I am a recovering pessimist. For over thirty years, I have been practicing the skills of optimism. It began with a traumatic divorce, which was wearing me to the ground. In addition, I was very concerned about my ten-year son, who was depressed by the multiple tensions floating in the house. Emotions were at an [...]
Upon leaving high school, I was five foot eight inches and 180 pounds. People never described me as fat, but as large-boned or sturdy. However, I was not happy with the way I looked and, really to me, it did not seem as if I devoured that much food. I did have an intense sweet [...]
I want to share six commitments that are essential for positive change — as we celebrate this year of learning, and look forward to what’s possible together.
My favorite picture book (sadly out of print) has fourteen words in it. I reread it frequently and share it often with others. It is the story of a tiny mouse whose job it is to move a gigantic purple elephant. He tries pulling, pushing, bribing with peanuts, and crying, all to no avail. Finally, [...]
You may know of my life theme to promote conscious acts of kindness as a daily practice. The idea is for you to actively take kind, compassionate actions day in, day out as a way to promote not just greater well-being in the life and soul of the recipient but in you too. My mission [...]
Volunteering is a necessity! Service to others should, in my opinion, take multiple forms – from the needs in our schools to the needs of the community, nation, even to the world. We simply can’t volunteer enough to fix the problems of our world. There is much to do. Interestingly, in my experience over the [...]
“….the noblest art will be always pure experience…” ~ W.B. Yeats I have two favorite artists. One is Vincent van Gogh and the other is Caleb Jensen, my son. I like the first for all the classical reasons and the second because of his personal approach. Cutbacks have led to huge cuts in art education [...]
Both winners and losers have dreams. The difference that drives their opposing outcomes is that losers fantasize while winners are more pragmatic. Winners begin, do, finish. They are not defeated by adversity. Steve Jobs, at 30, was left devastated and depressed after being unceremoniously removed from the company he started. Michael Jordan, after [...]
I am a bookaholic. I used to get very nervous and my anxiety level would rise when the number of books under my bed dropped below 25. (Now I get that feeling when the number of books in my iPad drops below 25.) And what are those 25 titles? A smattering of science-fiction fantasies, leadership [...]
Grrrr. Sometimes it feels impossible to be kind and loving, don’t you think? We get so angry and frustrated at events happening in our lives that we cannot access that loving place inside of us. Instead, our eyes go from side to side as our fists clench and minds whirr with angry thoughts. Some of [...]