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“True friendship can afford true knowledge. It does not depend on darkness and ignorance.”  (Thoreau) I once had a male friend who lived in the US, but who was from India. Out of all the many cultural differences we noticed between us, the one I found the most frustrating was his insistence on telling meRead more

the day began like any other day until something she said pressed that button (i thought i had covered it) *** a cascade of emotions let loose rushing through my bloodstream pumping endorphins igniting fear, worry, doubt it feels old like an outfit i haven’t worn in ages yet the discomfort is fresh, intense, rawRead more

time melts when friends are here our voices overlap  but our stories resonate distinctly clear whether the content is delightful woeful, tragic, or so deeply personal we absorb it on all levels the gentle touch on someone’s knee a firm hug  if need be laughter lines are welcome here tears of sorrow are not feared we’veRead more

Quick self assessment:  Did you notice the typo in the headline?  If so, did you just move past it and feel okay?  Or do you feel the need to fix it, or let me know about it, or does it continue to capture your attention? Remember, don’t judge or criticize yourself for your reaction toRead more

“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) What a great way to interpret imperfections!  Instead of seeing the crack as making something less valuable, we can choose to see the crack as the way for light toRead more

Editor’s Note:  This post originally appeared on Christmas Day 2010.  I hope you enjoy it again this year.  The message is timeless. The greatest gift we can ever give to others or to ourselves, or that we can ever receive, is love. I can’t cover everything about love in one post — that would be impossible. Read more

“…only someone who is ready for everything, who doesn’t exclude any experience, even the most incomprehensible, will live the relationship with another person as something alive and will himself sound the depths of his own being.”  (Rainer Maria Rilke) To put this in plain English, when you are open and willing to embrace whatever lifeRead more

If you’re a human being living on planet earth, then more than likely you have experienced one of these at some point in your life (if not more than once!).  Our American society tends to view these experiences as negatives, something to be avoided or ashamed of, and at the very least, something to tryRead more

“A true friend accepts you just as you are, and just as you aren’t.”  (Unknown) One of the hallmarks of a real friend is someone who can really see you in your complexity, your layers, your nuances, and your many facets.  A true friend knows your most likely reaction to something, but is also openRead more

If life is a divine play and we are but the actors on the stage, then what do we call those people who come along and challenge, annoy, bother, pester and generally irritate us?  How about the ‘Divine Irritant’?  — thanks to my friend Nancy Ging for creating the perfect name for this coyote-type role that people playRead more