How Sy Montgomery Gained a Passion for Animals

A Scottish terrior and an Australian emu staring at each other

What sparked Sy Montgomery’s passion for animals? What type of dog did she have growing up? Sy Montgomery explains that she was drawn to animals and nature since she was a child growing up as a general’s daughter on different US Army bases in the 1960s. Several key relationships with animals fostered her interest in the natural world, leading her to find her calling as a nature writer.  Below, we’ll look more closely at two connections she made: with her childhood dog and with wild emus on her first research expedition.

Incremental Progress Isn’t Trivial: Tiny Steps Toward Big Change

A man with a backpack and an orange pullover hiking in the mountains illustrates incremental progress

Do you want to make significant changes in your life? Does significant change require significant action? Incremental progress can be a game-changer when it comes to personal growth and achieving goals. By taking tiny, effortless steps, you can build momentum and create lasting change. This approach breaks down daunting tasks into manageable pieces, making progress feel less overwhelming. Keep reading to discover how you can harness the power of incremental progress and transform your life, one small step at a time.

How Pets Can Improve Your Social Life—One Pig’s Story

A group of people petting a pig, showing how animals can improve your social life

How did one pig build a community for Sy Montgomery? Do you know how pets can improve your social life? Not only can pets build a bond between animals and humans, but they can help form connections between humans and humans. Just look at Sy Montgomery’s pet pig, Christopher, who opened her up to new friends. Discover how a 750-pound pig gave Sy Montgomery long-lasting friendships.

Why Border Collies Are the Best Dogs: 2 Adorable Examples

Two border collies running through a field, showing why border collies are the best dogs

Why are border collies the best dogs? Why is it so hard to get a new pet after another passes away? In their many years at the farmhouse, Sy Montgomery and her husband Howard rescued several border collies. She looks back on the lessons about love that Montgomery learned from two of them: Tess and Sally.  Here’s how two of Montgomery’s border collies ended up changing her life.

Effective Time Management Strategies: 5 Steps to Taking Control

A smiling woman on a veranda holding a yellow alarm clock illustrates effective time management strategies

Do you control your time, or does it control you? What can and should you do with 24 hours every day? It’s a common refrain—“So much to do and so little time.” Everyone has things they want out of life—goals to achieve, dreams to make real, and the time to enjoy the fruits of our labors. Yet time itself feels like the enemy. It runs out too fast and gets filled with distractions. There has to be a better way. Continue reading for effective time management strategies from top experts in the field.

The “Linear Life” Is a Myth: Here’s Why It’s Dangerous

A black squiggly horizontal line on a white background used to represent the nonlinear life

What is the “linear life”? How can believing in a linear life set you up for disappointment? How can you embrace a nonlinear life? When we imagine our lives, we often imagine the ideal: college, career, family, and retirement. The truth is that most people’s lives aren’t that straightforward and include many life-altering disrupters and transitions along the way. Keep reading to learn why you should embrace a nonlinear life, according to Bruce Feiler in Life Is in the Transitions.

How to Plan Your Time (and Then Protect Your Plan)

A man in a home office working on his schedule illustrates how to plan your time

Is it hard for you to manage your time effectively? Do you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish everything you need to? Learning how to plan your time can be a game-changer for your productivity and overall success. We’ll walk you through the importance of planning and provide practical strategies for organizing your day, week, or even month around your true priorities. Keep reading to discover expert tips on creating a time management plan that works for you and helps you achieve your goals.

Why Is Change So Hard? The 2 Reasons (Bruce Feiler)

A cartoon image of a boy crying over a tombstone that reads "my old life" because life changes are so hard to overcome

Why is change so hard? What gives us a sense of meaning in life? What are the three stages of adaptation? In his book Life is in the Transitions, Bruce Feiler explains that many people struggle to navigate life changes, especially transformations, for two reasons. The first reason is that change can alter the meaning of your life and the second is that adapting to change is similar to grieving a death. We’ll go over each reason in detail below.

How to Adapt to Changes: 7 Life Altering Strategies

A drawing of a man standing between two signs. One reads "old life" and the other reads "new life" to signify adapting to life changes

Want to know how to adapt to changes in your life? How can you embrace a new way of being? Navigating life changes can be difficult, but Bruce Feiler, the author of Life Is in the Transitions, argues that you can make it easier by approaching it intentionally and proactively. He proposes seven strategies that can help you adapt to life changes. Keep reading for an in-depth look at each strategy.