Category - Moments

It Is What It Is … Or Is It?
Moments

It Is What It Is … Or Is It?

An acquaintance I admire loves to say, “It is what it is.” Does a presidential candidate have a toxic stance on global warming or gay marriage? It is what it is. Has a situation in the workplace gotten out of hand because of an...

January 10, 2012
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We’re Back!
Moments

We’re Back!

After the longest downtime since MadeByMark.com launched in November of 2000, we’re back on the air. If you’ve been following me on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+, you know I’ve been hammering the good folks at Squarespace pretty...

January 8, 2012
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3 min read
A Reason to Give Up
Moments

A Reason to Give Up

On February 14th of this year, I gave up soft drinks. Prior to that, I had a habit of drinking five or six cans of soda a day. And then, one morning, it just occurred to me that I didn’t need sweetened (or even artificially sweetened) drinks...

September 11, 2011
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3 min read
The Visible Man
Moments

The Visible Man

We’re in the parking garage, returning home from a shopping trip. Our stops included PetSmart, so, in the back of the car, there’s a bag of Chelsea Chow. I scoop it up, hugging it close to my chest and belly, and walk toward the elevator...

June 28, 2011
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4 min read
What You Do (When No One Is Looking) Defines You
Moments

What You Do (When No One Is Looking) Defines You

Seth Godin, on Self-Directed Effort: There’s an entire system organized around the idea that we’re too weak to deliver effort without external rewards and punishment. If you only grow on demand, you’re selling yourself short...

May 11, 2011
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Stand Up Straight When Paying the Cable Bill
Moments

Stand Up Straight When Paying the Cable Bill

I’m in my hometown, standing in line at the cable t.v. company, returning Mom’s cable modem. There are two lines: Service or Sales. Both lines terminate at a row of glass cages. From time to time, one of the three women inside those...

April 28, 2011
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2 min read
Don’t Put off UnProcrastination
Moments

Don’t Put off UnProcrastination

I finished reading Leo Babauta’s The Little Guide to UnProcrastination today. As you might expect, it’s simple and wise. Some gems: – Important Tasks. Is your to-do list as out of control as mine? If so, the concept of important...

March 28, 2011
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Change LIfe for the Better, One Change at a Time
Moments

Change LIfe for the Better, One Change at a Time

A recurring theme in writer Leo Babauta’s work: make one change at a time. We tend to rush into change. We start a diet while launching an exercise program and adopting a new religion and learning Spanish and scheduling meditation sessions and...

March 27, 2011
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5 min read
Sweet Nothings: Giving Up Artificial Sweeteners
DietMoments

Sweet Nothings: Giving Up Artificial Sweeteners

  I gave up artificial sweeteners. Guess what? Life got sweeter. For me, this is a big change. I used to add two packets of Splenda to my morning coffee. I used to drink four or five Diet Cokes a day. Yogurt or ice cream or cookies laced with...

March 22, 2011
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2 min read