When I was 5, I lived on a farm with an incorrigible Shetland pony named Ginger. He was not a fan of the saddle but was reasonably trustworthy when pulling a cart. We were entered in a local horse show where I drove the heck out of that pony cart.
Lined up at the center of the ring for pinning of ribbons, the unthinkable happened: other teams got the blue, red, and yellow ribbons. Undeterred, my pony and I waited patiently for the judges to return with our gigantic trophy. Eventually, one of my parents had to lead us out of the gate. (This may also have been the year a pair of Dalmatians wandered onto the farm: I was certain Pongo and Purdita had arrived …and that 99 puppies couldn’t be far behind.)
And that, my friends, is me in a nutshell.
I live in the land of “what if” — kind of like a laboratory full of ideas with vials, burners, and a whole lot of smoke. Sometimes that’s a very good thing.
What if….
- Family members of alcoholics would benefit from treatment of their own? (They can.)
- Court-ordered classes were offered in the native language of the offender? (They were.)
- People working with addicts could be trained to recognize trauma and social workers to screen for addiction? (They did.)
- Indie authors produced some really high-quality stuff? (They have.)
Sometimes there’s an explosion in the lab.
What if….
- His bark is worse than his bite? (It wasn’t.)
- It’s warm enough for naked swimming? (It isn’t.)
- This organization really does want actively involved board members? (It didn’t.)
- Pomegranate juice doesn’t stain? (Don’t ask.)
Other people don’t always see things quite the way I do, and if something doesn’t work? I am ridiculously confident it’s only because there’s a better answer available. I don’t quit. Some say I have an overactive imagination. I prefer to think of it as chronic curiosity mixed with a bit of creativity and a stubborn refusal to fail. A passion for writing — in almost any form — keeps the dots connected.
Here’s a favorite “what if”: What if everyone is only one good idea away from a better life?
So that’s where my work comes from: about 4 decades of launching ideas and helping people get unstuck. Whether as an addictions therapist, domestic violence advocate, ghostwriter, trainer, editor, or author: I love sharing ideas to help people move from where they are to where they want to be.
After all, it only takes one. One good idea.