This is the third in a series of posts called, āLife Lessons from Our Elders.ā We've covered āBe Present for Your Lifeā and āAppreciate What You Have, but Don't Be Attached to It.ā In Lesson #2, I suggested taking a look at your life to see what you are grateful for.Ā In doing so, you may have encountered some ...Read More
Life Lessons from Our Elders #2: Appreciate What You Have, but Don’t Be Attached to It
This is the second in a series of posts about Life Lessons from Our Elders. The first one, Be Present for Your Life, can be found here. These are lessons for anyone at any age, as there is so much we can learn from one another. Most young people have no idea of the riches they possess. I know I didn't (I'm 54 ...Read More
Life Lessons from our Elders #1: Be Present for Your Life
Older people have much to teach us. Two of my best friends are eighty-nine. I never understood it, but for some reason I've always been drawn to older people much more than children. I have such fond memories of sitting with my grandfather before he died in his early 90's. Our family protocol was for us all to troop ...Read More
How (and Why) to Make Fear Your Friend
"It's only fear, it's only fear that keeps you locked in here." Songwriter Alexi Murdoch Q: Make fear my friend? Why would I want to do that? A: Because it's the only way to be at peace with it. Be at peace with fear? That might sound impossible, but I can guarantee that learning to be at peace with fear will ...Read More
The Insanity of Wanting Your Own Way
Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. Lao Tzu Isn't it true that most of our problems in life are about not getting what we want? This is an āif onlyā way of being, and is the source of all of our daily ...Read More
Marriage and Fulfillment (Q & A)
Dear Gail, For many years I have moved toward inner peace and happiness. Each day I wake with happy thoughts. I am enjoying my retirement which includes many activities I enjoy. The Universe time and time again seems to manifest my every desire... Except for my 35 year marriage in which my wife and I have ...Read More
Four Essential Guidelines for Improving Your Relationships – Part 2
In Part 1 of these essential guidelines, we addressed honesty in communication by asking the question, "Is it true?" The remaining three guidelines discussed below invite a deeper contemplation of what we bring to our relationships. Is it useful? This question invites us to reflect on the content of what we express ...Read More
Four Essential Guidelines for Improving Your Relationships – Part 1
I love to communicate with people. Admittedly, Iām not too interested in superficial cocktail party-type chatter, but I find a true and deep meeting with another enormously enriching. I mean, donāt we all? What fills us up more than a real connection ā from a knowing glance with a stranger to an all-night pajama party ...Read More
A Revolutionary Look at Changing Habits
Have you heard this one? A Buddhist monk walks up to a hot dog vendor, hands him a twenty dollar bill, and says, āMake me one with everything.ā The vendor prepares the hot dog and gives it to the monk. The monk, after waiting for a moment, asks for his change. The vendor looks at him and says, āChange only comes ...Read More
The Inner Critic
Dear Gail, I have a question and would love your help. I have generally been feeling a lack of motivation about a number of things in my life. I will initially get excited about something, but then get stopped for any number of reasons my mind dreams up. As a result, I have difficulty moving forward. I was asked ...Read More