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What Do You Really Need? And How to Be Happy, Stop Wrecking Your Relationships, and Causing General Chaos
“Everything We Do Is an Attempt to Meet a Need.” Marshall Rosenberg I’m going to share a story. Like the previous blog, this isn’t the...
4 days ago4 min read


The Psychology of Politeness and Boo on Bad Manners
Politeness is to human nature what warmth is to wax - Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher This isn’t exactly the story that...
6 days ago7 min read


The Power of Sitting on the Porch…Especially for Thinking-Too-Much People
“The front porch is a place where time slows down, the breeze always seems cooler, and the stories never really end.” —Rick Bragg,...
Jun 24 min read


Awful Acting People and Sacred Enemies: We Are All Just Walking Each Other Home
God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, courage to change the one I can, and wisdom to know that one is me . ...
May 137 min read


Sit With Me: What Zimbabwe’s Grandmothers Can Teach Us About Healing, Listening, and Living the Good Life
And when you looked to this part of the world, grandmothers are considered to be the custodians of local culture and wisdom. And they are...
Apr 257 min read


Porch Storms and Birthday Calls: A Lenten Reflection on a Rich Life and a Real Father
“Daddy," I whispered, feeling my own breath hitch in my throat. "I love you." Just when I was sure he was asleep, the one corner of his...
Apr 104 min read


An Ancient Commandment for Flourishing
Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a...
Apr 47 min read


A "What If Scenario" and My Plan for America's Happiness, Health, and Well-Being
Yes, I saw and read some of the political news yesterday. I am politically independent - still I have plenty of thoughts about what path...
Mar 58 min read


It's Never Too Late: Simple Ways for Making Meaning, Healing, and Changing the World
What do most people say on their deathbed? They don't say, "I wish I'd made more money." What they say is, I wish I'd spent more time...
Feb 287 min read


No Enemies Within: The Story of Three Wolves (Or Minnions)
“Imbalanced systems, whether internal or external, will tend to polarize.” ― Richard C. Schwartz, Internal Family Systems Therapy “Parts...
Dec 12, 20249 min read


Give Thanks Today - Keep Doing It for 365 More Days; It Will Change Your Life
“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” Meister Eckhart Dr. Christopher Peterson tells...
Nov 28, 20245 min read


Tennessee Wisdom: Beware of Snootiness
Contempt is the sulfuric acid of love . Dr. John Gottman, relationship expert “How did this happen? I just don’t understand.” That’s...
Nov 15, 20248 min read


Message from a Vet - Be a Hero: Stop the Fight and Start the Quest
There is what I would call the hero journey, the night sea journey, the hero quest, where the individual is going to bring forth in his...
Nov 11, 20248 min read


Self-Help For Society: We Must Not Be Enemies
"If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of...
Nov 7, 20249 min read


Two Simple Ways to Alleviate Suffering
Holding hands is a promise to one another that, for just a moment, the two of you don't have to face the world alone. (Quote shared on...
Oct 30, 20248 min read


How the Theory of Buckets and Dippers (and Lids) Works: 3 Rules for Happiness and a Test of Donald O. Clifton's Ideas
Relationships help us to define who we are and what we can become. Most of us can trace our successes to pivotal relationships. Dr....
Oct 19, 20247 min read


Kindness, Cookies, and Milk... and All We Ever Really Need to Know
And it is still true, no matter how old you are -- when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together. Robert...
Sep 27, 20249 min read


I Have a Dream: Healing the Heart of Democracy
John and I were discussing the upcoming debates tonight. John was saying how he was hoping to hear someone take the “high ground.” I...
Sep 10, 20245 min read


Quick Now: What Are Your Pillars For Living the Good Life?
It is easier to produce ten volumes of philosophical writings than to put one principle into practice. Leo Tolstoy This past week I...
Aug 18, 20247 min read


Relationships Win, The Golden Rule Still Rules, and Trusting In Our Goodness
These are not new values or ideals. As long as there has been strife and hunger and exploitation and cruelty, there have been...
Jul 26, 20247 min read
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