When someone we know experiences a difficult or unwanted life change many of us find ourselves not knowing what to say or how to be around that person. It could be a co-worker, friend, fellow parent, or even a family member. Are we allowed to say, “How are you?” Or, “What’s new?” Is it tacky […]
The source of trouble
Thank you to Brain Pickings for posting excerpts from Saul Bellows’ 1976 Prize Acceptance Speech. Here’s a quote that resonates: To find the source of trouble we must look into our own heads. Reading and reflecting on it now, it feels obvious to me. For the most part trouble is something we get ourselves into and out […]
I Live in a Silver Mine and I Call it Beggar’s Tomb
So I’m stuck on the Grateful Dead again. This morning I was listening to 2/13/70 and stumbled upon the acoustic part of the show. Maybe I was exhausted, or simply a bit more open, or maybe it was the beautiful vocals on the particular version, but Uncle John’s Band really spoke to me in […]
An Act of Kindness
It was probably 20 years ago that I first heard the cliche, “An act of kindness is a good investment.” Even then, the concept didn’t resonate. I thought, and still think, an act of kindness is an act of kindness. It’s merit isn’t some potential future return, but the act itself. There can never be […]
One Thing I Love About The Grateful Dead
I’m a Deadhead. There, I said it. Of course, I’ve said it before. Many times. So, in the spirit of reflecting on my love for the Dead, here’s something I particularly appreciate: How they interpret and carry forward a beautiful legacy of music that came before them. As every Deadhead knows, a lot of Dead […]
Better than Change
The idea of “change” is one of the most powerful ideas out there. At the most basic level the idea of “change” speaks to the potential for transformation. That individuals, communities, organizations, and societies can change is an important and widely held belief. Recently I had a conversation with a friend who is admittedly afraid of change. […]