Wake-up Your Brain
With These Posts
Deri’s blogs and video posts include emerging information, tools, tips, and strategies for living a positive, mentally-healthy life – at work and beyond!
We Called It a ‘Walkie Talkie’—We Didn’t Know It Was Also a ‘Brain Gain’
My friends, Audrey and Jacqueline, and I started walking over the last few years – especially during the long winter, in-between our southern get-aways. We knew we loved our “Walkie Talkie’s”; the exercise, connection, and camaraderie were always invigorating. What we did not realize is the real brain-boosting power of combining walking and talking; improving…Get Some Post-Traumatic Growth – Skip the Trauma!
Palliative nurses have discovered that there is some commonality among us all when we are on our deathbeds…they have listened and developed this list of the Top 5 Deathbed Regrets. They are: 1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. 2. I…
Out, Damned Thought!
You might remember the line ‘Out, Damned Spot…Out, I say’ from?the?play?Macbeth. ?The line is spoken by?Lady?Macbeth, whose husband?has killed?the?king?of?Scotland?at?her?urging. Her?guilt over the murder gradually drives her insane.? When she speaks this line she is sleepwalking, and she imagines that a spot of?the?king’s?blood stains?her?hand. Have you ever felt that way about a thought you were having…
Gratitude Grows
When you spend even a moment in gratitude, the ripple effects can be?astounding.? Consider this note I just received: Hi Deri: I attended a seminar you led recently. I enjoyed it, and got a lot of good stuff from the whole day, but wanted to share my favorite part of it, and the outcome. You…
Holding On and Letting Go
I was a bit cranky this week.? While it could be due to several things (hormones, late summer nights, preparing for a new?school year, etc.) I wondered why I was feeling a little ‘edgey’.?? My daughter started?university a few days ago.? She is – in addition to being smart, kind ?and beautiful?- a very independent…
The Power of One
What difference does one person make? ?Does one staff member in your business make a difference to your customers’ experience (and to your organization’s success)? ?Does one friend or personal connection make a difference to the quality of your life? I just ran into Ben who used to work at a local hotel; a place…
Ten Tips for Solid Family Bonding
Are you heading out on vacation soon?? Do you want a little family bonding to occur while you are away?? Bonding (coming together, connecting) requires something that seems to be the opposite of bonding…it requires a ‘letting go’?- letting go of?control, letting go of expectations, letting go of limiting beliefs, letting go of those things?that…
One-Buttock Living
If you have not already seen Benjamin Zander speak, you have got to check him out.? You’ll be smiling for days!? I want to hang out with this dude!! In the video below,?Zander references playing with “one-buttock” on the piano.? It’s a different way to play the piano, and the result (the music) is considerably…
See With New Eyes
My daughter is graduating from high school this week.? My son is saying farewell to middle school and is off to high school.? It’s a ‘moment’ for a mom. It’s one of?those moments when you could think ‘Man, I am old!’ or when you could think ‘Wow, I rock -look at these fantastic human beings…
Just Be
I was panicked – it was my first ‘gig’?with the much more polished and experienced consultants I had just started working with.? Gord and Steve had established a consulting partnership earlier that year, and they offered me a chance to work with them.? I left the security of my permanent Human Resource role in a…


