GConnie, Boise, ID (2026)

02/09/2022

I've put it off long enough. For the past five years I've chosen a single word to frame my year - a word that provides not goals, but guard rails, focus and direction. I struggled with this year before landing on the word - my word for this year will be LISTEN.

What does this mean? I've come to understand that whatever word I choose, the meaning and impact develops over the year. That being said, here is what I see to start.

1. Listening is an action, a conscious decision to hit pause and be present. When my children were little, I found that when paused my busyness and I joined in with whatever they were playing, I learned so much about them. Now that they are adults, the same holds true. I'll humbly say that I do not do so often enough. Not for them and not with others.

2. Listening is learning - new information, new perspectives, new skills. I want to be clear here that I do not believe listening requires that we absorb information with a blank mind. Listening must be done with curiosity and discernment.

3. Listening is more than hearing. If it were a matter of simply hearing the words, it would be much easier. But it is not. We lie to each other. Are the actions consistent with the words ... what is really being communicated? ... Why? What priorities and values are expressed in action?

4. Listening is impactful. What you listen to affects you, sometimes in negative ways. Am I allowing strife, negativity, divisiveness, hatred and anger into my heart - or am I guarding against it - pouring whatever is good and lovely and honorable into my soul.

04/20/2021

I've purposefully disconnected somewhat from social media ... obviously not entirely. I've simply grown weary of machines incessantly alerting me to their needs and making suggestions as to what to do with my time. I've resolved in my "sojourn" year to be more present, and for me that means escaping as many electronic notifications as possible. I find them disruptive and almost entirely unimportant. Even the weather is a surprise to me now!

Last weekend I went for a ride in the Owyhees. Even though it was not the best ride, the air smelled of sage, the birds were singing, the wind rustled across the desert brush. Families laughed and chatted as they hiked, and a few head of cattle roamed the open areas. It was a beautiful day in a very special place. As I approached the parking lot I heard loud laughter and music. At one end of the parking area a group of young men were visiting - looking at their phones, talking loudly over their music. I could hear their comments - they were discussing various mushrooms - likely culinary students (or not). Everything around them seemed irrelevant. As I pulled away I thought of how different their experience in the desert that day may have been from mine.

I wondered if they had missed it - a chance to hear the birds, to breath in the wide open spaces, to hear the steady beat of a horses hooves in the sand. In that moment, it occurred to me that I am not disconnected. I am instead becoming more and more connected.

04/13/2021

I drive to work early each morning - from a gravel drive, to a two lane road that widens to four lanes once I reach town. The first traffic light guards a four lane intersection and I rarely am greeted with green. It is at this light in the early morning that I considered how often we act in small ways without thinking and in doing so impact others. When I pull up to this light, I could be in the right lane, positioning myself perfectly for an upcoming right turn. Or I could stop in the left lane and move over after I clear the intersection. One would think that the right lane would be the better choice knowing where I was going. Perhaps not. I pulled up to the light in the left lane and noticed that cars would pull into the right lane and proceed on their right turn. Were I in the right lane, I would be blocking all of those drivers who do not need to wait for the light. Small thing - the light is only minutes ... one ... two...three cars take the turn (the record is six now) before the light turned green. A minute or two can make a big difference, I know. In fact I imagined that each of those drivers arrived at their destination early enough to prepare for their day, had time for coffee, got an extra hug from their child. The light changes to green and I'm on my way. It cost me nothing in time or money - and perhaps none of those drivers even think about it. But I still smile. A smile is a wonderful way to start a day. Starting a day with compassion for others is a wonderful way to live.

03/30/2021

My mom has this way of saying so much in a few words. She gets right to the point. And so I will too. I attended a business event today at which the main topic of conversation is the inability to find workers. I can't imagine not working - or not wanting to work.

My mom sent me on my way to school every day saying "Do good your best". That phrase is still an encouragement to me to bring my best to whatever task is before me ... and to do good. I have learned that I cannot do either without hard work and its rewards.

This morning she did it again with another phrase. I'm sure she's said it before, but this morning I heard it. Very simple, very short. "Enjoy your work." It is mom's reminder to me to be grateful for the ability to work, to appreciate my clients, and to find enjoyment in the labors of the day. There may come a day when I cannot work or, I suppose, I could choose not to work at all. But a world without work is not reality. Even if you have financial means, life itself is work - think of your relationships and the environment around you. Work is not a bad word. Whatever your work is, wherever you are called to apply your talents and abilities, find enjoyment in your work. Work brings with it challenge, satisfaction in a job well done, and opportunities to learn and grow - a life of work, meaning and purpose. I choose to lean into my work, do good my best, and find enjoyment in my daily work.

