Our cat Baby shed one of her whiskers. There it was, a gentle arc, next to her on the office chair, keeping her company as she slept. Reverently I used two fingers to grasp it, marveling at its color and texture. Dark at the root,...
If you were caring for a young, vulnerable child and every day you told her or him that she or he was stupid, and every day was filled with judgments, berating, and chastisement, do you think she or he would flourish? Do you think that...
Many people find themselves navigating the challenge of having aging parents. It’s tough to witness a loved one’s frailty, particularly when he or she has dementia. When speaking with those who are struggling with their parent’s decline, I have come to suggest treasuring the gems...
It was a blustery early spring day and I still had a few minutes to kill before my haircut. Sitting on a stool in a tiny corner at Starbucks on 57th Street and Lexington Avenue in New York City, I nursed my cappuccino and idly...
An Excerpt from Practical Enlightenment Let's investigate the phenomenon of linking up with those around you and your interconnectivity to other human beings. Start by becoming aware of your thought processes and internal conversation. Notice the changes in flavor, cadence or content of those thoughts. As you...
An excerpt from Being Here, Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment Click here for more information or to purchase this book Shya and I went to Bali, Indonesia for the first time as speakers for an Earth Conference, and it was there that we met Oka one day,...
When I was a child, we said grace before our evening meals. During Sunday dinners, my parents generally deferred to my grandfather, who gave thanks in a more religious manner, usually starting with, “Dear Heavenly Father…”. As he spoke, we all held hands and bowed...
On the antiquated subway car that day, Andy discovered that his ears were perfect. Oh but there had been a time when they were not. Kids can be cruel after all. Growing up in St. Joseph, Missouri, Andy was a normal boy except for one thing...
Shya and I went for a walk one summer morning. It was bright, cool and early. I wanted to get a jump on the day and stretch my legs before the heat hit. I had a 7:45am meeting, so we set off at a brisk...
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” -George Bernard Shaw If we are going to talk about getting “old” we have to talk about thoughts. Thoughts are automatic. Our environment stimulates them and we listen to them as though...