The great lesson is that the sacred is in the ordinary, that it is to be found in one’s daily life, in one’s neighbors, friends, and family, in one’s backyard. ― Abraham Maslow For decades, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has shaped our understanding of human motivation, placing physical needs such as food and shelter at the...Read More
Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again. Jack Kornfield Cows chew their cud as part of their unique digestive process. They regurgitate semi-digested food from the first stomach chamber, re-chew and re-swallow it for further digestion. This process is crucial for extracting nutrients. We humans, on...Read More
The most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves. Pema Chodron Resilience has become a buzzword for suffering in silence. The root of “resilience” is the Latin “resilire” “to jump back,” “to recoil,” In the physical sciences, it’s “elasticity, returning to original shape after compression” The word has been hollowed...Read More
“We cannot pinpoint the exact moment friendship is born—it grows gradually through countless small kindnesses until unexpectedly, the bond is formed without our awareness.” Strong friendships are a cornerstone of meaningful life. The word “friend” traces back to Germanic roots (frijaz), meaning “free” or “not in bondage.” In the presence of a true friend, we...Read More
They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. Andy Warhol Years ago, I attended a lecture on preventing **”burnout” (a term I detest, but the advice was sound). The speaker recommended taking 7-10 days a year AWAY, without family, to restore completely. This time doesn’t need to...Read More
Pretending that it can be when it can’t is how people break their hearts. – Elvin Semrad Relentless hope can be a defense mechanism, a shield against confronting painful truths. We see this in relationships with narcissists, where victims cling to the possibility of change despite evidence to the contrary. This phenomenon extends beyond relationships....Read More
Forever is composed of nows. – Emily Dickinson Great lives are built on strong daily habits. Self-regulation and consistent bedrock behaviors prevent larger problems and help us reach our potential, steering us away from destructive patterns like doom-scrolling, poor nutrition, and bad relationships. We don’t want to be in civil war...Read More
We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us. Joseph Campbell During our recent Wellness Week in Costa Rica, a profound moment of self-discovery unfolded. A colleague...Read More
Organize yourself before you try to organize anything else. – C. Jay Clutter isn’t just stuff—it’s a slow-motion suffocation of your sanity. Fun fact: Americans spend 2.5 days every year hunting for lost items in homes bursting with an average of 300,000 items. Even more disturbing? We’re dropping $2.7 billion annually on storage units just to...Read More
