Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? —Mary Oliver, excerpt from poem “The Summer Day” June 21, 2018, is the summer solstice in the Northern hemisphere. For us, it is the longest day of the year and the official start of summer. From today onward, the …Read More
Author: Dr. Joel Ying, MD
Physician-Educator-Storyteller. Integrating the power of story into medicine, healing sessions, workshops, speaking and performance.
A Story of Authenticity and Acceptance – “I Miss Toni”
One tool of living the present moment, living a conscious life, is authenticity — being who you are. Without alignment of our inner and outer selves, we cannot find happiness and fulfillment. However, it can also take courage to accept others as they are. When the rest of society tells you to shun your family, …Read More
“Have you ever been to a LGBT Pride parade?” – Dear Sugar
June is Pride Month to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City. This event sparked the civil rights movement for the LGBTQ community. Each year following this historic event, marches and parades are organized across the country to honor the courage of the original Stonewall participants. In her advice column, “Dear Sugar” describes …Read More
Native American Wisdom: “Nature is my teacher.”
“Nature is my teacher.” The Native American teachings rely on observation of Nature—listening to the stories whispered by of the natural world. The outer world reflects our inner world. When I have been in intense times of emotional and spiritual discomfort (depressed, burned out), I look to change everything around me. Start exercising. Change jobs. …Read More
Poem: David Whyte, Give Every Last Thing Away
THE BELL AND THE BLACKBIRD (excerpt) The sound of a bell still reverberating, or a blackbird calling from a corner of a field. Asking you to wake into this life or inviting you deeper to one that waits. Either way takes courage, either way wants you to be nothing but that self that is no …Read More
#13: How to Retire Successfully (Marianne Oehser)
Every life transition requires planning and introspection. Whether you plan to retire or begin any other major life transition, Marianne Oehser gives practical and insightful coaching. Marianne Oehser is a retirement consultant, a Certified Retirement Coach, and founder of Retire & Be Happy. Visit her online at RetireAndBeHappy.com. She is a seasoned expert committed to helping people …Read More
Prayer of St. Francis
Prayer of St. Francis Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is dispair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy; O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much …Read More
#12: Home Funeral (Dennis Shuman)
“Is that even legal?” That was my first thought. In this interview, Dennis Shuman tells us how to care for our own dead at home. As a volunteer with the organization, Final Friends, he gives workshops on the history and legal details of home funeral. You might be wondering what home funeral has to do with …Read More
The danger of single story
“The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.” ~ Chimamanada Ngozi Adichie Born in Nigeria, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie tells her story of facing the “single story” stereotype of Africa when she came to the …Read More
Story: Legacy of Love
Today’s story is called, “Legacy of Love.” It is the final story in a set of stories, and it gives the whole set its title. When I was gathering stories into a theme, I realized that all my stories were in some way about love, the many forms of love, and perhaps all stories at …Read More