02/04/2021

Sojourn - the word that I've chosen to frame my year. I've set another goal. In 2021 I will make my home an oasis, a resting place, a place of refreshment. There is no doubt that our surroundings have a powerful effect on us. Over time I've already made improvements - making my residence into a home. As I consider this goal, I am grateful for what has already been accomplished and appreciate even more where I live. This is not a goal of dissatisfaction. It is a goal of fine tuning and so I pay attention to how I am refreshed and renewed. I notice when something steals my rest. A reading nook and a new flower bed this year I think. I love fresh flowers on the table. Yes, that will be a good start.

01/06/2021

Sojourn. So now I have picked a word. How does that translate into setting goals? The truth is, it develops - it may be as a gentle thought, or inspired by something I read. In either case, it is prompted by focus on and around the word in several categories - my relationships, business, finances and person. It amazes me how focus on a single word will develop into actionable goals. A few years ago, I purchased a yellow pickup. Now I notice yellow pickups. Similar principle.

Reading the quotes of others that contain the word is a great place to be inspired. Here is a great example based on this quote. The beginnings of a first goal - to be a good ancestor - are coming into view. Why did this quote jump out at me? Remember, the start of forming a goal is to consider who do I want to be ... to become? How do I get from where I am to this? I suppose that this quote speaks to me, inspires me, because I already have a strong appreciation for those who came before me - those who worked and sacrificed to improve my life. I believe I have the same obligation to those who come after me. It is around this concept that I will examine where I am, where I want to be, then form measurable, accomplishable goals.

More specifically, today I am considering my legacy to and for my own children. For example, what needs to happen to ensure ongoing healthy relationships and how can I strengthen their sense of value and worth? Financially, are my affairs in order and structured in such a way that my resources are a blessing and not a curse?

And that is how a single word will frame my year and influence my focus. Sojourn - a short stay - perspective, presence, love.

01/04/2021

If Christmas inspires reminiscing, then the new year certainly inspires resolutions .... the promise of days and weeks unsoiled by the grit of life. For the past five years I have been part of the resistance. No resolutions made and no goals set. Instead, during the pause at yearend, I select a single word to form the guardrails along the coming year. It is out of focus and commitment to this single word, that I will form my goals and priorities. Life has a way of pulling us off of the path, and a single word can remind us and pull us back. Last year the word I chose was "wholehearted" which started the year meaning that I would bring my best self to my family and my business. As the year progressed, however, "wholehearted" came to mean so much more. Dedication, persistence, perseverance.

This year, I've selected the word "SOJOURN". A technical definition is a short stay or visit while travelling. The meaning this word holds for me at the beginning of this year threefold:

1. Perspective - I was told once by some very wise women not to sweat the small stuff - and its all small stuff. This is also the year for a big birthday for me - just a number I know, but ....
2. Presence - Mindful of what has come before me and of what will come after me, I will be present here and now. I'll not be hobbled by the past, nor am I borrowing worries from the future.
3. Love - the greatest of all - fuel for the journey. That which is truly essential.

The first step to using a word for your year, is to get the word into the heart of your being - reminders, quiet contemplation, digesting the writings of others on this word. I like to look up quotes using my chosen word. I'm sharing one quote in this post. I surround myself with this word. Next I give thought to how this word could possibly impact me - this can include goal setting or a vision board - but that is not required. In what ways do I expect this word to inspire and challenge me? How will I grow? Who will I become? I look forward to being surprised and humbled through the year, as each and every time, the word I choose in January far surpasses anything I could have hope or imagined when I initially choose the word!

So here's to 2021 and my Sojourn here. May it be a year of perspective, presence and love.

11/20/2020

A mouse died in my house. In a rural setting it is a fall ritual - the placing of the traps. And so the cats are fat and the remote corners of the house become dangerous trails for mice - under the sink, in the furnace room, beside the fridge. As I came in the door that evening, I knew it - I smelled it. Something dead was in my house. I checked my trap line for any recent captures. All empty. Some missing cheese ... those clever rascals. I wandered the house following my nose. The smell was coming from my kitchen. Since a dead mouse can no longer scurry into one of my traps, it was my job to find it.
And so the great kitchen scrub down began. Everything torn apart, including pulling out the dishwasher and fridge. Every little brown trace swept away. Every corner scrubbed down with disinfectant. But still no dead mouse. I knew it was there. Everything added up - the smell, the traces, the known mouse trails. I knew I was right. I never did find that mouse.

