I shook the officer’s hand, and he let me go with a warning. Almost 20 years ago, I was driving through the beautiful state of Idaho. I was working there temporarily and exploring the parks and cities within several hours by car. I spent many weekends at Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. …Read More
Category: Journal
Gossip at The Moth
“I think you got the lowest score,” said my dad. I went to The Moth StorySlam event in Miami on May 31st, 2023, where the theme was “GOSSIP.” As you would expect, the stories were juicy. In a city that is about 70% Hispanic, the Venezuelan emcee was the first to tell you that here …Read More
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park ~ Lighthouse Keeper
“I’ve always wanted to be a lighthouse keeper,” said the vibrant volunteer tour guide, “It’s not quite the same, but this job has perks. I have keys to the lighthouse.” This past weekend, I visited Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, Florida. They have daily tours of the lighthouse at 10am and …Read More
Fish School
Mornings at the beach in Southwest Florida are calm and serene. The Gulf of Mexico has fewer waves before the sun wakes up, and more importantly there are fewer people. Unless there is a storm coming, the air and the water are calm and almost still. Many years ago, I walked the beach as my …Read More
The world is too big
I asked a friend why people seem more anxious in this modern world. She thought for a moment and quickly answered, “The world is too big.” “We are so connected,” she said, “The world that we live in is so much bigger than it used to be. We have so much more information, but we …Read More
After the Fire ~ Ada Limón
Ada Limón is the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States. In her recent interview “To Be Made Whole” with On Being by Krista Tippett, Ada Limón creates laughter in the very same moment that she launches us into serious contemplation. As she reads her poetry, she is at once genuine and humorous, holy and …Read More
Adapt Martial Arts to You
“I’m too old. This is for young people. This is crazy for me to try to do,” thought Deb A. Zion, one morning after waking up with arms so sore that she was unable to move. Living in Mansfield, Massachusetts, she had been practicing martial arts for many years, and last night had been a …Read More
What makes a good life? ~ Robert Waldinger
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” In my high school graduation book, I remember answering this question. With the whole world in front of me, heading off to college, trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up. Gathering advice from different people, reading widely, experiencing what high …Read More
Litany Against Fear ~ Frank Herbert’s Dune
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will …Read More
Affirmation ~ What are you becoming?
“I, Joel, deepen relationships and create community with my gifts of healing.” Each New Year, I settle on an intention, craft a prayer, and distill that prayer into a blessing that becomes the affirmation that I carry through the year. The affirmation calls back the entire prayer. (See my prior post.) Several years ago, I …Read More