Writing

Here are some things I've written over the years, for various purposes. I'm making these available here in a PDF format, so you can print them out and read or share them if you like.

On Growing Up

What does it mean to grow up? In this 7 minute speech, I talk about what it means to take responsibility for ourselves, to fulfill ourselves and our purpose in living. I touch on how, with the best of intentions, we might be supporting or sabotaging our potential.

Access it as a PDF document here.

Distilled Spirit

I was born in 1948, early in the surge of the Baby Boom generation. Since so many of my generation seem to have very negative feelings about growing old, I thought I'd share my own perspective in this, my fourth Toastmasters speech. So far at least, I am really appreciating the experience of growing older.

Access it as a PDF document here.

When Someone Who Matters Gets Mad

It's not always clear what to do when someone who matters gets mad. Are we responding in a way that leads to healing and strengthening the relationship? Is the way that we're reacting just making things worse? This is my third Toastmasters speech, and the 7 minute limit makes it tough to cover the topic adequately. But I present some useful pointers as clearly and succinctly as I can.

Access it as a PDF document here.

Nothing Human Is Alien To Me

“I say I believe in the adage that nothing human is alien to me. But when I watch the news or read about history, do I really see myself in the man who mows down children in an elementary school?... in the torturer? Really?” Such is the beginning of my second, 7 minute speech for Toastmasters, in which I attempt to explain my understanding of what this adage means and why I believe it.

Access it as a PDF document here.

In Support of Human Connection

This speech was written as my Icebreaker speech for Toastmasters in April, 2012. New members of Toastmasters are invited to “break the ice” with a 4 – 6 minute speech that introduces them to the group and provides some insight and understanding of who they are as individuals. Toastmasters is an organization that supports people in developing their public speaking and leadership capabilities.

Access it as a PDF document here.

Working Wonders with a Positive Company Culture

This article was published in the online magazine TechRepublic in 2000, when I was co-founder (with my husband Terry) and Chief Operating Officer of OMIX, Inc., an Internet services company with about 50 employees at that time. In 2001, we received the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award from the California State Psychological Association. This article described how we created the OMIX culture.

Access it as a PDF document here.