Yesterday, I received a text from the builder who is buying my house in Westport to tell me that we are good to go! The percolation tests on my property are fine which means the contract is now valid. I looked up and put my arms in the air feeling a sense of relief. Then I took a picture to commemorate the occasion! I was in Westwood near UCLA looking for a coffee shop to work on my book. I like to write in public places where I listen to music and don’t feel so isolated. Everyone has their own writing style and this works for me! The feeling of relief or letting go had been a long time coming. I’d left Westport, CT several times only to return, the last time under difficult circumstances, the gist of which makes up a large part of my story. The irony of my situation is that I came down with a head cold only a few hours later. I don’t consider this a coincidence. I’d owned the house for nearly 18 years and letting it go had been a huge emotional decision. Sometimes, when we let go, the body relaxes and then we get sick. I welcome the head cold! read more

Living in LA is cool, especially if you like diversity! This painting by Archibald Motley, a famous early twentieth century African American painter, is one of many that mesmerized me at the L.A. County Museum of Art. Much like the Met, a night at the museum makes for a creative and different kind of evening for a sports lover like myself. In that spirit, my girlfriend and I walked around the neighbourhood afterwards looking for a restaurant and instead stumbled upon the diner where Pulp Fiction was filmed. Needless to say it was closed for food business so we wound up trying a wonderful Moroccan restaurant in West LA instead – fun! read more

Last night my girlfriend and I tried Moroccan food, a new experience for both of us! One of the pleasures of living in big cities like New York or LA is the diversity of people, cultures and especially food. I love to try new things and have new experiences. I especially love it when it’s spontaneous like last night when we drove down Westwood Blvd in LA and pulled into the parking lot of this restaurant solely because it looked interesting. Too often in life many of us do the same things over and over mired in similar routines. No wonder so many people are tired and bored. Win, loose or draw, mix it up a bit. It’s a great way to live! read more

I’m a big fan of people who communicate straight-up and with integrity. The challenge for many of us is consistency and practice. The more we practice being straight forward and authentic the better we get. I often tell people that I am a trying to help and teach people to communicate better and with more authenticity. And the good news is that the more we practice the more graceful we become! read more

These days travel can be stressful given the TSA stuff, Ebola, and congestion among other issues. Nevertheless, I find travel to be deeply rewarding because it offers me so many different perspectives on life and business. I tend to be very open and friendly when I travel thereby meeting lots of interesting people from all kinds of backgrounds. It’s a great way to learn and expand your awareness. The more exposed one is to diverse perspectives the greater the chance of relating to others as if we are all in this together as opposed to us verses them or other limited ways of thinking and being. People are fascinating in all their shapes and sizes and personalities. And at the end of the day, most people want to feel and be loved even if they have a funny way of showing it at times! read more

Before I left Connecticut for Los Angeles in late September, I had a magical night on the fishing boat with my twin brother. Just as the sun was setting, emanating an outrageously gorgeous glow, I hooked into a twenty pound bass with light tackle. The ten minute fight was as exhilarating as the sunset. As I’ve written in other blog posts, spend time in nature! Life goes quickly as we all know. Nights Iike this one are forever! read more

I’m a huge pet and nature lover! Clients often come to me for Stress Management issues. I often suggest they spend time in nature, with a pet if they have one, or both. It’s nearly impossible to stay in your head, stressed out and miserable if you go for a long hike. Nature is so powerful that the elements will eventually cause the mind to release or let go! When was the last time you found yourself stressed out on a fishing boat? At some point, the mind lets go when exposed to beauty and the natural world, especially in copious amounts. So take a hike, go fishing or just hang with your beast the next time you are upset and see how the magic of nature and animals help! read more

This morning I played 18 holes at Palos Verdes Country Club in beautiful Southern California! Lately I’ve been playing golf 1X per week but managed to shoot 72, a fantastic round especially since I’ve had little time for actual practice. The key to my success today and on many other low scoring rounds is the mental game! I spend a great deal of time off the course eliminating the dramas and distractions that are such a normal part of living for most of us. This allows for greater focus on the course and greater potential in general. I also spend a fair amount of time meditating. Meditation is a process of learning how to better focus the mind and to train it to be more still, a wonderful aid in business, life, and sports!! read more

My twin brother just sent me this pic from Bermuda where he is vacationing with his family! I sent him one from LA where I go every month as I commit to creating a business here in part to experience more creativity and diversity and in part to leave New England winters behind! read more

The New York Times Sunday Review feature article on happiness by Arthur Brooks concludes that we must learn to love people not money, power, status, or sexual pleasure. This seems pretty evident to some and yet it’s super-challenging for many in a culture addicted to Facebook, Twitter, Reality TV, and video games to name a few. The challenge with happiness is that we must cultivate good habits over long periods of time. Essentially, I teach non-avoidance, a way of living that means we live and express out truth! Wow, that’s not easy. I often tell clients that if they are ready I can teach them how to be happier and more fulfilled but it requires substantial work on their part. The majority of people I’ve coached in over two decades of working with people have quit well before they graduated. In other words, they didn’t want to work that hard. read more