PEACEFUL Trees have an underground social network to help them survive. Is there a loneliness epidemic? Loneliness is trending in America, according to the U.S. Surgeon General’s (Dr. Vivek H. Murthy) advisory board on the Healing Effects of Social Connection

SHOCKED! Trauma No More Emotional trauma occurs unexpectedly, violating your moral fiber. It is not the same as long-term suffering, which occurs slowly over time. The shock from a traumatic experience affects both body and mind with unexpected consequences. For

MIRNA AND HANAN – My African-American grandchildren are easy to love. Love, Hate, Indifference Is finding love tough? Has anyone said that you were difficult to love? What does it mean when a leader says to go in peace and

Fractured America by Marilynne Eichinger The News Feels Unreal This is one of those weeks when the news feels unreal. Watching Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, and Russia slaughter citizens in a power play over land and politics is despicable, but it

One of the best ways I know to stay sane is to get out of town for an overnight vacation. I’m more relaxed when I return than when I take an extensive trip requiring weeks of preparation and delving into

FLYING HIGH COVID-19 flying alongside children’s kids during the summer of 2020, made for a frightening time.  Frightening Times A few days ago, a young woman asked me if the world was more frightening today than at any other time

Family in a Turkish Village Living in crowded communities requires residents to be polite, understanding, and respectful of different views. You Can’t Do It Alone Ethics. It’s a word not on the tip of an educator’s tongue these days. Ethics

Clarity by Marilynne Eichinger                    Our mind tells us that we exist. What of it? Cogito, Ergo Sum or “I think, therefore I am” is René Descartes’ defining statement on existence. Considered

It’s a New World “Why do we fail?” I asked Mom. “So we can pull ourselves up again,” she answered. The Bounceback Effect – Resilience Several weeks ago, I mentioned that people attend boxing matches to watch battered fighters rally

 Final Blooms Maya Angelou – “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” After reading Angelou’s comment, I often ask myself if