There are three topics I’ve always enjoyed talking about: politics, the arts, and storytelling.

Nowadays, I find no pleasure in speaking about politics because it has become far too divisive.

So, I’ve been thinking: perhaps I should be speaking about how the arts and storytelling can help bridge the divide that politics has created.

Some of you know I have been dealing with a weird, rare chronic pain condition for a few years. I finally decided that “enough is enough,” and rather than continuing to treat the symptoms without addressing the cause (and continuing to bore my loved ones with my constant complaining), I had surgery this week

There are certain life experiences that are forever etched in our memories.

For me, one such memory occurred in April of this year - just a few short months ago.

If you know me, you would probably say that I am a pretty passionate person.

The things I am really passionate about are different from my hobbies.  For instance, I can paint for hours, talk about Broadway theater endlessly and binge-watch Netflix series for hours.  I love these things – but they are not my passions. Obsessions, maybe – but not passions.

I have been having long conversations with my parents lately – with Dad, about work and storytelling, and what Barry and Bentley and I are doing to be active in the election. With my Mom, I am having lots of talks about life, health and what we are doing to potty train the puppy.

My parents are both deceased.

Do you feel a flutter of nerves before stepping onto the stage or speaking in front of a crowd? What, you are human?? Even the most seasoned speakers experience pre-speech jitters. While we may think that those butterflies are a bad thing, they may, in fact, just be reminding us how excited we are to share our message. The trick is getting those butterflies in formation, to work for us rather than against us.

I remember every detail of a recent brainstorming session I facilitated for a public relations client who handles lifestyle and food brands. We were talking about the agency’s new business pipeline and the kinds of clients that would be an ideal fit. The conversation evolved into how each team member uses the products they wanted to represent.

I am out on a snorkeling adventure in the beautiful blue green waters of Key West, and excited to see some cool tropical fish. I've been snorkeling many times, so I am not in the least bit apprehensive.

Last Friday night I attended a brilliant new musical called “Alan” (a coincidence!), a poignant musical from Spain exploring the life of Alan Montoliu, a teen who took his own life due to the bullying he endured while transitioning.

A year ago almost to this day I found myself in so much consistent pain that I really was finding it hard to see past it.

In the course of a week, I hear on average 30 people talk about their businesses. Of those 30, virtually none of these professionals are using stories to paint a picture of what they do. It is one huge missing opportunity to win my business, build trust, or entice me to send referrals.

A Big idea is not that easy to come by. It takes a lot of testing, probing, creative experimentation and feedback. But a Big Idea is what you'll need to be accepted to appear on the TedX stage.

Once you find that idea, there is the process of finding the right stage, the process of applying, the waiting, the panel interviews, and then it happens— you get the acceptance!

I was at the gym the other day, hyper-focused on all the little aches and pains going on in my body, when I caught a glimpse of a guy I had never seen before. He was working out hard, with fierce focus and determination. And, furthermore, the dude was jacked. It was only after a few seconds later that I noticed his prosthetic leg – and I thought to myself, if this guy can be so focused and use his body so effectively, there should be nothing holding me back from having a decent workout. “Stop being such a whiny little baby,” was my next thought.

I don’t know about you, but I yearn for a simpler time right now. A time that feels less broken. A time with more love, less vitriol. A time with more understanding, less conflict.

Last night I saw the movie, “Civil War,” with some friends. To say the movie was disturbing would be a huge understatement. This dystopic movie showed us what a second Civil War would look like in a third term under a fascist dictator.

We’ve all been there.

You are in front of an audience – online or in person – and you look out and you see audience members glazing over, or checking their cell phones, whispering to the person next to them, or fidgeting,