Who handed us the gavel and why do we accept it? Why is becoming the Judge so appealing for us? I find myself, usually quite subtly, needing to judge other folks. Sometimes it’s behaviors, other times a position they have taken or even their manner of dress, etc.  I seldom verbalize my judgments these days (and seem to take pride in that!) but am becoming more and more conscious of my non-spoken thoughts! What drives that need to judge others and, equally as important, how does that thinking stifle all

The transformative power of genuine affirmation is unlimited and unending! It was 1970 and I was in my second summer working as a hobo clown in ragtag traveling youth circus. Some of my college classmates had “real” jobs in their chosen fields that paid two or three times what I was making, but I had opted for life experience over vocational experience. Where else could I learn fire eating or train a pig to go down a sliding board? And besides, since I had no idea what I wanted to

Blooming is important, but blooming when unexpected is even more impactful and potentially transformative! Recently I walked out on the patio to water our plants, including a Thanksgiving cactus plant. Unlike most cacti which bloom in spring or summer, this plant—as you might guess from its name—decides to bloom in late fall/early winter. That quality of being somewhat out-of-season has always been appealing to me. I expect that won’t surprise anyone who knows me! As I glanced into the back corner I was totally blown away!  This Thanksgiving cacti was