We tend to focus on extremes.  Life is either good or bad; sad or happy.  We are productive or lazy; succeeding or failing.   Our brains naturally gravitate towards this way of simplifying things.  Putting things, people, and experiences into buckets may be efficient, but it does not allow for the in-between.  And the in-between is […]

We live in a fast-paced world with unrealistic expectations.  We expect to get things done faster and better than is actually possible.  How many times do you set unrealistic goals for the day or the week; failing to consider what is humanly possible to accomplish in a 24-hour period of time. There are lots of […]

“Silence is like a cradle holding our endeavors and our will; a silent spaciousness sustains us in our work and at the same time connects us to larger worlds that, in the busyness of our daily struggle to achieve, we have not yet investigated. Silence is the soul’s break for freedom.”   David Whyte Some ecologists, […]

  This week many of us are preparing to give thanks with family and friends.  In the unofficial start of the holiday season we begin baking, planning, and gathering with family and friends.  There is something warm and lovely about the buzz of sharing our homes, gift-giving, and cooking for those we love.  Could we […]

Recently the American Psychological Association found that 52% of adults report high levels of stress related to the election.  Many of us, regardless of political leanings, feel this pervasive sense of anxiety and even fear.  We fear the anger and divisiveness we see amongst ourselves.   The unknown also creates anxiety.  We don’t know what it […]

Everywhere you look there are 5 ways to accomplish something.  5 ways to be happier.  5 ways to be thinner, smarter, more conversational.  Like most people, I am a sucker for these.  I am a life-learner and I am always out to better myself.  Yet, I have found that all of the lists, tricks and […]

  There is a lovely Zen Buddhist story about a farmer’s response to the ups and downs of life.  The story starts with the farmer benefiting from good weather which led to good crops.  His friends pat him on the back and say, “what luck” and “how wonderful.”  His response is simply, “we’ll see.”  The […]

If you feel like life has become more complex, you’re not alone.  Whether it’s politics, parenting, integrating personal and work life, or trying to find contentment; life feels challenging.  On top of that, there is an overload of information on how to find happiness and ways to do everything “right.”  Everything seems like a problem […]

How often do you say “hello” or “good morning” out of habit?  Or, how often does someone say “hello” to you as they are walking by and looking at their cell phone?  A lot of us get caught up in the movement of the day and find ourselves repeating “hello” or “good morning” without much […]

I visited my 2 year-old nephew at his Montessori school last week and was reminded of how much I love the concept of floor time.  Floor time is moving from your chair and getting on a child’s level; letting the younger guide the trajectory of the play.  Instead of telling a child what to do or […]