Why some struggles prevent a better life — I couldn’t help but smile when the sturdy, self-assured woman in the restaurant placed her order. The stuffy waiter struck me as a Vegan, determined to suggest healthy options, but the delightfully direct woman was having none of it. “Bring me a hot fudge sundae, with extra whipped cream and…

You can find peace here, if you’re willing to go back — It was the orange Schwinn bicycle that crushed me in the end. It’s funny how the most unexpected things can give release to tightly held emotions. Such was the case for me after the conclusion of my father’s memorial service. I organized every facet of my Dad’s memorial, from the…

Why changing your environment can improve your life — It’s hard for people to rise above their opinions of themselves. This curse of self-limiting beliefs can often be traced back to childhood. Either an unsupportive parent or careless teacher did or said something devastating, and we carry the wound forward. The injured little voice inside our head whispers, “Just…

Why these two qualities help define a healthy partner — It was the second time in a week my partner and I responded to their apartment. As a young patrol officer, I had grown accustomed to the rhythms of domestic violence in our community. Angry and emotionally damaged people seem to hurt the ones they love with alarming regularity. We…

There is a special place in heaven for people like this — What do you want your legacy to be? In this age of social media attention, influencers, vanity metrics, and celebrity worship, few are thinking much about legacy. They’re probably focused on how to become rich and famous. Thoughts of legacy tend to creep into our minds later in life when…

The greatest gift for the living and dying is our tender presence — When I met Einstein the therapy cat, he was pleasant but aloof. I guess that’s what cats do, particularly when they’re protective of their human companion. You see, Einstein and Nicole were a package deal. One came with the other. In the early days of dating Nicole, Einstein used to…

Five ways to become a better friend — My wife is a hospice nurse who has the privilege of helping people near the end of life’s journey. People near death don’t fixate on wealth, fame, sex, possessions, or popularity. They focus on relationships, love for family, and friends. It’s easy to take the important people in our lives…

If you don’t cut the string, your spirit will wither — During my afternoon walk a few days ago, I encountered some balloons tied to a pole. They wanted to fly away and explore, much like people with dreams and ambitions. But a string tethered the balloons to a pole, denying their skyward longing. When I returned days later the balloons…

Consider the advice of Grammy winner Jon Batiste — The genre-blending music of Jon Batiste is all about feeling good. Watch his entertaining, high-energy music video Freedom to gain an appreciation of Batiste’s upbeat sound and artistry. He recently won five Grammy awards, including the coveted Best Album of the Year for his LP We Are. Batiste is a…