Michael Thomas Sunnarborg's Blog, page 14

More Life to My Years

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Abraham Lincoln

This past weekend I visited my Grandma Dorothy. She is 94, lives in San Diego, and has become one of my favorite friends. When I asked her about the secret to living a long and happy life, can you guess her response? Heath Bar Ice Cream. Yep. Now you can see why I love her so much.

One of the reasons I try and visit Grandma each year is because she reminds me how much I, too, want to live a...

To Unplug or Not To Unplug

This past weekend I went on my annual fall camping trip. Camping is something that I’ve always enjoyed since our parents introduced me and my sister to the art of hitting the road and unplugging from the hustle and bustle for a few precious days each summer. I always remember the best of vacation was taking time off from my usual routine (i.e., school or work), and leaving my friends behind as I built a new travel scrapbook with pictures, souvenirs, and unique moments that only a vacation cou...

“Clean” Your Plate

Earlier this month I published a blog post titled, Just Move—a short piece sharing how I wanted to lose a few pounds and ride the wild zip lines of St. Maarten, Virgin Islands. I had been reminded by my buddy Jay to “just move” more often and more naturally; his advice made a world of difference.

This week, I received an email from one of my readers. Here is an excerpt:

“You just made my day…. Just Move is so believable and true. My problem is that throughout my journey lately, I have been al...

Just Move

This past winter I had a goal. I had agreed to go on a Caribbean cruise with a group of friends in March, and part of the cruise package was an “Extreme Zip Line Adventure” in St. Maarten. As I read about the adventure package, I noticed there was a weight limit of 215 pounds per person. It was January, and I had just recently ‘enjoyed’ my love of holiday foods. My weight at the time was 225… but I really wanted to zip line! So I set a goal: by March 15th, I would be 215, wouldn’t I? … wouldn...

Your Big But

In the 1985 movie Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Simone is telling Pee Wee Herman about her dreams of living in Paris. She finishes her story with, “…but, ” and then tells him that Andy, her controlling boyfriend, will never let her go. Pee Wee responds with the classic line, “Everyone I know has a big but.” Pee Wee makes a good point.

I was reminded of this recently during a coaching session. My client and I were working on aligning him towards his ideal job, and throughout the conversation he kep...

239 Hugs

Last week I celebrated another birthday. Big party? Nah. As I recently learned from my friend Kiernon James, birthdays can be a day to pause and ponder your life. So this year I found more joy in taking time for reflection and introspection on the day of my birth celebration. I sat quietly and appreciated the people, experiences, and lessons that were an integral part of my previous year. Think of it like a mini New Year’s Eve celebration.

Another aspect of my birthday I’ve come to enjoy is t...

Put Down the Fork

As I was having dinner with my parents last week, I noticed something new. About every 3-4 minutes, my Dad would put his silverware down and stop eating. At first I thought nothing of it, but after the third time I had to say something.

“Hey Dad. What’s with the stopping and starting?”

“I’m putting down my fork,” he replied.

“Okaaaay. And?” I asked.

“This way I can actually taste my food and enjoy the meal,” he said. “Plus then it’s easier to not overeat.”

Like so many other wise words from m...

Where’s My Pony?

I’ve had to deal with a host of disappointments lately, and—truth be told—it’s all my own fault. “All of it?”you ask. Yep, pretty much. And it’s not really due to the actual events, situations, or people… but due to my expectations.

We all have expectations—ideas about what’s going to happen, how we’re going to feel, and the manner in which the events of our lives will unfold. We also have expectations of others—assumptions about how they will act, speak, and respond. In addition, we have exp...

A New Blog Site!

 As of June 1, 2015, my blog has moved to: http://michaelsunnarborg.com/blog/

Please join me there and continue following the stories, insights, and coaching tips for finding better balance and happiness in your work, relationships, and life. 

To Our Better Balance!

Michael Thomas Sunnarborg

The Empty Inbox

After being laid off from my full-time job two weeks ago and reluctantly enrolled in what I term The White Box Club, I found myself wading through waves of phone calls, text messages, and emails from friends and family expressing their words of wisdom, love, and support. People I didn't even know were sending messages of hope and encouragement through social media. The outpouring of support was amazing.

Then this past Friday—exactly two weeks after that shocking and unexpected event—my inbox w...