In the midst of the greyness of winter, it is a delight to come across some unexpected splashes of bright color.

Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.

This is Mary Oliver’s simple, yet profound, advice for living a life.

As we enter 2024, we are faced with many uncertainties. We cannot change this - it is simply part of life. We can, however, choose how we want to move through whatever the year brings. Choosing the hopeful stance of noticing the light amidst the dark is a foundational choice we need to make.

As smoke from eastern Canada’s worst wildfire season affects life in large parts of Canada and the US, we are reminded of how we are all interconnected. And it adds even more urgency to the need to “act as if our house is on fire”, because it is.

Curiosity is one of the important virtues that underpin wisdom - in life and in leadership. New research helps us understand the different forms curiosity takes. And it reinforces the power of curiosity in shaping how we relate to our world, including to conversation partners.

As spring arrives in my part of the world, it feels extra important to notice, appreciate and take delight in the joys that it brings - a counter-point to all the concern we carry about our climate.

Seeing ourselves and our brief lives in the context of deep time is a daunting task. As with many mysteries of the human condition, art offers interesting ways to help us with this sensemkaing process.

Hope is a discipline, a commitment to keep on investing our time, effort, and energy in the quest to work towards “a better future”.

Any client or workshop participant sees a key part of my working space – it is my study, my office, my teaching space.

However, for the last few years there is also an “other side” to my space - the side you cannot see when I am coaching or teaching.

Any need to let go of some books is a bit heart-wrenching. These are not just objects. They are reflections of parts of who I am and where I’ve been.