It was, admittedly, a challenging day. A perfect storm of circumstances that led me to heavy sighs and zero productivity. Typically, I would park myself at my computer, give myself a stern talking to, and try mightily to get something –- anything – done! (For the record, this is not a helpful approach, although I persist […]

Most of what we do is never truly finished—there’s always another update, another meeting, another deadline, another project. And yet, our predominant work culture perpetuates a myth of ‘arrival:’ the idea that if we just tried a bit harder, we could become that calm, polished, accomplished person we see […]

Few of us would describe this as an easy time. And yet…we are here, on this beautiful and generous earth, living and breathing into this day. We have choices in terms of where we put our attention, our time, our care. ‘Staying informed’ feels paramount these days, but even in this, we get to decide […]

Wild leaders understand, deep in their bones, that leadership is never a solo act. It moves through the whole team. Sled dogs illustrate this truth beautifully—and powerfully.

Yes, I am technically the leader: the musher, the one responsible for feeding them, tending their yard, training them, and caring for them in a hundred quiet ways. But […]

Almost without fail, one of the first questions people ask about dogsledding is how you choose the lead dog. As usual, what works with a sled dog team mirrors what works for human teams.

Here are a few parallels regarding leaders…

Ultimately as the musher, I am the leader, the one who decides our route, the teams, […]

Whether or not you have ever paddled a canoe in whitewater, I guarantee you know what it feels like when conditions change and the route you thought you were going to take is no longer an option. You are almost certainly experiencing that feeling right now. In rapids, you eddy out (get safely either to […]

Teamwork and community take on a deeper meaning in times of crisis. And right now, so many of us are navigating wrenching challenges.

For decades I have guided dogsledding trips at Wintermoon. Some of you have been on those trips, and most of you have heard me speak about the wisdom of our beloved dogs. So […]

“OK, wait, what are 3 things that brought you joy today?” This was my friend’s impromptu question at the end of one our luminous conversations. We live far apart and periodically have lengthy phone calls to stay connected and to track the happenings in each other’s lives. It was time to wrap up, we’d been […]

Being a leader right now is off the charts difficult. You are not immune from the havoc and upheaval all around you. And yet, your team/organization may be looking to you for answers, reassurance, and confidence. How do you project that if you aren’t feeling it? Where is the line between holding steady and being […]

1. Revel in all the love that is in your life, whatever form it takes, from individuals to friends to communities and beyond. Savor it. Celebrate it. Be thankful for it. Take strength from it

2. Hold in your heart those people you particularly want to celebrate (if you celebrate, some find it sweet/others find it […]