Little Bigs – Part 1
As I have mentioned in prior posts, this is the most divisive, antagonistic and fear-driven climate I have experienced in my lifetime, and as a result, I have become increasingly more committed to identifying common opportunities for connecting and healing. I call these “little bigs” because they take little effort but can have outsized results […]
Still Chewing
Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of sitting with several people who have been given a terminal illness diagnosis as they grapple with how to deal with this shocking and overwhelming news. On occasion they may ask for my thoughts or professional advice, but for the most part, they are hoping […]
Our Shrinking World
“As you age, your world gets smaller and smaller.” This dire pronouncement from our neighbor, our boy’s self-designated adoptive grandmother, haunted me from the moment I heard it. Over the years Rita and I reflected on it often, even more frequently as we entered our own post-retirement phase. Already we had experienced the loss of […]
My Pre-New Year Resolution
It’s the beginning of the new year, the usual time for New Year’s resolutions. Several friends and acquaintances have already mentioned resolutions like beginning an exercise program or committing to a healthier diet, both of which I wholeheartedly support and are areas I continue to work on myself! Just within the past few days (it’s […]
Avoiding Decisions Part 3: Making the Decision
This is a continuation of the last post on confronting a major decision I’ve been avoiding for years: where and how Rita and I want to live out this next stage of our lives. This decision is extremely challenging and complex, and as I’ve come to understand the more I talk to others about it, […]
Avoiding Decisions Part 2: Unpacking Your Baggage
This post is in response to a challenge put forth by one of my regular “bouncers” (the people I “bounce” my rough drafts off for their honest, critical and constructive feedback) after reading the draft of my last post on avoiding decisions. He asked me why I hadn’t written about the ongoing decision-making struggle I’ve […]
Avoiding Decisions
Over the past fifty years I have counseled people of all ages, from young children to seniors in a variety of settings faced with major life decisions who all too often decide—consciously or unconsciously—not to make a decision! I have also found myself in the same situation and Rita and I have had to face […]
Seeking Out Inspiration
Inspiration: the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative (or different) I often run my ideas for possible post topics by friends, especially a few who tend to be honest and candid. Sometimes their responses simply move me to put the possible topic back on the shelf. […]
Fear: Friend or Foe?
This is one of the most challenging posts for me to write because it directly relates to one of the biggest concerns we face today as families, communities, faith communities, and certainly as a country. The increasing division seeping into most aspects of our daily life has become cancerous! It feels as if I see […]