When my spouse and I chose to buy a home, we settled on an older home, knowing that inevitably repairs would need to happen, especially in the bathroom. As things worsened, we could no longer deny that our bathroom had to be totally gutted. Water could barely trickle through the old plumbing. Mold, in spite […]
I watch. My newest granddaughter is now 3 ½ months old. She is learning what it means to be in a body, to interact socially, and gradually to meet her parents’ and culture’s expectations. I watch. I notice that this little one, so new to her body, is learning by exploring. She is alert; she
Conditioned or New? Read More »
An ancient story depicting what happens after death, tells of two questions that will be asked each of us. The first is: Did you find joy? The second: Did you bring joy to others? In a time when depression and discontent seem to be a growing epidemic, these are potent questions. Healthline reports that in
It’s here again, that time of year when we can easily fall prey to self-judgment, taking a microscope to last year’s failures and idealizing our upcoming superhuman capabilities the moment the clock strikes 12. With goals in hand, we feel a renewed vigor that somehow faded last year. But wait a minute; this doesn’t make
Stepping into the New Year Read More »
I was recently with my 2-month old granddaughter, finding myself captivated by her beauty and the marvel of new life. Mostly she slept, ate, and needed to be changed. Waking moments brought sounds and smiles, the exploration of movement, and an alert curiosity. They also brought a markedly different sound.
Tomorrow I, along with most of the United States, will celebrate Thanksgiving. This holiday is not unique to my country; it is celebrated in Canada, Grenada, Liberia, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, and other countries in some form of expression of its cultural, religious roots. The intention of setting aside this day is to remember and
The Act of Giving Thanks Read More »
“The truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.” -Pema Chodron, Buddhist Nun “We have been raised to have beliefs; that means we have conclusions rather than experience.” –Richard Rohr, Catholic Priest Definition of a Belief: Something I know to be true, but I can’t scientifically or objectively prove.
Beliefs: Gateways or Traps? Read More »
I was recently invited to speak to a group of inmates on the subject of loyalty. After accepting, I realized how little I knew about the subject. So I did some research. The dictionary gives 3 components of loyalty: there must be a cause to be loyal to, there must be a steadfast allegiance to
