Musings
Define Your Day
A little Monday Motivation for you. Create your definition of success. Figure out how you can make today a good day.
58-Day Challenge: Day 16
I‘ve successfully completed the first 25% of my 58-Day Challenge. As a reminder, on Saturday, June 24, I was driving to Pilates and thinking about how remarkable it was that one of our coaches and my dear friend Randy Lane recently ran 50 miles on his 50th birthday. “Dang! My 58th birthday is coming up […]
Honoring Our Inalienables
Inalienable (adj.) Not transferable to another or not capable of being taken away or denied. We live in a time that seems as if our political climate has produced national conflict as never seen before. However, all we need to do is look through our very short history as a nation to know this is […]
The 58-Day Challenge
I‘m taking a page out of the Life Book of one of our coaches and dear friend, Randy Lane… Ever since I’ve known Randy—which has been a LONG time—he’s always amazed me with his personal challenges and discipline. Every year he will pick a month and choose a challenge. I think his first challenge was […]
Own Your Inner Rock Star
I have choreographed shows for SeaWorld’s summer Cirque-style attractions for 27 years. Each year we hire about 30 performers, a third of which are “newbies;” those who have never performed or had formal gymnastics or acrobat training. I have to admit, I have a blast coaching them up like they’re Olympic athletes. I am relentless […]
Embrace the Suck
I had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine. His name is Coop and he happens to be my “platform” guy. He helps me with my social media and designed this website. How cool is that?! Conversation: Me: How was your day? Coop: Well, I just finished a round of golf? Me: How was […]
Miss Val’s Morning Hacks for Non-Morning People
This is so exciting… I have had my first Musing request! I was asked to share how I manage to be a morning person for someone who isn’t? I can definitely speak to this as I am NOT a “morning person.” I don’t wake up feeling refreshed, regardless of how long I’ve slept. I don’t […]
The Power Behind a Random Act of Kindness
I would be lying if I didn’t admit that my ambitions and commitments outside of my work at UCLA didn’t cause moments of stress. Including waking up this Saturday morning with the added pressure of, “Arghhh, I haven’t written my musing that needs to post tomorrow.” It’s in these moments of mini-panic that I look […]
8 Days a Week
If you could add an extra day to the week, how would you spend it? I saw this question in the current issue of Real Simple magazine. This is extraordinarily fun to think about! I’d also add, where would you insert the extra day? My extra day would come between Saturday and Sunday. That way […]