"The Scream" by Van Gogh

Is fear a useless emotion? Or does it serve an important purpose? Inquiring minds want to know. Over Labor Day Weekend, I set out on a mission to find out for myself. I deliberately faced down two of my fears, one big, one small.  The results were surprising.

To be continued…

Dear Readers,

Happy Labor Day!

Today marks the unofficial end to summer and I hope that you are having fun wherever you may be.  I am resting from my labors and am currently off on an adventure but will return to you next week I promise! Until then, some clues…

See you soon,

SFSG

“Mama say WHAT…?”

That’s precisely what I was thinking when I first heard about Krav Maga.  Krav Maga (pronounced Krav MaGAH or sometimes just called “Krav”) is apparently ALL the rage right now.  But don’t worry, if you haven’t heard of it, you aren’t alone.

A couple of months ago, I attended a fundraiser to support a friend’s new endeavor, Storytellers for Good, an organization that seeks to bring about change by providing videos that help non-profits tell the stories of their mission and their clients.  I bought like a thousand raffle tickets because I knew the money was going to a good cause and because I wanted to support my Emmy Award-winning, rockstar friend.

As they called out the list of winners, I was surprised to hear my name included among those called.  I couldn’t believe it.  I  NEVER win anything.  For a while back in my twenties I bought into that “All you need is a dollar and a dream” hype, but finally understanding the odds, I’d given up on lotto.  However, I will still buy raffle tickets attached to a good cause… or a really big, San Francisco dream house…

4,200 sq. feet. guest cottage. chef's kitchen. 4 bedrooms. 4 1/2 baths. 4-car garage. mahogany and marble floors.

The dream house remains that– just a dream, but I was still thrilled to learn that I’d won three free passes that entitled me and a friend to month-long memberships at the official Krav Maga San Francisco Training Center. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you ever feel the desire to flee? To escape your everyday life and run away from it all? “It” being your work, your house, your city, even your friends and family? This week I have to confess that I get this feeling fairly frequently. And I love my life. I love my friends. I love my family.  Honest.  But ever so often, it all becomes too much and I get this feeling. It starts off like an itch and rapidly develops into something closer to full-blown panic.  What do you do when you’re at your wits’ end? Back in the day when I was younger and cash and credit seemed equally disposable, I’d buy a plane ticket. To New York, to L.A., to Europe, basically to anywhere else.  I’d just go. And the farther away, the better.  These days, I pack a bag and hit the road. Read the rest of this entry »