Between all the negative headlines in our communities and political forums exist stories no one is talking about, even those impacted by their realities. Stories of loneliness and alienation; private battles often masterfully concealed by ordinary people unsure how to ask others for help. The story I’m about to share is one of those stories; a reminder that this journey through life should never be solely about self-gratification and a lack of true compassion but rather a mission to provide genuine kindness and acknowledgment to others, especially when no one is asking. Let me explain. Recently, a thirty-year-old man set out on what appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. A popular attraction and destination during the afternoon hours,…
My first reading of Mitch Albom's inspirational memoir about his revered sociology professor was back in early 2000, at the urging of my then girlfriend (now most treasured wife). The book is Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson. Since that first reading, I've revisited the now-famous memoir several times over the last 23 years - most recently, last evening. While a short read at around 192 pages, I had never begun and completed my reading all within the span of a few hours. But on this particular night, that's exactly what happened. As I lay in bed reading through the last few pages while my wife slept comfortably next to me and tears now moistened my eyes, I was yet again profoundly impacted…
"Change is the end result of all true learning." - Leo Buscaglia. Even though I've been out of the classroom for over 30 years, the older I get, the more I understand that we're never done learning. Whenever a subject matter emerges from an article I'm reading or a documentary I'm watching that is beyond my current knowledge level, I seek a credible text or scholarly essay to support true learning. What I mean by "true learning" is an unbiased education based on factual information and historical data, not narratives designed to sway the reader's opinion in one direction or another, also known as propaganda. But today, true learning is under attack as conservative politicians across America seek to control and influence the education our children experience to protect them…
"You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled." ― Charles Spurgeon, Baptist Preacher Life has an interesting way of sending us invaluable lessons when we need them most. Often infiltrating our situation or circumstance, they intend to remind us to be content with what you have and where you are in the present moment - a place so few of us currently live in. These can be powerful lessons whose impact is exceedingly felt as they frequently alter our current way of living and are not easily dismissed. Let me give you an example. A decade ago, I found myself unemployed. At the…
“Everything in life is temporary. So if things are going good, enjoy it because it won’t last forever. And if things are going bad, don’t worry. It can’t last forever either. - The Minds Journal If there’s one thing we can depend on in life, it’s the unexpected struggles and circumstances which have a way of sneaking up on us when we least expect it. Your day-to-day existence certainly ebbs and flows, but ultimately it’s filled with normalcy and routines that provide you with comfort. But then…WHAM! That normalcy is imploded. We’ll spend some time speculating that there may have been changes we could have made in order to prevent such struggles and circumstances from appearing in the first place. But I’ve come to believe over the course of my…