Author Archives: Paul Williams
Communication, Compassion, Goodness
THE 60 SECOND HEART ATTACK
Last Sunday the largest audience in the games history watched the Super Bowl. At the risk of sounding un-American I must admit I missed most of it. I had tickets to see an old friend in a play so I missed the second half. What I did observe though was a continuing push from the advertising world to get to our wallets through our hearts. And I really, really like that. In so many ways the world seems to… Read More
Growth, Guides, Happiness, Living Fully
MOMENTS AND MILESTONES
It’s been said that life is best measured in moments and not milestones. The older I get the more I see the truth in that. The more I think about it, the more I begin to treasure pieces of my past. Of course the big events are notated and celebrated throughout the years. We note the wedding anniversaries, the career accomplishments or recognition, the major successes in our chosen fields. Naturally, my sobriety date would certainly apply. I describe it… Read More
EMMET FOX – THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
If you could only love enough, you could be the most powerful person in the world.” ― Emmet Fox I can hear the groans. Some of you may be off put by the religious overtone of the title. Stay with me. This is a book about empowerment, what Fox identifies as the true teachings of Jesus and not the misinterpretation of most organized religion. Probably a good time to say I’m not dismissing the impact of your church or its… Read More
Bravery, Clarity, Compassion, Emotions, Fear
WRITING A WRONG….
To write or not to write. That was the question. Tracey and I sometimes point-counterpoint our opinions or feelings following major events. We did so when Phillip Seymour Hoffman died and again when Robin Williams took his own life. We weren’t at odds about anything. We were both devastated by the loss. But, I needed to have my say. I think many times adding my voice has much more to do with my own mental health than anyone else’s. Tracey’s… Read More
DREAMS, Guides, Happiness, Holidays
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
A few days ago I tweeted this picture of Clarence, the angel from Frank Capra’s iconic Christmas story, “It’s A Wonderful Life”. An impressive number of retweets followed, along with an outpouring of love for the film. My Instagram had the same effect. One comment seemed to accurately sum up the world’s opinion. elvis_grim_reaper “It must have been 11 years ago, maybe to the day.. I went to a matinee showing of “It’s a Wonderful Life” with my friend Josh.… Read More
WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY…DON’T SAY IT RIGHT AWAY
That nonsensical bit of advice was the end result of a conversation with a friend about the unconscious effects of discomfort. I was sharing about a pair of recent back-to-back social skill misfires. We quickly concluded the following possible truths. Philosophical maybes. For most people, sitting with another human being in comfortable silence is … An acquired skill The sign of a really good friendship Almost impossible Do I worry about my communicative skills? I have my moments. At a… Read More
THE BUCKET LIST
Mine has always been minimal. Life came at me generous with opportunities few people enjoy. I’ve met Presidents, iconic talents in every field and the top of the A list. I once dined with Cary Grant, have sung a medley with Fred Astaire and Tony Bennett, sipped Jack Daniels with Sinatra. Okay, the truth, I never really sipped anything. Good fortune took me placed I’d only dreamed of. The runt of the litter, the escapee from life in… Read More
BONJOUR TRISTESSE
Last week, on a flight home from Paris, I got really sad. Maybe good sad though. Maybe healthy sad. The flight offered no Wi-Fi so I looked through the available films on board. I thought it was a great chance to catch up and become au current cinematically. To set the stage I want to back up a little. FYI I speak not a word of French. Paris is a beautiful city but somehow it tends to make me… Read More
HERE COMES INSPIRATION
Many years ago I wrote and recorded a song about inspiration. It’s celebrates a woman who is the source of the singers’ strength, passion, and ideas. “Here comes inspiration … walking through the door.. Bringing back a thousand dreams I thought I’d lost for sure … Monday Momma sure looks good to me.” It’s portrays the muse as a person. A healing companion that’s the energy behind his ability to create. I think there was a lot of “what… Read More
THE LEGEND OF THE LOST
One of the constants in my life is travel. My luggage is so weathered it looks like it was plucked from a yard sale. Henry Fonda carried it in “Grapes of Wrath”! It’s been lost several times but has always been returned to me. Boomerang baggage. I lose things. Actually, that’s incorrect. I leave things. It’s not good. Never much fun. Realizing something’s missing means a trip to the edge of panic, slamming on the spiritual brakes at the… Read More