Don’t you love seeing babies of any species? They are so innocent, so inquisitive, so playful, so open to exploring, and totally excited at new discoveries. Why can’t we be more like that? I once excitedly witnessed the birth of several chicks. Weeks later, I got to watch these ducklings waddling after their mom along a wall overlooking water. She decided to teach by example, and without warning, she jumped over the edge and started swimming, as her babies looked on in … [Read more...]

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world.In fact, it's the only thing that ever has."  - Margaret Mead We all have within us this potential strength, especially when we believe that we can help to change the world for the better. It may not seem like that sometimes, but the truth is that we can each do something, even a little something, to make a positive difference in someone else’s life. Sometimes, when we watch the daily news, it’s … [Read more...]

It is difficult to watch the news these days. Whose heart doesn’t ache as we witness what is happening to our fellow world citizens? In Ukraine, people just like us – who want to live healthy lives while raising their families, enjoying friends, being good citizens, working, and living in peace – find their very existence in jeopardy. From the safety of our homes, we watch with anxiety as millions of people are forced to evacuate the country they love, mothers leaving with their … [Read more...]

“It doesn’t matter who you love, or how you love . . . but that you love”.    - Linda Commito    What if we could experience Valentine’s Day, not just as a romantic holiday, but as an occasion to celebrate love in our everyday lives? How can we ignite a spark of open-heartedness? We need more love in this world. Why not use this time as an opportunity to bring love and joy into our interactions with others, whether they are partners, friends, family, neighbors, … [Read more...]

The beginning of each year is an opportunity to experience life anew, to open our hearts and minds to fresh ways of engaging and living in our world. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that 71% of people are feeling more HOPEFUL about 2022, according to the results of a survey revealed on CBS Sunday Morning, a favorite show of mine. What is the Word of the Year? While the Merriam-Webster dictionary had the word “vaccine” as the “word of the year”, in this … [Read more...]

Whether we are an active participant or simply a witness, kindness can open our hearts and help us to feel a connection to others, a sense of belonging, and give us hope that we can each be a part of creating a kinder, more loving world. I would like to share with you these beautiful examples of how people are finding their own unique ways to be kind. Some are small and some may seem bigger, but each act of kindness is valuable in the message of caring that they convey. Kindness can happen … [Read more...]

As we prepare for a holiday that is set aside to give thanks for who and what we have in our lives, I want to share a story with you of an amazing man I met years ago, who inspired me to look at gratitude in a new way. His favorite expression was “I’m so lucky.” Even when things got tough, he always found something to be grateful for. At 95 years old, Gordon Mickelson was the oldest fan of Love Is the New Currency. He told his daughter, who had given him a copy, “I would … [Read more...]

Listening to Paul Simon’s song “Slip Sliding Away” deeply resonates with an awareness of all that is passing by too quickly in my life. It has been especially poignant this past week as I visited my mom to celebrate her 93rd birthday. Each moment was precious as I spent time talking with her about her growing up years (and mine), trying to capture her stories with my phone’s video camera and by writing them down. My mom has always taught me how important it is to be happy in the present moment … [Read more...]

“The greatest threat to our planet is believing that someone else will save it.” -Robert Swan One of my earliest childhood memories was standing at the window of our 3rd floor New England apartment with my parents, brother and cousins, watching people being lowered by ropes from the apartment building behind us. A dam had broken and we were living in the “Flats”, the lowest area of our town. It had been raining incessantly, as cars, and even a house, were … [Read more...]

“We don’t laugh because we’re happy - we’re happy because we laugh”. -Dr. Madan Kataria Who doesn’t need a good laugh these days? It seems like such a rarity for many of us, especially with this global challenge, but not for Hannah Bellaff, who created FB/laughteradaykeepsthedoctoraway. She believes what new research indicates: “laughing with friends releases feel good brain chemicals, which also relieves pain.” Within a week of creating her FB page, it had a life of its own, and now has … [Read more...]