Bad things happen. We know it. Sometimes we can't find and remove the cause, even though we know the cause with certainty. Sometimes we just have to live with the consequences - awful things, disgusting things, frustrating out of our control things. We do what we can, then we find a way to live with it. We avoid it, we wait, we cover it up, we learn. And in moments of inspiration, we find a way to make sure "it" never happens again. If you were to come to my kitchen now, you would find it sparkling clean with a state of the art high-tech mouse repellant gadget in place. So far, no trace of any mouse in my house. I'm still running my trap line - just incase.

10/20/2020

Sometimes your kids tell you things you don't want to hear - you'd rather not know. Don't get me wrong. I am proud of the adults my kids have grown to be. They are capable, independent and can take care of themselves. But life can throw some scary stuff their way. A few nights ago my daughter was enjoying the downtown nightlife with a small group of girlfriends when they received some unwanted attention from a persistent fellow. He became aggressive and rude. This was the start of a difficult evening as he did not stop.

So why write about this? To be honest, the mama bear in me was enraged and I wanted to hunt down this nasty person. But as my daughter recounted their scary night, I was overwhelmed with pride and gratitude. This place, this state is a place where people stand with each other, get involved, step in. In one encounter, the girls turned to a group of strangers and asked that they pretend to be their boyfriends, pointing out the problem. The young men instantly assessed the situation and stepped forward to create a shield between the girls and the unwelcome fellow. They were respectful - no escalation - and he eventually left. But that was not the end. The fellow appeared again when the girls were waiting for their ride home. The girls warned him off, and again, passerbys overheard. This second group understood and stepped in without hesitation, staying with the girls until they were safely in their cars. One told my daughter that he had a little sister and he could not walk away. They did not have to get involved. But they did. And they did so with great compassion and strength. What a comfort!

They say that character is how you act when noone is looking. We can also say that character shows up in how compassion and strength is blended - how you stand against wrong, choose to act when there is nothing in it for you - in how you care and add your strength to another.

And so I am thankful. To these young men and the parents who raised them...and for this place, where people of character are raised. Even though I have raised daughters capable of handling difficult situations, I don't want them to have to do so on their own. To those kind and helpful warriors and protectors, you have this mother's gratitude. Well done.

06/15/2020

The only way to predict the future …. is to create it.

It is in every ad every newscast, facebook posts, and daily conversations - "in these uncertain times" "in these unprecedented times". The perpetual knot in my stomach - the ache in my heart - as I go through my daily tasks.

And then I remembered - my focus this year is to live wholehearted - and this means bringing my best self every day - with all of my flaws and weaknesses - every day. The only way to build hope, courage, strength, and talents, is to exercise them. Not in destruction, not in harm to other humans, but in a way that builds others up, that inspires others to also bring their best. The world needs our best.

So "in these uncertain times" I will not cower or retreat in despair. I will stand up for what is right and stand against what is evil. And I will do so with my own heart. The world has seen "times" like this before. It is a broken world and things aren't the way they are supposed to be. Today … I will do my best, I will rest and not quit, I will work on my own heart.

03/25/2020

Hang on … its going to be a bumpy ride! And I'm here looking for ways to support my community. I see people stepping forward, working together, supporting local, doing good … and I see persistence and ingenuity in the business community. I am proud to be part of this - part of the solution. We will get to the other side of this challenge. Here's what I'm doing right now ...

1. Showing some tangible love to local businesses.
2. Staying up to date on available free and low cost resources for business and offer free and low cost consultations to connect people to those resources.
2. Offering flexible billing and rates in uncertain times.
3. Available for electronic appointments and telephone calls instead of in-office meetings.
4. Relying on technology for document preparation, review and signing - so my clients can focus on business.
5. Will preparation and signing - this is an important need and we are meeting this challenge. From "in office" following CDC sanitizing recommendations, to entirely no contact "through a window" signings, we are flexible to your concerns.

11/05/2019

I'm proud of my daughter. And not just because she knows how to stack straw bales. She has the heart of an entrepreneur - always looking for opportunities - willing to take risks. As an attorney, I can advise my clients on potential risks and work hard to protect them, but the truth is, I cannot predict the future. Having good agreements in place, following the rules, meeting your obligations - these make the route smoother. However, there is no risk free route that gets you to where you want to be. The very definition of business includes taking a risk with an expectation of reward. My job as an attorney isn't to scare you into staying home. At some point, the entrepreneur has to go out into the marketplace and start building, stacking and climbing. My job is to smooth the way and keep you on track. (Not legal advice - just a glimpse inside my practice)

GConnie

02/09/2022

04/20/2021

04/13/2021

03/30/2021

02/04/2021

01/06/2021

01/04/2021

11/20/2020

10/20/2020

06/15/2020

03/25/2020

11/05/2019

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