Ten-Rooms-Ten-Blessings
Be Happy: Smiling is Yoga for the Face
You don’t feel like smiling. I get it. You just got back from holiday vacation and the work is piled up on your desk and all those days of relaxation seem to have vanished as if they’d never happened. Your car engine is making a grinding noise every time you accelerate and you’re afraid to […]
Be Blessed: The next time you groan — stop and listen. You just may hear angels singing.
It was still dark one morning last month, when Jennifer Dempsey was awakened by the sound of her infant daughter babbling away happily in her crib. Rolling over, still half asleep, she checked her clock and saw that it was only 5 a.m. Like any overtired, sleep-deprived parent, who realizes that her precious (and necessary!) […]
Saying Goodbye to Bingo: A Life Lesson in Letting Go of Life
I. Our family had a special voice we used in order to talk on behalf of our dog, Bingo. “Bingo’s voice” was high pitched and raspy — a sort hybrid of whininess and spunk. A blend of his adorable neurosis mixed with his unstoppable joie de vivre. It turns out that (at least in our […]
Be Compassionate: “I hope you have a hard life,too!” — an outburst overheard and understood
I honestly can’t say what the fight was about. I was only there to witness its conclusion. And just barely that. I was walking out of the drugstore yesterday with my purchase in hand, smiling and feeling the sun and the fresh fall air on my skin, when I heard a car door slam loudly […]
Be The Answer: Alec’s Story (or “The only answer to a prayer I ever needed”)
I’ve been an educator most of my adult life. Over the years I’ve seen many children whose small and innocent lives were consumed with anger and depression — traumatized by violence, deprivation, and untenable circumstances. But, there was one boy who was by far the saddest, angriest child I had ever met. And there was […]
Enlightenment of the Middle Ages: Spiritual Lessons I Have Learned in Midlife
I turned fifty this past summer. Which means if I live to be one-hundred (which is an actual goal) I am squarely and undeniably smack dab in the middle of my life. Middle age has its petty annoyances. It also has its perks. I may not be able to see the dosage information on the […]
Be Wise: The lesson you can learn from Eeyore the “Awfuller”
“Good morning, Eeyore,” said Pooh. “Good morning, Pooh Bear,” said Eeyore gloomily. “If it is a good morning, which I doubt,” said he. “Why, what’s the matter?” “Nothing, Pooh Bear, nothing. We can’t all, and some of us don’t. That’s all there is to it.” “Can’t all what?” said Pooh, rubbing his nose. “Gaiety. Song-and-dance. […]
Be Sweet: Giving up Sugar and Savoring the Real Sweetness of Life
I gave up sugar a week ago. I am not bragging. It’s only been a week, and a week doesn’t especially give you bragging rights. And it certainly doesn’t earn you the privilege of finger-wagging. So just to be clear: I am not wagging my finger at anyone. But I do want to tell you […]
Top Ten Videos that Will Make You Cry (In a Good Way!)
NOTE: Scroll on down if you just want to see the “TOP TEN Videos that Will Make You Cry”! I am a big believer in the healing power of tears. I believe this because I am a cryer. I cry at weddings. Graduations. Bar Mitzvahs. Movies. Poetry. Prayers. And yes, even commercials. I cry every […]
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