Be unapologetically you! “Do not seek for things to happen the way you want them to; rather, wish that what happens happen the way it happens: then you will be happy." - Epictetus   I have never considered myself a stoic. And yet, in a heartfelt conversation with a dear friend today, she gently reflected back to me the way I move through life’s challenges. Her words lingered. Being a researcher at heart, I turned to good old Google and found this description: A stoic person r

“Remain calm, serene, always in command of yourself. You will then find out how easy it is to get along.”  Paramahansa Yogananda     Today was a banner day—not only here in India, but in the landscape of my entire spiritual journey. When I first picked up Autobiography of a Yogi over thirty years ago, I read it with three companions: awe, skepticism, and hope. I questioned the miracles. I wondered about the sages. I asked if the astonishing stories he told—stories that defy t

“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” — Dalai Lama   There are a handful of spiritual teachers whose words have shaped the very fabric of my life, and two of them have been on my heart so tenderly these days. I deeply miss the serene presence of Thich Nhat Hanh and his simple, elegant view of life. And now, as I walk through India—the land of sages, saints, and seekers—I can feel how close I am to the Dalai Lama, whose laughter alone could l

Outside the gudwara “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.  Kahlil Gibran   It was a sacred day for my beloved host family—a celebration of sweet Vanya’s sixteenth birthday. In this culture, family is not simply a bond; it is a living temple of love, honor, and devotion. As the clock struck midnight, we gathered around her with joyful voices and warm hearts, singing into the new year of her life. But the re

Pray for peace “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” —Will Rogers   As I woke this morning to the first day of the final month of the year, a wave of emotion washed over me. How can it be that a year so rich, so miraculous, so full of Divine surprises is nearing its close? I have lived many firsts, fulfilled long-held dreams, and witnessed miracles that still take my breath away. And yet, woven into the beauty of this year has been the turbulence felt around the wo

“If we could simply live in the light of our bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit, our daily life would be transformed.” ― Elizabeth George   Growing up in the American “Bible Belt,” I was surrounded by churches of every size and style. Yet I never truly understood what a temple was—not in the sacred, energetic sense—until much later in life. Now here I am, in India, a land said to have anywhere from 650,000 to over 2 million temples, each one a heartbeat of devotion. Toda

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27   Today’s journey carried us from the constant hum of Cairo to the quiet stillness of Abu Simbel, and the contrast could not be more striking. Cairo vibrates with energy that never seems to rest—cars honking, people weaving through the streets, the rhythm of life pulsing in every direction. Yet, as our small plane touch

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” ― Ursula K. Le Guin   The countdown has reached its final tick. Bags are packed—at least as packed as they can be after multiple attempts and second guesses. My heart beats a rhythm that sounds like wings preparing to take flight. In just a few short hours, I will board an airplane bound for a distant land, carrying with me not only the message of peace but the vibration of every pr

"That inner voice has both gentleness and clarity. So to get to authenticity, you really keep going down to the bone, to the honesty, and the inevitability of something." ~ Meredith Monk   As I sit in reflection today, I am deeply aware of the sacred rhythm unfolding in my life. In just five days, I will be boarding a plane that marks the beginning of the International Peace On Earth Tour. Those words still bring tears of gratitude as I say them. What began as a whisper in my

“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”   Dalai Lama   Oh, what a day indeed! Sometimes I think my life could fill volumes of books with the lessons that unfold moment by moment. Today was one of those days. It began with such ease and peace—leaving early for a doctor’s appointment so I could stay calm in rush hour traffic, catching a few minutes of