Lisa notes

What If This Moment Is Asking for a Different Pace?

When Time Feels Manageable

I begin the morning relaxed. I have ample margin built into my schedule—a gift of breathing room to myself. No rushing. No tight deadlines. I’ll arrive at the airport early, sharing an Uber with my friend whose flight leaves a full two hours before mine.

Everything feels calm. Manageable. Under control.

My flight back home is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. I’ll land in Dallas at 6:20, with a comfortable one hour and twenty minutes layover before my final flight home. Plenty of time.

Until the dings begin.

The Dings That Change Things

Ding.

A text from American Airlines. My flight to Dallas is delayed by 15 minutes.

I don’t mind. I’ll still have an hour to get to the next gate once I arrive in Dallas. No biggie.

Ding.

New departure time: 4:00 p.m. Arrival in Dallas: 7:05.

My stomach tightens a little. Now I’ll have to run when I get there. I begin shifting to a hurry mindset.

Ding.

Departure pushed to 5:05 p.m. This won’t work at all . . . except my connecting flight is also delayed. It’ll still be close. Still tense. Still possible—but barely.

Ding.

Really? Now I’ll leave at 5:30 p.m.

I talk to customer service at the airport. They tell me to keep my flight to Dallas and hope for the best. Hope feels wobbly, but it’s all I have.

When Hope Runs Out

Ding.

5:57 p.m.

Ding.

6:24 p.m.

Ding.

The seventh delay seems like a final verdict: 7:07 p.m.

I’m done.

This time, I know I’ll miss my connecting flight.

And then—something unexpected happens.

An Experiment with Pace

My February theme I’ve chosen for my One Word Shift is Pace.

Specifically, I want to honor the pace this moment requires. I pull forward the tangible representation from my One Word jar: my deceased aunt’s old watch—a reminder that time is more relative than we realize.

Sometimes altering my pace means I slow down. Intentionally. I’m trying to stop rushing when when rushing isn’t necessary.

Other times, it means I speed up—not letting something linger longer than it needs to.

Like writing this blog post.

I decided to see how quickly I could put it together.

As it turns out: not as fast as I wanted. But also, not as long as it could have taken.

The Moment Everything Softens

Back at the airport, once I know that I won’t make it home tonight, my jitters disappear.

When rushing was no longer an option, something in me finally softened.

The delay is so large that I’m back to having plenty of time again.

The mental math stops. The frantic inner voice quiets down. I’m no longer in rush mode, because there is no rushing something out of my control.

And somehow . . . that’s freeing.

Waiting Is Okay

I finally arrive in Dallas at 10:30 p.m.

I shift back into slow mode.

Waiting for customer service.
Waiting for the shuttle.
Waiting in line at the hotel that night (compliments of American Airlines).

By midnight, I’m in a bed. And by morning, I’m on a new flight home at a leisurely 10:30 a.m.

The Real Shift

Experimenting with pace has been interesting. I’m learning that while physical shifts matter, for me the mental shifts matter more.

Timing isn’t always within our control. But knowing when to slow down and when to speed up is helping me better live in the moment I’m actually in—not the one I’m racing toward or the one I’m trying to resist.

Timing isn’t always within our control—but our pace still is.

As it turns out, staying present here is the sweetest time of all.

When have you had to speed up lately? Slow down? I’d love to hear in the comments.

This Month’s Must-Reads for Me: Stories, Connections, and Life Lessons
—February 2026 Book Recommendations

By LisaNotes February 5, 2026 Books I Recommend 30 Comments

I have lived a thousand lives and I’ve loved a thousand loves. I’ve walked on distant worlds and seen the end of time. Because I read.
—George R. R. Martin

Each of these eight books felt meaningful to me in its own way about connecting with other people and with ourselves, whether through a well-told story or through the wisdom of life lessons.

[See previously recommended books here]

NONFICTION

1. So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed
by Jon Ronson

What’s your secret? Jon Ronson asks:

Maybe our secret is actually nothing horrendous. Maybe nobody would even consider it a big deal if it was exposed. But we can’t take that risk. So we keep it buried.

I found this to be a totally fascinating topic about how ordinary mistakes can explode into viral outrage and public humiliation (examples included in the book). It makes you wonder about how and why our modern culture uses public shaming as a powerful—and dangerous—tool.

2. Secrets of the Killing State
The Untold Story of Lethal Injection
by Corinna Barrett Lain

I highly recommend this one, especially for readers in the U.S., where executions still occur regularly.

My state of Alabama has one of the most active—and most botched—execution systems, so this book felt especially important to read. I learned even more through a virtual book club with the author, whose research takes apart the myth of lethal injection as humane. She finds instead a system full of secrets, incompetence, and deep human suffering among people all along the process, not just those sentenced to death.

