by Caroline Leach | Jul 4, 2023 | Leadership, Work/Life
“Who ever walked behind anyone to freedom? If we can’t go hand in hand, I don’t want to go.” 🇺🇸 So said Hazel Scott. A jazz pianist and singer, Scott was the first Black woman to host her own TV show. Throughout her life from 1920 to 1981, she was a force for racial equality.
As the United States celebrates Independence Day, what do freedom and equality mean to you?
And what does it mean to seek freedom, walking hand in hand?
To me it means …
🇺🇸 We are all interdependent. The strength and sustainability of our grand but sometimes fraying experiment in representative democracy rests with linking arms and creating freedom and equality together.
🇺🇸 The only thing we control is our own thoughts and actions. We can’t control court decisions (except via future elections) or the news cycle. Yet we ARE free to take individual and collective actions for an equitable world.
🇺🇸 A powerful lesson about the founding Americans is one of taking a huge risk, when the outcome is uncertain. The signers of the Declaration of Independence risked death in doing so. Despite that, they proceeded.
And while the founding Americans weren’t perfect, and there were paradoxes in the Declaration, there is a basic framework and foundation that we can strive to expand and grow.
As the U.S. marks its 247th birthday, my hope for those who are celebrating is a day of fun, family, friends, food, fireworks … and a little reflection. Let’s remember this amazing gift we have been given. How can we be good stewards for greater freedom and equality?
by Caroline Leach | Jul 3, 2023 | Leadership, Work/Life
What would make today fulfilling for you? ✨
It’s an unusual day. A Monday before a national holiday. Today isn’t a holiday, or a weekend, or even a regular work day.
Perhaps it’s a vacation day for you. Perhaps it’s a work day. Or maybe it’s something in between.
The important thing is to be intentional about how you choose to spend it.
When you reflect on today, at the end of it, what will make it a great one?
For me, it’s a blend of personal time, family business time, and family time.
➡ A strength training workout at the beach (that’s the picture), along with some cardio and a good podcast
➡ A day of mid-year financial assessment and planning with my husband Kevin Leach for our family-owned restaurant Pacific Standard Prime. Being closed on Mondays makes this easier.
➡ A family dinner with my husband and daughter. Monday is our family night tradition.
➡ An evening trip to the airport to pick up our son and his friends after a nearly 3-week trip to Japan. I can’t wait to hear about their experiences!
And I’m so proud of our son for earning the trip money as a brunch chef at our restaurant. He came home from college every weekend to work.
One of the often-unexpected benefits of planning a trip is the anticipation.
I just experienced the same excitement in planning my day.
Seeing it take shape in this post makes me eager to jump into it.
It re-framed my perspective.
Now I see the things I “get” to do, and not “have” to to do.
How will you make YOUR day fulfilling and exciting?
by Caroline Leach | Jul 2, 2023 | Work/Life
What are your favorite ways of having a chill summer weekend? 😎 One where you feel relaxed, refreshed, and reenergized?
Not necessarily so you can be ready for the work week ahead, but to fully enjoy and savor your life in the moment.
A few years ago I visited Vancouver to speak at the IABC world conference for communicators.
While I was there, I took a solitary stroll through the stunning Stanley Park (pictured).
Since then I’ve been captivated by the research that shows spending time in green spaces (among trees) and blue spaces (near water) is invaluable to our health and well being.
To that end, here are a few weekend ideas. Some can be combined and done together …
💕 Spend time with cherished family and friends
🌲 Get out in nature, for some forest bathing
💪 Move your body with a walk or a workout
📚 Exercise your mind with a book, a podcast, or a curious conversation
🎨 Spend time on a hobby you enjoy and lose track of time
🎢 Do something fun for the sheer joy of it
🍦 Help others through volunteering
🖊️ Reflect on what’s most important to you and what’s next
😎 Do nothing at all, and just BE!
What makes a great weekend for you?
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