The opening salvo in our love language. An esoteric, deeply meaningful, confusing, ambiguous, magical experience — romantic love. We begin and end with conversation, no matter how hard, confusing, or tedious.
Author: Syd
The Cedar Spoon
During our last spring break at Earth Native, among Central Texas’s Juniper, Oak, Mesquite, and Cactus, our family found peace away from digital distractions. We gathered, each immersed in our projects under a canopy of trees, reconnecting with the earth and each other in a circle of creation. Compelled by a spontaneous urge, I chose…
Book Summary: Art of Action
“The Art of Action” by Stephen Bungay is a guide to turning strategy into action in the business arena, drawing heavily from historical warfare to make its points. Bungay’s book drills down on a few key concepts: simplicity, focus, and nailing clear communication. These, according to the book, are the linchpins of getting strategy to…
Best of 2023: Books
In 2023, I managed to read a total of 70 books. This includes titles across all formats: physical copies, digital editions, and audiobooks. Out of these, 7 books stood out as exceptional and earned a Five-Star rating from me. To me, a Five-Star rating signifies that a book is not only excellent but also one…
A Prime Directive For Life
When I was early in my career as an Agile coach, I have a vivid memory of talking to my manager. I was struggling with something that was happening on the project. We had a very difficult executive who didn’t want to hear the wisdom of the team. Frustrations were high. I explained what was…
Gratitude (Mostly) Daily
Since November, I’ve been practicing gratitude at work, not daily but persistently. Reflections range from the aroma of spiced tea and the joy of colleagues’ ideas to the embrace of new tech and workplaces. I’ve cherished community, deep sleep, and mentorship chances, coupled with the simple pleasures of green tea, music, and laughter. Embracing new perspectives, restarting with forgiveness, and finding flow at work has been transformative. Each week builds appreciation for life’s small wonders, from my son’s jelly song to the growth fueled by rain.