3. Rule Makers, Rule Breakers ***
Tight and Loose Cultures and the Secret Signals that Direct Our Lives
by Michele Gelfand

Do you live in a country with a tight or a loose culture? This book shows how different regions perceive rule-following, and how those differences shape everything from daily behavior to politics and relationships.

4. All in This Together
Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World
by Jack Kornfield

This is a collection of stories and teachings that remind us of our shared humanity and the importance of tapping into our goodness, especially in uncertain times. Although Kornfield draws from Buddhist wisdom, you don’t have to be a Buddhist to appreciate his guidance about connection and compassion. I read the review copy (thanks, NetGalley!).

5. Beyond Belief
The Science-Backed Way to Stop Limiting Yourself and Achieve Breakthrough Results
by Nir Eyal

Beyond Belief shows how many of our limits are psychological, not physical, and how reshaping those often unconscious assumptions can create real shifts in our lives. I was able to participate in a Zoom call with the author and found it fascinating to hear how other readers are putting his science-backed strategies into practice—for me, that gives the book more weight.

6. Real Love
The Art of Mindful Connection
by Sharon Salzberg

Real Love shows how ancient Buddhist wisdom can help us experience love more fully—with ourselves, others, and life itself (again, you don’t have to be a Buddhist to appreciate these writings). It also offers practical mindfulness exercises for cultivating more authentic connections.

FICTION

7. The Frozen River
by Ariel Lawhon

Very good story and storytelling. The Frozen River follows Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife in Maine (based on a real person!). When there’s a suspicious death on the frozen river in her town, Martha has to overcome obstacles to uncover the truth.

8. The Names
by Florence Knapp

Such a fascinating concept for a novel—I loved it. The Names follows Cora and her family based on a single decision—the name she gives her newborn son. The book reads like three separate stories, based on three alternate life paths over thirty-five years determined on which of the three names she chose. It was a little hard to follow at times, but completely worth the effort to think it through.

WHAT I’M READING NOW

The Look
by Michelle Obama
The Unfolding: Poems
by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
All the Way to the River
by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Extinction of Experience
Being Human in a Disembodied World
by Christine Rosen
Truly
An Inspirational Journey Through the Life of a Musical Legend
by Lionel Richie
Year of Wonders
by Geraldine Brooks

*** Books from Daniel Pink’s 21 Favorite Books list; you can find it here. I’m working through the list. I’ve read 15 so far, and have 6 more to go. Getting closer!

Have you read a good book lately? I’d love to hear in the comments.

I’m sharing at these linkups

On the Blog – January 2026

By LisaNotes January 31, 2026 Archives No Comments

Here are brief summaries and links to posts on the blog, Lisa notes, from January 2026.

Noticing the Shift: What Keeps Blooming When We Pay Attention—Share Four Somethings January 2026 (1/30)
A Share Four Somethings post about noticing the shift, showing up to change, and discovering what keeps blooming in everyday life.
3 Simple Ways to Begin the Year Gently (With or Without a One Word) (1/26)
Starting with a new One Word this year? Here are 3 simple ways to begin your One Word journey—without pressure—and connect with others along the way.
A Small Shift: Learning to Notice Instead of Fix (1/21)
A reflective story about a missing glove, small mental shifts, and what happens when we notice instead of fix, control, or force outcomes.
That “Friend” Is Not Who You Think They Are (1/14)
As AI becomes more helpful and polite, it’s easy to confuse it with friendship. This essay explores why human connection still matters.
Will You Be Good at Your Thing Today? (1/9)
A short reflection on how doing your work well—even something small—can make a big difference in someone else’s experience.
10 Book Recommendations About Stories, Responsibility, and Fairness—January 2026 Book Recommendations (1/6)
Explore ten nonfiction and fiction books that inspire reflection on stories, responsibility, fairness, and the choices that shape our lives.
Prepare to Shift: Choosing My Word for a Year That Will Change (1/1)
Why I chose Shift as my One Word for 2026—and how noticing daily change helps us live with more presence, flexibility, and intention.

See previous months’ archives here

Noticing the Shift: What Keeps Blooming When We Pay Attention
—Share Four Somethings January 2026

By LisaNotes January 30, 2026 Life updates, Shift: One Word 2026 17 Comments

I’ve been intentionally watching for shifts this month—some subtle, some more noticeable. Life is always changing, moment by moment.

This month’s four somethings all circle around what happens when we show up to the shift—so life can keep blooming.

Each month in 2026, we’re sharing these 4 somethings at Jenn’s blog.

