Jul 12Member-onlyHow Storytelling Gave Me Hope and PerspectiveI’ve always been somewhat obsessed with reading and hearing stories that offer a sense of perspective and hope. Over the past six decades, I’ve earned my chance to share my own thoughts and stories passed down from my ancestors. I was blessed to have grandparents who were survivors of two…Storytelling11 min read
Jun 7Member-onlyWhy I Love Pablo NerudaWhy I Love Pablo Neruda For years, I have admired the poetry of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. His sensuous passion for life resonates deeply with me. His poetry, like much of my own, explores love, death, and life’s simple pleasures. Neruda began writing poetry sometime between the ages of 10…Pablo Neruda3 min read
Apr 21Transcendence and Transformation with PoetryHere’s to honoring April as National Poetry Month. KEY POINTS Poetry is the voice of the soul and offers insight into the human psyche and human behavior. Poetry therapy can be a powerful tool for psychotherapists. Poetry for healing has deep roots in American history dating back to Walt Whitman reading poems to wounded soldiers. April is National…Poetry5 min read
Mar 25Member-onlyHow the Pandemic Connected Me With My AncestorsHow the Pandemic Connected Me With My Ancestors I’ve been connecting with my ancestors for a very long time. As a memoirist, their stories have given me much to ponder and write about. …Ancestors6 min read
Feb 8Do You Have Confessions to Write About?We all have secrets and it can be very healing to write about them. KEY POINTS We all have secrets or untold stories. The first question to ask yourself is, “What am I carrying?” Writing about our confessions can be healing and transformative. There’s something intriguing about hearing other people’s secrets and untold stories. A confession is simply a formal acknowledgment of guilt. …Writing4 min read
Feb 2The Art Of Remembering How We Have Become Who We AreThe beginning of a new year is a good time to reflect on not only the memories of the year prior, but the accumulation of memories that define who we are. …Memories4 min read
Feb 2Why Do Some People Survive and Others Struggle?The power of positive thinking is at the foundation of our survival. Dear Self: My beloved father’s favorite line was “Always look at the glass half full instead of half empty.” If we believe that we are products of our childhoods, then this tenet holds considerable weight in the way I have lived my life as a survivor, thriver and warrior. My…Positive Thinking3 min read
Jan 29Are You a Wounded Healer?KEY POINTS Wounded healers are people whose painful experiences enable them to help others. Wounded healers are good listeners, empathetic, accepting, and resourceful. They view all experiences as opportunities. Wounded healers may be inside or outside of the helping professions. Last week, during a casual lunch conversation with a friend, we spoke…Empathy4 min read
Jan 13Self-Awareness and Setting IntentionsSetting intentions can help us understand our life’s bigger picture. KEY POINTS An intention is a commitment to oneself — something to be, rather than to achieve — best done in the morning. Intentions can set the tone and focus of one’s day, as well as help one navigate through difficult times. Setting an intention can influence the trajectory of one’s life…Intentions5 min read
Dec 27, 2021How To Be More Conscious and CompassionateConsciousness and compassion are contagious and characteristic of great leaders. On the heels of my recent visit to a maximum-security prison in California with other human-rights activists, a student gunman opened fire at a community college in Oregon. I don’t ever want to become numb to such occurrences; I want…Compassion3 min read
