Mirror, Mirror on the wall, tell me the future, and that's not all;
I want to know what will come next;
I want to know the who, when, and how.
Mirror, Mirror on the wall, why do you not speak; tell me the answers to the questions I seek;
What makes one strong and another weak?
Read MoreTake a vacation... if just for a minute.
Slow down to take a look at a flower;
chat with an old friend;
close your eyes and imagine something wonderful;
read a few lines from a good book;
make some popcorn (...with extra butter).
Turning data into information, information into knowledge, knowledge into wisdom, and wisdom into our ability to make better, more consistent decisions requires a transformational bridge at each juncture.
Read MoreIn the 1960s to 1980s television game show, Let’s Make a Deal, hosted by Monty Hall, the contestant would be asked to choose between three doors – Door #1, Door #2, and Door #3. Behind one of the doors would be a new sports car. Behind the other two doors would be…
Read MoreThere are many moments in our lives that we want to hold on and never let go. These “milestone moments” are often recalled in our daydreams as our minds wander, much like a CD or DVD looking for what track number to play. We try to relive the feeling, visualize certain peoples’ faces, strive to hear every single sound, and breathe in all the surrounding aromas. For the moment, we are back at high school opening up our locker, or on vacation, walking down the beach searching for seashells.
Read MoreWhile waiting for his name to be called to the stage to receive his diploma, Tim recalled some key events from the past four years. He thought back to Freshman Orientation, back when the campus seemed so big and course selection was so confusing; the introduction to so many new experiences from food plans, dorm rooms, and the campus bookstore was so overwhelming.
Read MoreI am restless, and I really don’t understand why.
Is it because tragic world events disrupt and disturb an otherwise peaceful day?
Is it because news of global warming and the environmental consequences dim my outlook?
Is it because many of the world leaders’ words hurt, divide and confuse?
At this time of year, I often reflect on the Christmas mornings growing up in Lawrenceville, New Jersey - the opening of presents, the wrapping paper flying everywhere, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, the sound of bacon sizzling on the stove, Christmas songs playing on the stereo, and the many hugs and smiles from my grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends dropping in throughout the day. But there is one Christmas in particular that I recall each year. A Christmas morning that changed my life.
Read MoreIt is nearly dusk as the sun greets the orange and blue horizon over Boston Harbor. Judy and her daughter, Michelle, are cuddled together on the living room couch. Michelle, just three years old, draws her baby doll closely to her chest, and holds her mother's hand tightly.
With their Thanksgiving feast now complete, family and friends gathered to listen to the traditional reading of "The Thanksgiving Letter."
Read MoreOn July 4, 1776, our founding fathers of the Continental Congress signed the "Declaration of Independence" that challenged the greatest power of the world to a fight. At the core of the fight were certain "words" that were unheard of at the time of monarchies and tyrants.
Those words "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" set the stage for an arduous struggle that lasted several years with much loss of life and property. At the end of the war with England, freedom was born, and the definition and application of those words was just beginning.
Read MoreOn July 4, 1776, the founding fathers of the Continental Congress wrote words that challenged the greatest power of the world to take notice. Embodied within the Declaration of Independence, words referred to as inalienable rights - Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness - defined freedom and set the stage for a great struggle against tyranny. The subsequent years, through much loss in life and property, the United States of America won its freedom and shifted its attention to the meaning and application of those words.
Read MoreThere is this place; a special place.
A place where nature is celebrated, trees grow strong and tall, and birds rejoice with each sunrise.
A place where dreams are formed in morning's midst, planted in the hearts and minds of a few, a thousand, and then into the millions.
People come to this place year after year. They play. They laugh. They learn. They fall in love with each other as they embrace nature's many gifts which inspire their souls and warm their hearts.
Read MoreWaking up on New Year's Day morning, people will greet the new year in various states of readiness (largely depending on what occurred the night before). Many will take advantage of the holiday and sleep well into the morning. Others will wake up early to get ready for another day of company, football, and more food. And some will take the time to make their 2014 New Year's Resolutions.
Read More"Hey, where's my hat?" I asked my wife.
"What hat?" my wife responded.
"My hat for tennis. I have a match today, and I need my hat!" I exclaimed.
"Look in your tennis bag, or in the closet where you throw everything!” she exclaimed back.
"Hey, I found it where you left it... in my tennis bag,” I responded sarcastically.
After the horrific events of 9/11, The New York Times published survivor's accounts of the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Many survivors spoke of some angel, some young man coming out of the smoke and fire on 104th floor wearing a red bandana around his face, and yelling in a calm and commanding voice,
"Follow me. I found the staircase. If you can help someone else, then help them."
If I knew it was the last time I would see you, I would have I stayed longer by your side;
If I knew it was the last time I would talk with you, I would have listened more and asked better questions;
If I knew it was the last time I would laugh with you, I would have laughed harder and louder.
Read MoreThey came to me a dream - a very strange dream indeed. A ladybug, a squirrel and an eagle, each one appeared and shared advice. To this day, I am not sure why.
Sitting in a lawn chair in my yard, a ladybug landed on my hand. To my surprise, it spoke in a voice that sounded just like my Aunt Leona. The ladybug said:
"Here is my advice to you on this day -
Be well rounded. Try many experiences and always learn more each day.
Bend, Oregon, with a population of over 80,000 people, offers great skiing and snowmobiling in the winter at nearby Mt. Bachelor and white water rafting, trout fishing and camping in the spring and summer. It also has one of largest concentrations of microbreweries and craft breweries in the world, making Bend, Oregon a perfect setting for a father-and-son Spring Break vacation.
...and so it was.
In the stillness of the night, he takes each breath slowly; deliberately. Eyes closed, hands by his side. The silence is only broken by the humming and hissing of the oxygen machine. The oxygen, supplied in a clear plastic tube to his nose, enables his dreams to be more peaceful; bringing a degree of comfort and relief to a weary body now in the third week of home Hospice care.
For four nights and portions of the day, I have been watching Dad.
Research shows we retain...
