Serenity in an Age of Anxiety

It was only 6:00 AM and the roads were already covered with snow. I was slated to present at a conference in New York the next morning and my flight was at 3:00. The weather channel said the storm would be over by noon, but Delta had canceled several afternoon flights already. I thought of…

     Take a minute or two and write down what you believe makes you unhappy.  Life altering events such as a traumatic childhood, sexual assault or cancer diagnosis may leap to mind first but also include ongoing disappointments such as a nasty boss or loneliness. Don’t forget everyday annoyances like bad drivers or computer glitches. …

      Do you remember the first time you heard John Lennon’s song, Imagine?  The sixties are over, but the mind expanding and radical sentiments are not.         Imagine there’s no countries It isn’t hard to do Nothing to kill or die for No religion, too Imagine all the people, living life in…

  Late night calls usually mean bad news and this one was no different. It was Megan’s* best friend’s husband, Darrell, calling from the emergency room. Carrie’s back pain was not a strain as originally diagnosed, but metastasized cancer.  It was everywhere. There was no cure. Megan cried. Darrell cried. What were they going to…

   Cannabadiol, a substance found in hemp and other cannabis family plants, is the new “it” food additive. Coca-Cola is watching the cannabis market with an eye on a CBD infused drink.[1]Last year, EverX introduced a sports drink with 10mg of CBD that promises to improve workout recovery.[2] There is CBD infused cereal, tea, gum,…

In one year, Carmen’s* life fell apart. First, her husband left her and moved in with one of her best friends. Unbeknownst to her, he had borrowed money over the years to cover expenses and they were in debt. She loved her house but could no longer afford it. Just when she came up with…

‘Twelve adults and children were killed when a gunman opened fire….’   ‘I am leaving you for someone new.’   ‘The cancer has spread to the bones.’   Life is hard. People disappoint. Bodies are designed to fail. The difficult and painful cannot be avoided. If the definition of happiness is loving what is, to…

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood was not on television where I grew up.  My children missed the show’s heyday also. So it was a surprise when late in life, long after Mr. Roger’s had gone to the great neighborhood in the sky, I became a fan. Not of his television shows, puppets or music, but of him.…

Taking one hundred percent responsibility for your life is not popular or easy.  Can’t you just blame your parents, spouse or coworkers when life does not turn out the way you expect or want?  Everyone else does. We believe there is an explanation for why something went wrong and we will feel better if we…

         “I have always had a special bond with Shobani,” Roger said, offhandedly to his sister, Darby.  When Roger reminded Darby that their younger sister, Shobani was his favorite, her self-esteem plummeted.  She wondered if she would always be the third wheel.   “I don’t need your help,” Jack snapped at his mother.  “If…

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