The dictionary might define “grand” as very good or enjoyable, excellent. But when I was invited to host our two granddaughters for an entire Monday through Friday, I discovered that grand is so much more than a definition; it’s a way of being present in the world. Planning for Excellence I knew from the moment I said yes that I was shooting for something special. This time wouldn’t be just a week of babysitting; this…
4 CommentsCategory: Living Big
Earlier this month, I found myself back in Louisiana, drawn by the familiar sights—and the even more familiar faces. What began as a simple trip became something deeper, rich with the strength of friendship and the depth of shared history. One afternoon over lunch, I gathered with four women, each of whom I had the honor of working alongside for over a decade through the leadership development work of ICC. These are the kinds of…
Leave a CommentIn the rich tradition of Ignatian spirituality, we discover not an esoteric practice reserved for monasteries, but a spirituality woven into the fabric of everyday life. At its core lies a radical proposition: God is present in our world and actively engaged in our lives, not just in moments of transcendence, but in the mundane, and perhaps most powerfully, in our suffering. Ignatius of Loyola understood something profound about human experience: our imagination is not…
4 CommentsReflecting on the days following Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, I feel a bit drained. It was a wonderful time—we had nearly everyone together for Thanksgiving dinner, and the next day, we set up the tree and all its trimmings. As fulfilling as it all was, it also took a lot out of me. On this second day of December, I’m reminded to pause and ask: What do I truly want from this season?…
Leave a CommentPublic speaking often stirs up a great deal of anxiety. A friend of mine, who frequently trains others in public speaking, had a way of calming nervous speakers before they took the stage. She would reassure them by saying, “Don’t worry, it’s in your bones.” What she meant was that they were sharing something deeply familiar to them, something instinctively known. Sometimes, we need others to remind us of what is already instinctive and so…
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