A person I’ve known a long time asked me a serious question: “Joy seems to have gone missing from my life. I don’t fit in. How does one find joy, meaning, and belonging?” I told her she should follow my blog. “Yeah, right,” she said. “But I’m not looking for a 7-habits recipe, I’m looking …
Moments of Being*
I’m amazed whenever I look in the mirror and am confronted by an old man. What makes the child we were, and the person we are, feel the same inside? What creates the apparent solidity of our inner self? Some claim we are our own architects. That’s true, to an extent, but our identity has …
Future-Proof Investing
I don’t often write about economic matters because most people find them boring, at least until they don’t. This is probably one of those times. I’m fascinated by markets. In the short run, they are driven as much by psychology as economic fundamentals. When the stock market is making new highs, people rush in, fearful …
A House Built On Rock
When I was young, my father told me the parable of the house built on rock. The parable is from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It draws upon the analogy of two builders: one builds his house on solid rock, while the other builds his house on sand. The house built on rock stands firm …
Act Your Age!
Among my fond childhood memories are successful attempts at making my siblings laugh at inappropriate moments. Church services provided a perfect opportunity. We never missed church on Sunday, and when the minister began his sermon, a hush fell over the congregation. If I could make a funny face and catch my brother’s eye at the …
Your Last CD
“Without knowing it, one day you burned your last CD.” -Internet Meme It’s true! I don’t remember the last one. Come to think of it, I have other examples like this: like dialing my last number on a rotary phone or opening that last car door with a key. It’s strange how commonplace features of …
Bad Influences
MJ and I have been married for nearly fifty years and until recently, never voted for the same candidate in National Elections. I bring this up because rising numbers of young people are reportedly divorcing due to political differences. Political ideology wasn’t a deal breaker when I was young. I don’t remember ever discussing politics …
A World of Possibilities
No one likes being vulnerable. I love music but feel anxious when the DJ starts at a wedding celebration. My wife, MJ, enjoys dancing, but I feel like a fool on the dance floor. I know that no one expects an old white guy to bust a move, but that doesn’t help. The fear of …
Values, Beliefs, and Listening To Grandma
For the past 5 months, I’ve posted draft chapters of my forthcoming book, The Secret Within. I’m probably about half-finished, which is a good time to pause and review. While doing that, weekly posts will cover some broader topics. ———————————————————— Values, Beliefs and Listening To Grandma This week, I’m thinking about my Grandmother, whom I …
Continue reading "Values, Beliefs, and Listening To Grandma"
Chapter 20: The Importance of Questions
The Secret Within is a book I’m writing about the art of finding happiness and peace amidst personal difficulties. This is the 20th installment. Previous installments can be found here. ——————————————————— Chapter 20: The Importance of Questions What if the quality of your life depended not on the answers you find but on the questions …
Towards A Life Well-Lived 