-
Roots
I recently had the opportunity to meet someone who has given up his possessions and his home in order to teach, and inspire, others all over the word. He smiles when he calls himself “itinerant” and talks freely about the moment he found his calling and rid himself of the life he had previously worked…
-
Precious Gifts
I would be the first to admit that I have no artistic ability. Oh, I know what I like and I have strong opinions about how I think that things should look but when it comes to creating beautiful objects or art, that is well beyond me. The closest I come to a creative pursuit…
-
Moments
I remember, as a child, coming to the realization that a moment would never happen again, that each experience in life was unique and non-repeatable. I am sure that followed the first losses I experienced, of my uncle and then my aunt about six months apart, when I was 10. My father was devastated at…
-
You and Me
When my brother was alive, there were more than a few times that I called him and said, with great agitation, “Oh my God, I think I am turning into Dad!” This was no compliment to our father, believe me. It was me seeing Dad’s over-anxious, over-worrying, high strung qualities in both my thoughts and…
-
What Defines Us
If you were asked to define yourself in a single paragraph, what would you say? How would you distill the essence of who you are into a few sentences? This paragraph needs to be more than the simple declarative sentences that begin with “I am,” rather it is a look deeper at what made you…
-
Still Fighting the Fight
The news reports today were filled with mentions of Cherie DeVaux, the first woman who has trained horses to win both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. And, while I would take nothing away from Ms. DeVaux’s accomplishment, I was struck by the incessant emphasis on her gender. I do understand that she is the first…
-
And Why?
Today was the Israel Day parade in New York City. For the third year in a row, I had the privilege of accompanying both assisted living and nursing home residents, along with staff and some volunteers, on this march down Fifth Avenue. As has been the case as long as we have been involved, we…
-
Another Day
It was my birthday this week, although I admit it might be hard to know which day it was exactly. I like to turn my celebration into the entire month, blowing out as many candles as I possibly can! I feel the same way about family birthdays, why confine them to just one day a…
-
In Myself I Trust
We read a lot and talk a lot about self care. We all know that paying attention to our minds, bodies and souls is important. We know about the importance of exercise and good nutrition and sleep. Whether we do it or not, we know about mindfulness and meditation, journaling and gratitude practices. But there’s…
-
Motherless Child
For a long time, the words of the old song “Sometimes I feel like a motherless child” would play on repeat inside my head. At 25, I was quite certain that everyone else still had their mother, that I was the only person who was living with an enormous Mom-sized hole in their life. I…
With a Full Heart
Reflections on Leadership and Life
With a Full Heart 