Category: Journal

Today’s inspiration is a parable sent to me by a friend. A parable is short story that illustrates a deeper truth through everyday metaphors. I don’t know the exact origin of the story, but it is adapted from ancient teachings of Buddhist philosophy. The wisdom inspires me today with a reason to embody the words …Read More

I just wasn’t curious. My dad passed away last year, and I realized the many things that I just never thought to ask. How do you make that special seasoning that you put on everything? What did you want to be when you were growing up? What were your school days like? What was it …Read More

Every semester, I have the pleasure of teaching an undergraduate course called “Storytelling as Healing.” Twenty students enter the classroom as apprehensive strangers. They leave as a community. “I feel as if I am taking a piece of each of you with me from your stories,” said one of the students this semester. This is …Read More

New technology? There was a time when I loved complicated machines and computer programs; learning to master them gave my pre-teen brain a hit of dopamine. Look what I can do! But then something switched; I’m trying to put my finger on the moment that it happened. Analog dials suddenly became so much more attractive …Read More

“You know you’re my friend!” I first met Mr. Green in the Fall of 2018 at the information booth entering Florida Gulf Coast University. As you enter the main road to campus, you pull off to a building just big enough for one person. The miniature dark green metal roof and white walls match the …Read More

The Thanksgiving Holiday in America is one of extended families coming together for dinner in the spirit of gratitude. Most families spread the table with the classic dishes of turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans, and pumpkin pie. For many holiday celebrations in my childhood, we walked across the backyard canopy of mango and …Read More

Companies have mission statements to inspire them. What’s your personal mission? The mission statement is short and powerful, like a north star that you can return to over and over to inspire and guide you. By holding a mission statement in your mind and heart, you can live fully in the present moment and create …Read More

In 1955, psychologists Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham created a technique to better understand ourselves and improve communication with others. They named the model the “Johari Window” as a combination of their names. The four quadrants represent the four parts of ourselves: When we start off in a new community (for example, a new job …Read More