"The best gift you can give is a hug: one size fits all and no one ever minds if you return it." ~ Marge Piercy What is it about a hug that can make things seem right again? There is something almost magical about wrapping our arms around another human being. No words are necessary. No explanations have to be offered. For those few moments, two people simply connect heart to heart. A hug says, I see you. I am here. You are loved. We often think of communication as somethi

“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” – William Shakespeare What a wonderful ideal, right? If we humans truly understood the power behind this simple recipe, perhaps we would exist in a world of harmony. It sounds simple enough. But how many times have I followed a recipe exactly and the meal or cake did not turn out as expected? I can have all the right ingredients, measure everything carefully, follow every instruction, and still something goes awry. Maybe I took it

Jackie - picture courtesy of Friends of Big Bear Valley “An eagle earns its honor from the storms it endures.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo There are some beings who enter our lives without ever knowing our names, yet somehow they touch our hearts so deeply that their absence leaves an unmistakable emptiness. For many years, I, along with millions of people around the world, have watched an eagle couple lovingly known as Jackie and Shadow. Through a 24-hour nest camera in Big Bear,

“Your life is not about you. Your life is about everyone else’s life you touch.” — Neale Donald Walsch When faced with the question, “Who am I?” most people begin by describing themselves according to what they have done in the world. We list our accomplishments, our careers, our relationships, our roles in the family, and perhaps our position in the community – teacher, parent, spouse, leader, healer. These things tell part of our story, but they do not answer the deeper q

"Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful." — Annette Funicello Perspective, perspective, perspective. Life can be anything we choose to make of it, yet so many times we postpone our happiness while waiting for conditions to be “right.” We tell ourselves, I’ll be happy when this problem is resolved. I’ll relax when I have more money. I’ll enjoy life when I have more time. I’ll feel peaceful when everything settles down. And then something else happens. There is al

"What if the thing you're scared of is the very thing that sets you free?" — Unknown Life isn’t always easy. Money doesn’t grow on trees that we can just go out and pick like apples. Challenges are everywhere. Opposites or contrast is real and something to contend with. All of these statements are facts. We live in a factual world where two plus two does equal four. Or does it? Does it have to? Can we change that if we desire? Many people live their lives just accepting thi

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” —Paulo Coelho There is something magical about having a dream. A dream gives us something to reach toward. It awakens possibility within us and whispers that perhaps there is more waiting just beyond what we can presently see. Sometimes it is not even the fulfillment of the dream that excites us most—it is knowing that fulfillment is possible. Yet dreams can also test us. One of the biggest ki

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Lao Tzu I thought of those words often over the last few weeks as I traveled a couple of thousand miles. As I was nudged to go to Canada, I received several confirmations that showed me that it was the right decision. I visited a friend there who I had only communicated with online for almost a decade. Like myself, he was a kidney transplant recipient from a brother. As we sat and chatted, I knew I was there to del

“Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced .”-Soren Kierkegaard How much of our lives do we spend trying to fix ourselves? We convince ourselves that when we become more successful, more spiritual, more patient, more loving, or more accomplished, then we will finally be enough. We search for the next book, the next class, the next healing, believing that somewhere just beyond our reach is the version of ourselves that deserves happiness. But what

“I may not be a millionaire in my bank account, but I’m a millionaire when it comes to doing what I enjoy.” – 2001 Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductee Walter Ostanek When most people think about wealth, they immediately picture money. We are taught from a young age that success is measured by the size of our paycheck, the house we own, or the car we drive. Yet some of the happiest people in the world possess very little materially, while some who have accumulated vast fortunes s