IT’S THE MOST PECULIAR TIME OF THE YEAR
Here we are smack dab in the middle of that Judea – Christian Happy Hour called The Holidays. Christmas, Hanukkah, whatever you may or may not celebrate, most of the people around you are either successfully or anemically attempting to bury themselves in good cheer, consumption of goods and group revelry. The more pious look inwards to what the holiday is truly supposed to mean, but for the most part it’s tinsel, twinkly lights, excessive eating and drinking and… Read More
WITH A SONG IN MY HEART
It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog. I’m sorry to have been missing in action. An extra full plate is partially responsible. Endless blessings. But, I experienced something a few days ago that lit a fire and made me want to share it with you. I’m sometimes obsessed with time passing. I often retrace my life back to events that have led to especially meaningful moments or milestones. I wrote an earlier blog about it. I concluded… Read More
THE SPIRIT OF THE EXPERIENCE
The morning felt delicious, as did the liberating thrill of pedaling a bike out of Paris to the woods. For the past two weeks I had been imagining myself beneath a canopy of shimmering poplars, drinking in their green brew. And now here we were, on a family bike outing, a picnic lunch in our backpacks, the weather clear and warm. We got on the bike path, a block away, and rode up to the Parc de la Villette, then… Read More
Accomplishment, Bravery, Character, Courage, Goals
IT’S HOW YOU RUN THE RACE
The New York City Marathon has taken place outside my window all day today. I heard them setting up the barricades and podiums at five am and twelve hours later there are many hours to go before the last people will cross the finish line. While I’m not a runner myself, I see the lessons in the act of running a marathon as well as the metaphor of the marathon itself. Fifty thousand people set off this morning to run… Read More
BELIEF
Oprah Winfrey is debuting a new eight part series this Sunday on belief called Belief. We were fortunate to get invited to two different screenings of this. I was able to attend the one in New York last night. In true Oprah fashion, it was a perfectly produced event, that started with Oprah coming on stage and introducing the film and explaining the genesis of the idea and how she and her production team brought it to life. The audience… Read More
Accomplishment, Addictions, Book Suggestions, Discipline, Life
BOOK SELECTION – FLYING OVER THE PIGPEN
Take a healthy dose of good honest mid-western values, mix it with a lot of corporate and life experience, throw in some spirituality and a big bucket of knowledge about recovery and you have the all the ingredients for an informative, readable and truly helpful book. Doug Tieman has been the CEO of Caron Treatment Centers for 20 years. Before Caron he spent decades working in the corporate world, so he understands addiction of all sorts, office politics, people skills,… Read More
TRUST
It is OFFICIAL; I have now been sober longer than I drank. This milestone almost seems surreal and I find myself wondering how I got here, to today. I remember those agonizing months, weeks, days and hours before I made THE decision. The decision I was out of control, the decision to live or to die, the decision to walk into a room and tell a bunch of people that I was an alcoholic. I remember those agonizing hours, days,… Read More
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEONARD COHEN
“Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in.” ― Leonard Cohen
Accomplishment, Action, Clarity, Growth, Letting Go
FINE BALANCE
There is a very fine balance between overworking something and letting it go. We are all (we hope) always working on something. It might be a life change, a career move, a family dynamic overhaul, personal transformation, or it could be several at once. But there is no question we all grapple and fuss and think until sometimes we fell like our brains will just fly out of the top our heads. I know for me, I play with things… Read More