1 – Something I loved
2 – Something sustaining me
3 – Something carrying me forward
4 – Something I’m making space for

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something I Loved

A reminder that beauty can return again and again

I was given this amaryllis a couple of months ago. I assumed it would bloom once and be done.

But instead, new shoots keep popping up, followed by new blooms—and I’m surprised every time. Just when I think it’s finished, there it goes again.

Sometimes the stems can’t hold the weight of the blooms and they start to fall over. When that happens, I cut them and put them in a vase, where they stay beautiful for another week or so.

My plant people here can confirm this for me, but I read that once the foliage dies back, I should remove the bulbs and store them in a cool, dark place until fall. Even though it’s a houseplant. Is that right?

I can’t quite imagine this cycle continuing for me with a houseplant—but I’m willing to try. There’s a shift here I’m learning from: beauty doesn’t always arrive once and leave. Sometimes it keeps coming back.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something Sustaining Me

Relearning the power of being together

The world continues to recover from the aftereffects of 2020 and COVID isolation. Even now, almost six years later, I’m realizing how attending events in person has been far more nourishing than I ever realized prior to 2020.

Jeff and I attended an annual conference on the East Coast last weekend, and as usual, it was so uplifting. There’s something about being in the same room with other people—breathing the same air, singing the same songs, laughing at the same jokes—that gives me life.

Online connections matter; don’t get me wrong. (See “Gifts of Online Gatherings: Finding Community Through Zoom”) I don’t want to live without those! May they live on and on.

But there’s been a shift in my awareness: having my body gathered with other bodies carries a special kind of energy—and I don’t want to ever take that for granted again.

sweet friends we see each year at Southern Lights (Instagram photo)

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something Carrying Me Forward

The comfort of continuity across generations

The older my grandson gets, the more he enjoys playing with some of the same toys at our house that his mama and aunt once played with when they were children.

The same games.
The same playsets.
The same books.

Different child, different era—and yet, it feels so familiar. (See “Is There a Hidden Ripple Right in Front of You?”) This shift from one generation to the next feels very satisfying to me. Time seems to relax for a moment, as if it’s reminding me that love and connections don’t disappear—they are simply carried forward through new hands.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something I’m Making Space For

Making room for meaningful connection

While traveling through the Midwest a couple weeks ago, Jeff and I wondered if we could shift our schedule enough to make an extra stop—to visit a dear blogging friend along our route.

I’d never met Lynn in person before. I truly never thought I would, even though I wished I could.

And now I have! I’m forever grateful for the space that opened up for it.

Getting to see Lynn in person—hearing her voice, seeing her home, being present in her everyday world with her precious family—was priceless. (And her husband’s carrot cake? Amazing!) Even though we were only together a couple of hours, those moments will stay with me for years.

—

Maybe the thread tying these four somethings together this month is this: when we pay closer attention, beauty appears and new things become possible.

A plant still blooming.
A room full of people.
Toys passed down.
A friendship in the flesh.

A Question for You:

What’s something in your life that keeps blooming?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

I’m linking at these blog parties

3 Simple Ways to Begin the Year Gently (With or Without a One Word)
{One Word 2026 January Linkup}

By LisaNotes January 26, 2026 One Word Community, Shift: One Word 2026 17 Comments

Some people arrive at January with a clear word in mind. By the end of the month, others may wonder if it’s too late—or have already decided the idea is not for them at all.

All choices are welcome.

On the 26th of each month this year, I’ll be sharing no-pressure ways to notice what’s shaping your days—maybe it is through your One Word. Or maybe it’s just what you’re happening to notice in your life. Take what works. Leave the rest.

If you do have a word, these ideas can help you begin.
If you don’t, consider these ideas simply as possibilities to just pay attention to your life.

3 Ideas to Try

1. What does your word (or theme or month) look like?

If you have a word, play with seeing it visually.
If you don’t, notice what keeps catching your eye lately.

You might:

Snap a quick photo of something that feels meaningful right now
Write or type a word (or phrase) in a few different fonts
Doodle shapes, symbols, or images in a notebook

No art skills required. Curiosity is enough.

Here is the logo I created to represent my word SHIFT.

2. Where can you see reminders of what matters?

If you chose a word, place it somewhere obvious.
If you didn’t, notice what’s coming up frequently for you—a question, an image, or a feeling.

Ideas of where to put your reminders:

Phone lock screen
Planner or calendar
Sticky note on a mirror or desk

I printed my logo and put a copy on my mirror in my bedroom so I can see it daily. (A few of my other words are still there as well. I like remembering them, too.)

3. Why this word . . . or why not?

If you have a word, answer just one question:

Why this word, this year?

