Love of The Week

About two hours after I met my husband Jack, he told me that we were going to get married. That news was a bit of a surprise, but who was I to argue? I already loved him too. It’s a crazy story, I realize, but whatever, it obviously worked. And that’s not even my point here! My point is that in that very same conversation, Jack also mentioned that we would spend the next summer, and every summer of our lives together, forever and ever, on the island Nantucket, his favorite place.

I vaguely recall thinking, “Maybe I should tell him about Wellfleet?”

Wellfleet was the small fishing village on Cape Cod that was my favorite place.

Anyhoo, Nantucket it was.

And still is. Even now.

Look, I cannot tell you I loved Nantucket my first summer there. I knew absolutely no one. I got lost every time I got in the car. And also, Jack wanted me to learn golf – and be great at it – very quickly.

Golf is hard.

Time passed. I made a ton of friends on Nantucket. I learned my way around. And I learned golf. In fact, I went gaga for it.

I was back on Nantucket this past weekend, to speak at its annual book festival. It’s a marvelous, brainy, fun event, and, when I was not bloviating myself, I was captivated by hearing other authors talk about their craft. I walked my dogs on all the secret paths I now know around the island. And I even snuck in a round with my dear friends, Rob and Tina, pictured here. I am proud to announce my game was deemed “not shameful.”

My God, I love that island, Nantucket. It reminds me why I included “Place” as one of the values we test for with The Values Bridge. Because for some people, a certain location drives everything. Decisions, actions, hopes, and dreams. I could not have a life that took me away from Nantucket. I may not have arrived there on purpose. But for my purpose, there I stay every summer, and will forevermore.

Hate of the Week

Can I be rude and say that I hate Father’s Day?

I know I am not alone! Because on Father’s Day, I posted an unsmiling video of myself with the message, “Sending love to all the people out there for whom this day is very complicated.” And a lot of people wrote back. Some sent hearts, others wrote some version of “I get it.”

I’m not asking for sympathy. In fact, my main feeling on Father’s Day is not sadness at all, but envy. I mean, I am flat-out jealous of people who can say, “My father loved me and knew me and cared.”

How awesome that must be! Yay for you!

But here’s my silver lining to my pouting, and it is huge. My son is a father now, and maybe I’m biased – I doubt it – but he is the best that ever lived. I could cry from joy when I see him holding Lirael upside down above his head so she can “walk” on the ceiling. Same for when he gives Taran his bottle saying, “I hope I got this the right temperature for you, my friend.”

Someday, his kids will love Father’s Day. Which is one reason, I guess, that I should get over myself. Stand by on that one.

Hmm of the Week

The thing I want to know right now is how the heck I am going to finish my next book by August 1, which happens to be the day it is due to my publisher. Gosh, I hope my publisher herself is not reading this. If so: Hi, Hollis! Everything is fine!

And, truly, I think everything will be fine. I’ve never missed a deadline in my life, and the manuscript is in good shape. It just needs…work. As in, me sitting at my desk, suffering quite a bit.

But here’s the thing. I have no doubt about why I’m writing another book, this time about values and decision-making. It’s so we can keep this conversion going, you and me, and all of us.

And to that, I say, not “Hmm,” but “Amen.”

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How Knowing What You’re Good At Changes Everything

In Part 2 of the three-part Becoming You series, I sit down again with alumni Max and Kristen to explore aptitudes — not the skills you’ve learned, but the ones you’re wired with. With some messy realness and a few surprises, Max and Kristen discover how their natural strengths explain not just what they’re good at — but why some roles never felt right.

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