Is this how your calendar looks? Do you believe that 2020 has been a colossal waste of time? That you can’t do anything? That you can’t wait until this year is over? Actually, while our general frustration might make us think that nothing has happened, this is just not true. First of all, shutdowns didn’t [...]
Do you know anyone who: Really wants people who have hurt them to acknowledge the grave injustice done to them? Believes that they treat other people much better than they are treated? When they feel hurt by others, especially family and friends, must make sure that they are understood to be the party in the [...]
Just because the world appears unsafe and unpredictable, does not mean that consequently, we cannot navigate these troubled times. We have these navigational tools. Faith Hope Courage Serenity Harmony Love Peace Unlike toilet paper and hand sanitizer, these tools may not be purchased online and delivered to our doorstep. They are manufactured on our own [...]
Sometimes we only see the immediate rather than the bigger picture. For instance, looking at only the trunk of this maple tree, it would appear that the lichen-encrusted and craggy bark indicates an almost dead tree. However, when we step back and look up on a spring day, we see the leaves appearing on an [...]
Remember Zoltar? Back in the day, Zoltar was to be found in arcades and other amusement places. Insert your coins, Zoltar would shuffle his cards and your printed fortune would emerge from the bottom left slot. No more worries. Zoltar had provided clear direction for your future. Alas, there is no Zoltar to give guidance [...]
Earlier this month I was hiking a nearby trail. The day was sunny and I needed to get out of the house. The state was not yet on quasi-lockdown but the few fellow hikers were keeping a responsible distance. In northern Illinois, the snow has melted but the trees are still barren. One can describe [...]
Have you ever gone on a trip that began with great expectations and ended in disappointment? To clarify, I am not asking about business travel. This is about travel for pleasure. Have you been on trips where pleasure seemed to oversleep and miss its flight? Yes, I’ve been there. But over the years I’ve learned [...]
Do you have everything you need? A pleasant home? A decent income? A fairly stable family life? A hobby or two? Some friends, maybe even good friends? Is this enough? How about your spirit? Your soul? Does your spirit seem to long for more? Perhaps, this is the year that you get serious about feeding [...]
Not only a new year but a new decade is just a week or two away. I would encourage you to take a couple of minutes to reflect on your experiences of 2019. I recently review this year’s photos stored on my smart phone. Here are a few of my favorites. What I noticed was [...]
Am I the only one missing the experience of civility and politeness in everyday life? Civility … does anyone even know what that means? To refresh, civility comes from the Latin for citizen and means civilized conduct or polite act or expression. The definition implies that it is the responsibility of all citizens to act [...]
