a daily blog on well-being and how to feel better by Mark Barger Elliott…

The choices we make today shape how tomorrow will feel. Do we take out the garbage, load the dishwasher, return that one email, make the call we keep putting off, finally pay that bill, apply for the new job, start that new project… or not? Some events are beyond our control, but some things are…

“’Is this anything?’” is what every comedian says to every other comedian about any new bit,” observes Jerry Seinfeld in a book I bought recently where he published all the notes he kept for decades on legal pads that eventually became material for his comedy shows. Seinfeld’s approach to life, as he writes, was “expect…

“Where shall we begin?” asked the sculptor Rodin. “There is no beginning,” he concluded. “Start where you arrive. Stop before what first entices you. And work! In many ways this insight sums up Rodin’s life. Known for The Thinker, The Gates of Hell, and The Kiss, in the Rodin museum are 6,000 of Rodin’s sculptures…

On the subway yesterday a man who appeared homeless was stepping into the car when the doors suddenly closed on him, but then he stood there – likely feeling immense pressure – for maybe 8 seconds. I have seen similar situations where this occurs and usually someone steps back and the doors close in front…

A theme that emerged in John Talty’s book about Nick Saban’s leadership style was we can’t out perform our self-identity.  Which is an interesting observation.  I would like to suggest that maxim applies not only to how we perform athletically, but how we interact with those who we collaborate with, volunteer, work, and live our lives.…

We were able to attend a concert last night by legendary jazz guitarist Bill Frisell. The evening was basically a 90 minute improvisation where some moments created goosebumps and others prompted my mind to drift  as the musicians searched for new themes and ideas to explore. I was curious how Frisell approached improvisation – as…