DESIGN FOR LIFE

<p>The Art of Setting Boundaries for a More Intentional Life We live in a world that worships the always-available, the endlessly responsive, the perpetually online. Our calendars are open, our phones are never off, and our “just a quick ask” culture has turned boundaries into burdens. But what if the most deliberate act we can [&hellip;]</p>

<p>&#8220;I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately…&#8221;But what Thoreau doesn’t say outright—what we must read between the pine needles to see—is that to live deliberately is also to risk deliberately. Risk is the heartbeat of change, the quiet courage that urges us to leave the safe harbor of the known and [&hellip;]</p>

<p>There are fears we are born with—falling, loud noises, the dark. And then there are fears we are taught. No child begins life fearing their neighbor. That fear is handed down. Sometimes with words. Often with glances. Occasionally with silence. We inherit these fears the same way we inherit eye color or family recipes—quietly, without [&hellip;]</p>

<p>We often picture Henry David Thoreau alone in the woods—journal in hand, surrounded by trees and silence. But solitude, for Thoreau and the transcendentalists, was never about permanent disconnection. It was about realignment. A return to self. And from that place of truth, they believed, you were better able to find your people—not just anyone, [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Closeness and Collision: The Cost of Loving Deeply “There is no remedy for love but to love more.”— Henry David Thoreau Love is often spoken of as the highest of human emotions—patient, kind, forgiving. We quote scriptures and poems that place love above all else, as the glue that binds us together. And yet, it [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Does all the talk of tariffs have you stressed, worried, or considering the extreme impact this may have on your everyday life? I have found myself over the past few months living too much on everything coming out of Washington DC. While self-reflecting on a park bench today I thought to myself, how is my [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Each year on March 31, the world observes Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) — a day to honor the courage, strength, and contributions of transgender people across the globe. It is also a day to confront the ongoing challenges the trans community faces: systemic discrimination, disproportionate poverty, threats to healthcare access, and the very real [&hellip;]</p>

<p>There are moments when silence feels easier. When the fear of judgment, conflict, or consequence wraps around your throat and makes speaking feel dangerous. Yet these are the very moments when your voice is most needed—not just by others, but by yourself. Remaining silent can have implications that will weaken not only you but also [&hellip;]</p>

<p>&#8220;Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.&#8221; — Henry David Thoreau, Walden This past Sunday, March 9, 2025, my father, Richard Anderson, left this world at the age of 78. As I sit with my grief, I find myself turning to the wisdom of Henry David Thoreau, whose reflections on life, [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Throughout life I have made many friends, some have been life-long friends, others new friends that I have encountered throughout my journey. Then there are the friends that I no longer have contact with, I guess you would call them former friends. The loss of a friendship is something that can have a range of [&hellip;]</p>

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<p>Walden is probably not what you think of when you hear DEI. Today’s blog is going to inspire you to think about Walden in a new way and how we can apply it to celebrating our diversity and embracing our differences as the strengths that we all add when we come together in a more [&hellip;]</p>

<p>What is real and what is fake? Information is being delivered at a rapid speed every day through social media, news outlets, politicians, and even our family and friends. The problem is not the information we hear and see but rather the validity of the information. Today we hear so much about misinformation and the [&hellip;]</p>

<p>There are many lessons that are offered to us if we stop talking, listen and observe our surroundings. This is especially true when I walk into nature and observe the sounds, trees, paths, waters, and animals that I encounter. The raven, often a symbol of wisdom, mystery, and transformation, has much to teach those who [&hellip;]</p>

<p>We are facing challenging times in our relationships with our fellow citizens. Today the level of public discourse is at the highest levels of my lifetime. We are divided, hostile, and quick to dismiss the views of others. Today, I want to talk about civil disagreement – how we debate one another and still respect [&hellip;]</p>

<p>So that day that arrives every February that likes to remind all of us single people on what we are potentially missing is here. Happy Valentine’s Day or as many of us like to call it Happy Single Person Awareness Day. At least two to three times a year somebody will ask me why about [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Leaders have a responsibility to challenge the culture, policies, and so many other decisions made within their organizations. We are living in times where too many organizations often rewards conformity, true leadership requires the courage to challenge the traditional way of thinking. Thoreau exemplified this spirit. One of the reasons why his writings have impacted [&hellip;]</p>

<p>For many years I have thought about starting a blog site. Yes, I am really late to the game but with all that I am observing going on around me I felt like now was the right time. When driving home I like to listen to different podcasts. Yesterday one really made me think about [&hellip;]</p>