Category Archives: Reflections

We think, especially when we’re young, that happiness comes from “big” things: money fame amazing love stories… We realize, as we age, that small pleasures are what provide longstanding happiness: a good book a baby’s laugh the surprising scent of a summer rain… Feel grateful for the little things.

In 2011, I enrolled in an online class on the subject of Loving-Kindness meditation. I was living in France at the time, on sabbatical with my family, with the goal of coalescing the amount of kindness-based material I had created over the previous 15 years into a book. The working title of my book wasContinue reading “May I Be Filled With Friendliness”

“Everyone will have moments when their true identity is offered to them, their integrity and with it their life direction. Quite often it is when they are looking for something else. Anyone who has ever believed in them, strengthened their wholeness, and offered them their love will be there with them then, no matter howContinue reading “Life is What Happens While You’re Busy Making Plans”

If you are interested in the world being a kinder place, all you need to do is contribute to it being a kinder place. Try it out today! Here’s one way… #1) As early in the day as you can, do something kind for another person. This can be something as simple as making aContinue reading “Go On, Make the World a Kinder Place”

“May I never quarrel with those nearest me, and be reconciled quickly if I should.” -Eusebius of Caesarea Let’s talk about “The Golden Rule,” this link taking you to its Wikipedia entry. There you will find a host of information. Visit the link and allow yourself to gravitate to whatever there intrigues you. Really, takeContinue reading “Considering The Golden Rule”

We’re wired to care. Compassion, our default mode. Need help? Click “Restart.” Our world moves so fast that it often causes us to be under significant stress. As such, instead of responding from a position of compassion and understanding, we develop habits for seeing ordinary situations as threats. This puts us in “fight or flight”Continue reading “Compassion, Our Default Mode”

We often take for granted that the things we need to complete a simple, everyday task will be there when we want them. It doesn’t take long to create a long list of the luxuries we have at our fingertips: Toothpaste Toilet paper Running water Heat Chilled food As an exercise in awareness and gratitude,Continue reading “Four Simple Steps to Express Gratitude”

The idea of doing something kind for yourself is summed up simply by the directions you are given on an airplane to put on your own air mask before helping those next to you. Why? Because to be able to do anything well you need to first take care of yourself. It’s very important thatContinue reading “Do Something Kind For Yourself”

Years ago, I spoke at the memorial service for my maternal grandmother. A few days before, I was sitting on a park bench with a yellow legal pad on my lap and a ballpoint pen in my hand trying to write what I would say. At first, I was drawing blanks, stuck in what IContinue reading “This Story Takes My Breath Away”

Reassure your heart. Watch the natural sweetness of toddlers playing. When I was in college and first studying Human Development, a professor assigned the class the task of going to a playground to watch young children at play. His point was for us, as budding teachers, to see the joy kids have when they areContinue reading “Reassure Your Heart”