Studying the past to understand the future
Spirituality and religion are important to American life; 97 percent of adults claim one, the other or both. Scholars define spirituality as a generalized belief in a transcendent or emergent...
View ArticleInner Peace: I trust you, Karim Sulayman
Here we are: Christmas Eve and Hanukkah 2016. For seven years this column has focused on peace, inner and outer; open mindedness in a tolerant, judgment-free zone where many contributors have shared...
View ArticleThe art of giving thanks in the new year
‘Tis the season of friends, family, pumpkins, nog, a new year, giving and feasting. I call it the "High Holidays." I’ve been at many a holiday table when before the meal we went around the table and...
View ArticleInner Peace: Bearing witness to a divine presence
Recently I was asked an intriguing question: “ How does Divine presence show up in your life?" The veil between this existence and the hereafter becomes most transparent for me when I accompany one who...
View ArticleInner Peace: The insidious nature of marginalization
There are many polarizing issues in our society. They deal with politics, religion, abortion etc. The result of these intractable views has led to human discomfort and tragedy. These conflicts are in...
View ArticleTrue righteousness (peacefulness and love) and true patriotism
Believing that one’s political views are the only correct ones is being righteous. When one feels the need to convince others that this is the only correct viewpoint, it is arrogance.Therefore, two...
View ArticleNext time, reach for the music
Many people know that listening to music can lower blood pressure, slow heart rate, deepen breathing, lessen pain, reduce stress and generally improve one’s sense of well-being. Such documentary films...
View ArticleActivating the inner spirit leads to true freedom
I want you to imagine two apples — one is sour and the other is sweet. They both have seeds in the middle which represents core beliefs. You came on this planet to learn and become smarter, learning to...
View ArticleTaking a walk in the divine path
I’ve never done this before in my life: 240 pages, written, rewritten, edited and polished in a little over six weeks. George Frideric Handel did his Messiah in about that much time, but he was a...
View ArticleResilience strategy: Stop. Look. Listen.
Trains have always fascinated me. As a counselor, I often refer to the “STOP, LOOK and LISTEN” sign found at railroad crossings as an anxiety reduction technique to help my patients get back on...
View ArticleFor inner peace, learn to acknowledge projections
His Holiness The Dalai Lama has said on occasion that we will not have peace in the world until we have inner peace. Many spiritual paths help us become aware of the duality of the split mind...
View ArticleInner Peace: Memoirs and mindfulness have the power to heal
A recent poll found that the number-one retirement aspiration of baby boomers is to write a memoir.Amazing?! Not really. For years I suffered from a debilitating self doubt. I hid it reasonably well in...
View ArticleThe holy wildness of inner peace
My conscious quest for inner peace began when I was 18 years old after a transcendent experience in which I spontaneously experienced a peace beyond my life circumstances. I spent the next 15 years on...
View ArticleNew Thought embraces creative spirit
There are many authors-teachers who have recently gained popularity in the western culture. People like Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Eckhart Tolle and even Joel Osteen are professing...
View ArticleInner Peace: Trump made my stabilizer conk out
The presence of Donald Trump on the national scene has created such havoc among my friends (and I confess, in me, too) that I went out and invested in beefing up my stabilizer.The stabilizer is a piece...
View ArticleAging Happens: Making use of Adult Protective Services, Part 2
In my last column (Nov. 9, "Adult Protective Services plays a vital role"), you read about the important role that Adult Protective Services (APS) plays in our community. Here are the remaining set...
View ArticleAging Happens: Examine options while you still have some
This is the perfect time of year to make a resolution to start planning for the future. Whether it’s thinking about the holidays or, in this case, looking at options for where you might consider...
View ArticleDr. Gawande to talk on 'Village Movement'
The organization known as The “Village Movement” began in Boston in 1999. The intention of this group of friends was to address their wish for more freedom and control over their lives as they aged....
View ArticleNo family? Resources still available for aging seniors
Not a month goes by when I don’t hear from someone who wonders how to plan for their needs as they age if they have no adult children or other close family members and friends. This is not an isolated...
View ArticleAging Happens: Taking steps to avoid falls
It’s been said that falling is a game-changer for older adults. This is not meant to describe a change for the better, either. Here are some facts from a local organization, Age Friendly Innovators...
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