If you don’t have a word, ask this instead:

What feels unfinished from last year or what seems important to me right now?

You don’t need a full essay. A sentence or two is enough.

And if you’re willing, share that sentence with someone else.
Community has a way of multiplying insight—and easing the load.

I’ll share with you two sentences I wrote about “Why Shift?”

I want to be more aware of the subtle daily changes that occur in each day. As I pay closer attention to how everything changes, I hope to be more appreciative of who I am in this moment, in this body, doing these things.

Worksheet to Download

If you like a little structure, here is a simple 2-page worksheet to help clarify a One Word or theme.

I use it every year—and I love looking back at old ones to see how they rang true or else surprised me in ways I hadn’t imagined.

Download the “My One Word” worksheet here

January One Word Linkup (Now Open)

You’re invited now to:

Link blog posts you’ve written about your word
Leave a comment if you’re not a blogger—your words matter
Visit a few posts if you can; everyone appreciates encouragement

Throughout the month, I’ll also be sharing links from the linkup in our One Word Facebook group—another easy way to stay connected to each other.

Have you chosen One Word for 2026? Have you seen it pop up anywhere? Share in the comments.

Looking ahead: February’s linkup opens Thursday, February 26.

If you’d like to receive our monthly One Word emails and ideas for 2026, join here.

Link Up About Your One Word

A Small Shift: Learning to Notice Instead of Fix
—What a Missing Glove Taught Me About Letting Go

By LisaNotes January 21, 2026 My stories, Personal Growth, Shift: One Word 2026 12 Comments

Life is like an ever-shifting kaleidoscope—a slight shift and all patterns alter.
– Sharon Salzberg

Just Noticing

I carry my breakfast dishes to the sink and check the outside temperature.
Cold again.

Like most mornings, I then get ready for my morning walk. Jacket. Cap. Sunglasses. And . . . where are my gloves?

These purple gloves (well, technically they’re convertible flip mitts since they’re a combo of gloves and mittens) are my favorites. Yesterday I tucked them into my pocket during my walk once it got warm.

Today, only one glove is here.

I glance around the kitchen. The laundry room. Even the car. Maybe I dropped one in the garage? I check my pockets again. Still just one glove.

Did it fall out yesterday? Maybe somewhere along my walk it slipped out without my noticing.

Suddenly today’s walk shifts to a new meaning: find the glove.

And the only way to find it is to notice.

Making Shift Practical

My One Word for 2026 is Shift. And I want it to be more than philosophical.
I want it to be practical. Tangible.

I want physical reminders of Shift around me—things I can see with my eyes and touch with my hands.

Since I chose a focus word for each month centered around Shift, I’ve also collected a solid object for each one, and placed them together in a glass jar.

January’s focus? Notice.
Practice curiosity (hello again, my word from 2024).

Notice the shifts instead of forcing them.
Watch, not work.
Examine, not explain.

A Small Turn Changes Things

Originally, I wanted my January object to be a kaleidoscope. Because with just a slight twist, the view changes entirely.

That’s how noticing works.

We notice a slight shift in a friend’s expression during a conversation.
We notice how tall our grandchild has suddenly become.
We notice that our steps are a little quicker—or slower—and our walks a little longer—or shorter—than they were last year.

No judging.
No forcing an outcome.
Just noticing.

Just a small turn of the kaleidoscope to offer us a new perspective.

The Snow Globe Stand-In

However, I don’t actually own a kaleidoscope. And I’ve not bought one yet.

So for now, I’ve chosen a close second: a snow globe. (Ah, this itself is a shift; I’m doing it!)

Like a kaleidoscope, everything changes in a snow globe with a small shake. And then eventually settles again.

Just something to notice.

The Purple Glove

I’m nearing the end of my walk through the neighborhood. And still no sign of my glove.

I have one last cul-de-sac to walk down. As I make the left turn, my eyes scanning the road for a flash of purple, I see something ahead.

From a distance, I can tell it’s purple.
Closer now—the shape seems right.
And then my heart lifts.

It’s my glove.

Found without any extra effort or strategy or control on my part.

Just noticing.

Letting It Be Simple

I realize life doesn’t always work this way. Sometimes we have to be more proactive and execute a complicated plan to reach a specific goal.

But sometimes—not.

Sometimes, but not always, life really does unfold this simply. And for that, I’m grateful.

So maybe today, try your own small mental shift.
Maybe everything doesn’t need your full control. Maybe you don’t have to work so hard or explain or manipulate something (or somebody?) quite as much as you think.

Instead, when it’s possible,
just notice.

And see what you find.

Where in your life might noticing—rather than fixing—be enough today? I’d love to hear your thoughts.