Sure, maybe Punxsutawney Phil isn’t a fail-proof prognosticator. Whether or not you put much stock into what a rodent and his shadow predict, you can’t argue with the fact that the vernal equinox is more than six weeks away. During that span of time, we’ll likely have our fair share…

by Cheryl Marks Young As author Cynthia Ozick once said, “Two things remain irretrievable: time and a first impression.” She’s hardly alone in that assessment. A quick search on “first impression quotes” brings up a long list of utterances running in the same vein and for good reason. First impressions…

Whether you count the “official” start of spring as the first pitch of MLB’s spring training season or the vernal equinox, there is one thing for certain: by mid-February, you’re probably starting to count down the days until it arrives. You’re ready for buds on trees, longer days, and warmer…

by Cheryl Marks Young When was the last time you read a case study about abject failure? When you scroll through the leadership blogs and business publications, how many “lack of success” stories do you skim? It’s true, we relish stories of underdogs, but we don’t get caught up in…

The start of meteorological spring may not be a signal to brush off our gardening tools and dig deep into the earth to plant your favorite veggies and flowers. It is, however, a signal that even in colder climates the first vestiges of local harvests will begin to appear. If…

If you’re craving time outdoors lately, you’re not alone. Maybe it’s the long two years of pandemic restrictions or maybe it’s the dawning of spring, or maybe it’s something else entirely. Whatever the trigger, many of us are indulging our craving for time outdoors. Before you head outside to feel…

by Cheryl Marks Young When you hear the word “balance” what image comes to mind? Do you envision a set of scales with items piled equally on either side so that the trays rest parallel to one another? Is it another image that reflects some sort of symmetry? Probably. …

Holidays and food traditions tend to go hand in hand. For food allergy families, the social and religious traditions around meals and treats can transform those observances into a minefield of risk. When it’s a holiday like Passover or Easter with food knit closely to your religious traditions, the stress…

by Cheryl Marks Young It’s true that some are born with personality traits and skills that lend themselves well to leadership roles. It’s not true, however, that the only good leaders are natural-born leaders. As Vince Lombardi once said, “Leaders are made, they are not born. …