On a late afternoon, our family went kayaking on a nearby lake. Upon heading out, one family member had to make a sudden maneuver and lost his eyeglasses into the lake. The lifeguard staff were contacted, and they estimated that the water was roughly 10-feet deep where they fell in. Nonetheless, two … [Read more...]
Not just what we observe, but why
There's hardly an area of life today where we don't find observers—observers of politics, of the economy, of social trends, of the world of entertainment. It's natural for us to look to observers for a perspective or depth of knowledge that we might not have ourselves. It's a way of expanding our … [Read more...]
Reacting to headlines?
Speculation about trade wars dominated the morning headlines. Within hours a massive sell-off caused the Dow to tumble over 500 points. The next day fear of trade wars subsided and the economy roared back into the news, this time because of an equally fast and robust recovery. A similar roller … [Read more...]
Accepting more and better
It wasn't for lack of desire, just lack of room. My friend's van was stuffed with furniture and other large items. She couldn't carry another box. She was thankful that others could make space available in their cars, and the household move went smoothly. The challenge was similar outside an … [Read more...]
Time well spent
Are we living a lifestyle in which we can't find time for contemplation? Maybe we haven't even had time to think about it! Why not take some additional time after you read this message to consider the importance of regular contemplation. This kind of contemplation isn't just about anything that … [Read more...]
Times of distress, perplexity. What’s going on?
My childhood friends and I loved to go climbing in the local foothills as often as we could. I recall how vigorously we would scale the jagged rocks. During one of our trips, however, my confidence was shaken. Having climbed fearlessly to the top of a large and very high rock, I positioned myself … [Read more...]
Rethinking priorities
I'll never forget those yellow pads of paper filled with tasks and appointments. Page after page of calls to be made, reports to be written, meetings to attend. Every minute of my boss’s workday was booked. He was president of a research firm I once worked for, and he was known by his employees and … [Read more...]
Perfectionism, and why it isn’t enough
The quest for perfection can act as a real spur to achievement. It’s exhilarating to bring a task to its fullest and finest state of completion. For some, though, the wish to be perfect can turn sour in what becomes an obsession. While it might seem like a virtue to be a perfectionist, in the … [Read more...]
What’s needed to lift the gloom is right at hand
The woman in line at the bakery commented rather grimly, "It's going to be a miserable week." It was the kind of remark you overhear without giving it much attention. Yet it came on the heels of similar negative comments I'd heard over the weekend. One had to do with inevitable deterioration, one … [Read more...]
Life-changing moments
While listening to the radio I happened to catch part of an interview with an author. The interviewer was asking him about his first meeting with a potential publisher. He said it took place in the publisher's office in a high-rise office building overlooking New York City, where he was proposing … [Read more...]