife sends a handwritten card birthday card to every employee that includes two movie tickets and a message of…
Lessons From Last Year
Jay Shetty has a tradition on his birthday. He spends the day reflecting on the last year before he embarks on the next one. I decided to try it this year and learned that a quote embossed in our harbor is real, “You make a living by what you give…” When I look back at…
In giving you receive
I joined a new company this summer to take on a “Figure it out” job. For those of us in the start-up world, you know the drill; few resources, no processes, and continuously building in flight. For me, it’s my sweet spot. Yesterday I found a handwritten envelope in the mailbox among the golf magazines…
Accept the invitation
I love my parent’s beach house. It is the one place I can just be. None of the modern amenities like cable TV or Wi-Fi, just board games, a wide beach to walk and lots of windows that pull in the sea air. My husband is not a fan. Twelve hours without the golf channel…
Building a life resume 30 day challenge
I could stay on the current path. The one that is familiar with no bumps because I know what to expect. The easy one because there are no surprises. The straight and flat one with no turns or hills to climb. But as Helen Keller said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at…
Always in Beta
Dalai Lama said, “When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” Lessons appear every day, and if you are open to receiving them, you learn and grow. My list continues to evolve with these as my constants. Lesson 1 – It starts with accountability. Early in my professional career, I learned the value of being accountable…
Time to Disrupt the Community College
“If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food”. …
And then the bough breaks
It’s “Sales Kick Off” season and for anyone directly involved it can be exhilarating and thankless. To survive you need exceptional management skills, political savvy and obscene amounts of caffeine. Balancing the speakers who feel the crucial need to present for hours on end to an audience with an 8-second attention span is not for…
Required job skill – Self-promotion
The road to achievement and recognition in corporate America is hard. You need to have the stuff to survive and the smarts to pull from empty when it gets harder. I attended a ribbon-cutting a few months ago, and a fellow trustee leaned over and said, “At this stage in your career you should not…
Yes, Mary, I remember.
Sitting at the board meeting last night I wanted to move the conversation away from the financial woes of the college into positive territory. It boggles my mind that we spend so much time talking about audits and budget versus improving our student completion rates. I was elated for an uptick in the evening when the “Brookdale…
Push lessons
“No.” A powerful word and one I should use more often. Last Friday, I heard it from a member of my team. I am privileged to work with a small group of superstars who have grown because I have given them the freedom to do so. Last week they reminded me of my lesson. It…
“Certainty is the enemy of growth”
“Certainty is the enemy of growth” Mark Manson, “The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*CK” That was a hard read. Not the language, and yes I can hear my mother bristling in the background, but the message. Thoughts of my brother lay across the pages wound between the words. My first “certain” reaction was to…
foursetsofeyes 