Inspiration & Motivation

Do I Practice What I Preach? (Habits, Maintenance, and Backsliding)

By Hazel Thornton | January 15, 2024 |

Dear Readers: I hope you enjoy this refreshed post from 2016.   I was helping a long-time virtual coaching client with email maintenance, teaching her about Inbox Zero, and I admitted that mine was currently more like Inbox 200. In fact, as I continued to say, I don’t do anything (maintenance-wise)  every day. She was…

Read more...

What? Your ducks aren’t in a row? Mine either.

By Hazel Thornton | October 23, 2023 |

I thought being retired would mean less worry. I was wrong. For one thing, I’m older now and everyone and everything else is older, too — from friends and family to furniture and appliances. If it doesn’t need replacing or repair, it certainly needs maintenance! And, if it’s not one thing, it’s another. Life —…

Read more...

Always believe in yourself (and have a backup plan)

By Hazel Thornton | October 11, 2023 |

Do you believe in yourself? Always? Or do you sometimes lose faith? If this post looks familiar, it’s because I pull it out and tweak it every few years. It makes me feel better to read it. Maybe it will help you too? Life is hard. We all go through tough times personally, and lately…

Read more...

Do you need more good news in your life?

By Hazel Thornton | September 25, 2023 |

Does the daily news get you down? Do you watch or read a lot of it? Too much, maybe? If you want a change, it seems you have two choices: Consume less bad news and/or seek out more good news. Are you addicted? I know people who watch several hours of news and commentary each…

Read more...

Just Say No — Here’s How and Why

By Hazel Thornton | September 5, 2023 |

Do you have trouble saying no? A client told me about a situation in which she couldn’t bring herself to say no. The details are unimportant. We’ve all been there. In the end, she told a “white lie” rather than admit she didn’t want to do a favor for a friend. (A favor which, by…

Read more...
High five

High Five Friday

By Hazel Thornton | August 21, 2023 |

In my retirement I noticed something was missing. But what could it be? Was I having trouble filling my time? Heck no! Did I miss working with clients? Maybe a little. Was I missing my colleagues? Not really, since most of them live elsewhere and we’re still connected. Then I realized what it was: I…

Read more...

There’s no Reason to Freak out…Unless…

By Hazel Thornton | June 12, 2023 |

Do you ever freak out when facing new situations? I think everyone does sometimes, no matter how old they are. Our degree of anxiousness varies according to a number of factors, including our perceived locus of control (internal or external), past experiences, mental and physical health, environment, relationships, and financial stability. Even so, I think…

Read more...

Think of your big project as a new hobby

By Hazel Thornton | February 13, 2023 |

  Do you have a big project you’ve been putting off? Is it because you are waiting for the perfect time to devote your entire self to getting it done? If you try to do too much at once, you risk getting overwhelmed and exhausted. Chances are you’ll get discouraged, go away, and never come…

Read more...

Porter Knight’s Happiness Equation

By Hazel Thornton | February 5, 2023 |

  I’m calling this post “Porter Knight’s Happiness Equation” to distinguish it from the happiness equation that has been my mantra for the last several years: Progress equals Happiness. (Click here to read Does Progress Equal Happiness?) Although hers is completely different, don’t worry, they don’t cancel each other out!          

Read more...

How to Rubber Duck your life

By Hazel Thornton | January 29, 2023 |

  Have you ever had a Eureka moment while explaining something to someone? We could also call it a Rubber Duck moment. I’ll get back to rubber ducks. But first, a little story:          

Read more...