BWell Blog

I decided to skip the gym and spend time writing at my computer instead.  We were in our third temporary housing, awaiting a remodel on our new home, back to the quiet of the country where our hearts belong.  To call living out of boxes, unorganized and out of routine, an adventure, is a bit of a stretch for me. During this trying time I learned there's an upside to being thrown out of my norm.  I...

The best athletes in the world train together. Training with fellow like-minded individuals enables them to create a community where they share best practices and habits, pushing beyond personal limitations.  The same is true of the most influential and successful leaders I know.  What makes these athletes and leaders world-class? There are five corresponding traits I recognize in both.

Mindset +...

“There aren’t enough hours in a day,” a common reference in our culture to the constant chase for more time.  There is and always will be 24 hours in a day, so how is it that there are some people who have figured out how to be more productive than others, reaching greater levels of achievement and fulfillment? What do they know? Here’s what I’ve learned.

Time is fixed, a finite resource, however...

Am I creative?  I use to struggle with this question.  I can’t even properly sew on a button. I’m not creative because I don’t play music or sing or dance, I don't paint, draw, sew, or make things.  This is the message I told myself for many years. I believed you were either born creative or meant for something else. It wasn’t until a trying time in my life I realized, creativity was inside me all...

Our thoughts are powerful.  There is much to learn from how we think, new thoughts we create and old ones so familiar to us we are no longer aware they exist.  Our ability to impact our thinking brings hope to where we want to grow and go in life. There are a few things to understand about our thoughts before we can know how best to harness the power they have over us.  

Our thoughts greatly infl...

When is the last time you felt stuck?  Out of routine, out of habit, out of hope in what once was and is no longer.  While I imagine it’s not entirely impossible, we can’t rely on a random wave of motivation to turn the tide.  Time doesn’t always allow the luxury of waiting for luck to strike.

I’m someone who intentionally avoids looking in the rear-view mirror too often, avoiding regret, the cou...

In my favorite picture (which I still can't find)I’m standing on dirt at the far southwest corner of what someday would be our basement in the home we built for our family.  It’s game day and the yellow Oregon Duck shirt that's nearly too small is pulling tightly against my growing belly.  My arms are stretched wide and I’m wearing the confident grin of someone with big plans. You can see the exci...

As I navigate through my professional and parenting journey, I find myself relying on some of the same guiding principles.

Humility I question everything.  Once I think I’ve got it (them) all figured out, everything changes.  They keep me humble.

Humility is my favorite trait in a person.  Humility is showing up as the student, regardless of whom you are or the title you hold. It’s the ability...

I can always count on Ava to hold the mirror up for me when I need it most.

After dinner the other night we all huddle around to play a game before bedtime routine.  Honestly, this isn’t my most favorite time of day as I’m an early riser and I tend to be begging for bed long before everyone else in our house.  But, it’s one of the few moments in our day when we are all together so I particip...

Ava shared her bucket list with us today.

I am inspired.  Here’s what I notice:

She is intentional.

She takes the time to write it down and posts it on the wall in the kitchen where she can be reminded every day.

She is committed.

It doesn’t take her long to complete (15 minutes or so).  Once her pen hits the paper, she goes for it.

She is clear.

As I watch her write, she makes each addit...