The best gift I received this holiday season didn’t come wrapped in paper or tied with a bow. It arrived through the front door, carrying duffel bags, laughter, and familiar voices that somehow sound more grounded every time I hear them. Our grown children came home. Each time I am with them, I’m struck by how much wiser they are than the last time we were together. Not in a way that makes me feel old, but in a way that fills me with awe. I see the adults they have become, th

"I love my winter coat!" Hi hooman friends, It’s me, Snickerdoodle, your Chief Wellness Officer, professional napper, and gentle reminder that you don’t need a New Year, New You. You’re already pretty great. This time of year, hoomans talk a lot about resolutions . Big lists. Big pressure. Big “shoulds.” But from where I sit (usually right next to you, hoping you’ll drop a snack), the New Year doesn’t need fixing, it just needs intention . What if this year isn’t about changi

Hi hooman friends! It’s me, Snickerdoodle, your Chief Wellness Officer and professional reminder of what 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 matters. The holidays are one of my favorite times of year. There are twinkly lights to admire on our walks, extra people in the house to greet (and supervise), and a general feeling in the air that something meaningful is being celebrated. And here’s what this wise pup has noticed… The holidays mean many different things to different people. They represent fa

Hi hooman friends, it’s me Snickerdoodle, your Chief Wellness Officer, and expert in all things connection! This week, I’ve been thinking extra hard (yes, even harder than when I try to locate the exact cupboard where the treats live): 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱. Now, as a dog, this is easy for me to understand. Sharing life means:   • Following my hooman everywhere… even to the bathroom.   • Snuggling close during Zoom calls.   • Bringing my toy to anyon

November often invites us to name what we’re thankful for. But in December we experience the quiet closing of one year and the hopeful opening of another, inviting something deeper. Reflection. Integration. A moment to pause and hold gratitude not just for the “what,” but for the who , the how , and the unexpected lessons that shaped our journey. As I look back on 2025, I’m struck by how this year has unfolded in ways I could never have planned. Last year, I made a decision t

Hi hooman friends, It’s me, Snickerdoodle, your Chief Wellness Officer, professional napper, and full-time big thinker. This week, I’ve been doing some serious work. And by “serious work,” I mean lying on my cozy office couch, staring out the window, imagining myself chasing butterflies, solving world problems, and maybe, just maybe, getting an extra treat later. My hooman calls it 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴, but I call it 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴. Here’s the thing: when we let our min

A Special Thanksgiving Edition Hi hooman friends, it’s me… Snickerdoodle! Your Chief Wellness Officer reporting for gratitude duty! This week, everyone’s talking about gratitude in honor of Thanksgiving, so I did a little thinking (yes, dogs think, especially when treats are involved). I sniffed around my toy basket, inspected my soft blankets, wandered through all my favorite nap spots, and guess what? None of those were what I’m most grateful for. Not things. Not snacks (th

Hi hoomans, It’s me, Snickerdoodle, Chief Wellness Officer at SRJ Collaborative, and Certified Distributor of Feel-Good Vibes. You know what I’ve learned this week? Feeling good is contagious. Seriously. Like tail-wagging-level contagious. The other morning, I woke up extra happy. The kind of happy where your ears flop just right and your paws do a little “good-morning tap dance.” I trotted into the office with my best wiggle walk… and you know what? Mom smiled. Then she laug

There’s a moment, usually early in the day, when everything feels possible. Before the emails stack up, before the meetings blur together, before the noise of the workday competes with our attention and energy. It’s in that sliver of space that we get to choose how we show up. And in my world, as an extroverted-introvert, that choice isn’t always easy. People often assume my work as a coach and consultant comes naturally because I thrive in conversation, connection, and colla

Hi hooman friends, It’s me, Snickerdoodle, your Chief Wellness Officer, back with another tail-wagging truth for Fun Friday. Let’s talk about… dog doody and change. Yep. You heard me. Every week, a very suspicious crew shows up at my yard and TAKES. MY. STUFF. Not just any stuff. 𝘔𝘺 stuff. The stuff I carefully curated and deposited with intention. I worked hard for that! And every week, poof, gone. And let me tell you, I 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 barking at them. It’s persona

A Leader's Moment of Realization There comes a moment in every leader’s journey when you realize… your team might just be smarter than you. For me, that moment came years ago when I was working for a telecommunications company. I was leading the Learning and Development team for all three regions of the company, but here’s the twist: I was the least experienced person in telecommunications in the entire group. My team members had come from a variety of cellular companies and

Happy Halloween! Hi hooman friends,   It’s me, Snickerdoodle, your Chief Wellness Officer, broom-riding in with some tail-wagging truth this Halloween…   This week, I did something a little spooktacular. I dressed up as a witch: hat, tutu, sass, and all. At first, I wasn’t so sure. What if the other pups barked behind my back? What if the hoomans didn’t recognize me? What if I looked silly?   But then I remembered something important: 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗮

A reflection from SRJ Collaborative The "Old" Telephone Game Collaboration is often hailed as the heartbeat of a successful team. It’s the buzzword we all love. An ideal state of synergy where ideas flow, teams align, and outcomes soar. But here’s the truth: collaboration fails more often than we admit. Not because of a lack of tools, talent, or even trust, but because of poor communication. More specifically, it fails when we assume understanding instead of confirming it.

Shout out to Firehouse Pet Shop - Wenatchee, WA Hi hooman friends, It’s me, Snickerdoodle, your Chief Wellness Officer, wagging in some tail-tapping truth today: the past is practice. When I first went to my favorite pet store, I’ll admit it, I was nervous. The smells! The toys calling me from just inside the double doors! The other dogs! My tail was tucked, and my paws were unsure. But my hooman kept bringing me back. Each visit, I got a little braver, a little more curious,

Lost Lake, Washington Hi Hooman friends, It’s me, Snickerdoodle, your Chief Wellness Officer, wagging in some 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭-𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘥𝘰𝘮 for your Friday. Last weekend, my hoomans decided we needed a break from the smoky skies and forest fire haze at home. So, we packed up the van and escaped to one of my favorite places on earth, 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲. The air was crisp, the water sparkled, and best of all… I was 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗵! Ohhh friends… I ran through the

A reflection on seasons, shedding, and staying rooted As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin their annual descent, it’s tempting for even the most grounded among us to feel a dip, whether in energy, motivation, or morale. The long days of summer are behind us, the sunlight stretches shorter, and the rhythm of work starts to feel heavier. But just because the leaves fall doesn’t mean we have to. In fact, this season can be a powerful invitation for leaders to root deeper,

Hi friends, It’s me again, Snickerdoodle , your loyal Chief Wellness Officer at SRJ Collaborative. This week’s message is one I take to heart (and paws): Live Inspired. Now, inspiration doesn’t always show up with flashing lights and big fanfare. Sometimes it’s quiet. Like the smell of fresh grass after rain. Sometimes it’s simple. Like the way a squirrel defies gravity. And sometimes it’s just… choosing to begin the day with a tail wag instead of a sigh. Here’s what I’ve lea

Hico & Miranda I spent last weekend on a brand-new adventure exploring a horse show! It was my very first time being around such big animals, and let me tell you, they are huge! At first, I wasn’t sure what to think, but I stayed calm, observed, and let my curiosity lead the way. And you know what? It turned out to be amazing. I was on my best behavior, made some new four-legged acquaintances, and even cheered on my older sister as she rode her new horse in their very first s

Let’s talk about plans. As leaders, we love them. We create strategy decks, map out quarterly goals, color-code calendars, and define...

Cape Disappointment, WA - It did not disappoint We go to the ocean to feel something. Not to perform. Not to prove. But to breathe...