You can't prove a negative and life isn't lived in the rearview mirror, so it's hard to say what path we 'stepped off' in order to find the experiences that make us who we are. But it sure feels like a blind leap of faith when it's happening. Whether you're burnt out and need a refresh in the Old World, or just not interested in looking for it, life can find a way of giving you just what you need, just when you need it. Such was the case for Sharon, a former college roommate and one of Liz's first examples of chasing what feels right above what seems next.

From new mantras like 'don't sweat the BIG stuff' to finding the beauty in the meandering nature of life, Sharon is a source of comfort, of grace, and of the courage it takes to step off the treadmill whenever it's meant to be.

Have you ever heard of 'Rubber Ducking'? (scroll to the bottom for a quick poll) While it sounds like a classic Kenan Thompson bit from the 90s, it's a term used by computer programmers like Justin Hinerman to help them break down their code and find flaws. It's kind of like mixing the phrase 'explain this to me like I'm a 5-year-old' and talking to yourself, except you use an inanimate object...like a rubber duck...to remove the issues clouded by your own understanding. By explaining complex problems to someone, or something, that has no context for what you're talking about, you often find hidden bugs and flaws in logic.

Now, we're not saying Liz is a rubber duck...quite the contrary. She was the 90s-era computer teacher, just when the Internet was taking education by storm and terrifying the old guard. And she was the one who saw the future in her students (one in particular) and the power in trusting them. But as she and Justin talked, the parallels from the mid-90s became clearer and clearer...a new, overwhelming tech spilling into classrooms and scaring everyone, students starting miles ahead of the old guard, and Justin's 13 year old child at the center, a kid the same age he was when he met 'Miss H'. It was like rubber ducking the code of 2025 and it even made Justin take pause. 'I'm thinking I need to adjust my posture a bit when it comes to my kids and technology...less 'restriction and limitation' and more 'teaching and trust...with safeguards'.

Rubber Duck Debugging at its best. 🦆

⁉️📱PARENTS: What is your strategy when it comes to emerging tech like smartphones, social media, and AI?

#WalkwithMe #WalkwithLiz #GENed #Parenting #Leadership #LearningDifferences #Inspiring #Linsly #Softball #Editing #AI #Tech #Alumni #RubberDucking

As we round into the final stretch of this project, we're going to offer a few 'bottle' episodes, as it were. Some side conversations or special videos that don't quite fit the format of our Walks, but add context or flesh out the series...or maybe they'll just be silly and fun.
Today, we take our first little detour on our path to 50 to share a special Q&A with Carole Ann Al-Din, a counselor with unique knowledge of EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. EMDR is a technique for treating trauma that focuses on the darting movements of the eyes, and something we've noticed may be helping facilitate the deep conversations with our walkers.
It's a fascinating look into the mind and the connection we seem to have stumbled upon (pardon the pun...). We hope you enjoy!