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
Category: Journal
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
Setting Intentions for 2023 ~ Online Workshop
“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” ~ Paulo Coelho As the year comes to a close, I look back at what I have accomplished. Then, I look forward, what do I want for this new year? The universe will help me to achieve it… “If you don’t …Read More
Do you talk to someone?
“Do you talk to someone?” Sometimes a question stops you in your tracks. The Lifestyle Medicine retreat hired me to see all the attendees on medications for blood pressure or diabetes. In this retreat they would learn about healthy lifestyle changes. They would experience a healthy diet with food cooked for them, a morning exercise …Read More
Hurricane Ian ~ I’m OK
“I’m safe. House ok. No flooding in my area. No power. No internet. Cell phone service spotty.” After waking up to a post-apocalyptic scene that I could only imagine from the reports on the radio, I walked a quarter mile down the block to find a place where I could get enough cell phone signal …Read More