Continuing Presence
The Need for SpeedMany view time not spent pursuing serious objectives as unproductive or a lost opportunity. In some way, we believe we are unworthy of relaxation or simple diversion. Last year, Cathy and I traveled to Italy with six close friends. One afternoon, we were idly passing the time at a café in a […]
Present
There is no shortage of guidance from the greatest minds, like Buddha, Confucius, Gandhi, and 168 others, about being present, staying in the moment. When it comes to writing on this subject, I feel like Elizabeth Taylor’s eighth husband on their wedding night. I know what I am supposed to do, but I am at […]
Engage Fear
Better Left Undone?We fancy ourselves facing the world like a swashbuckler standing on the ship’s bow with our saber upraised, captaining our ship to a faraway land. In reality, the fear of failure often confines us to our safe harbor, and we never test the waters. How do we move forward when we stand on […]
Failure’s Allure
It is a dirty word, and we avoid it like the plague. JFK famously said, “Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.” However, failure is superior to the opposite, hastily decided, inevitable, and the fertilizer of success. The Alternative?An evil man died and found himself in a luxurious casino, where he won […]
Unleash the Kraken
OK, we can hold our tongues no longer; it is time to speak our minds. You may be like me. I let them know that their deeds or beliefs are wrong and, as a result, that they are bad. An unspoken, and certainly intended, benefit is expressing that I am better than they are. Opportunity […]
Hold Your Tongue?
Last week’s message featuring a heartwarming personal interaction was nice, but you probably still feel an overwhelming urge to give a piece of your mind. Before doing so, let’s consider a few things. No One Above ReproachYou have heard the expression, “Never meet your heroes, they will disappoint you.” Peaceful changemaker Ghandi was racist and […]
Meaningful Action
Lies In-betweenAfter last week’s story about the protesters, the algorithm took over, and I began seeing too many examples of religious intolerance, and wondered if it is the prevailing attitude. Fortunately, only three people conducted the protest described last week. Just a few days earlier, the Texas Governor hosted a Diwali celebration at his official […]
In America?
I really want to vent and criticize, and I will, but more importantly, I want to encourage being a better example. A self-described “Christian” organization1 confronted devout worshippers outside a local mandir after celebrating Diwali, one of Hinduism’s major festivals. The group was allegedly promoting Christianity and condemning Hinduism, going so far as to defile […]
Incriminated?
As a child safety advocate, I strongly support the strict enforcement of laws against child abusers. Whatever their remorse or our capacity for forgiveness, convicted abusers should be separated from society as the law prescribes. Tragically, the Giuffre1 victimization was made worse by the under prosecution and under sentencing of the perpetrator in 2008. The […]
Education over Indignation
This may be another frustrating post for some because I forgo expressions of indignation in favor of education. Judging by the media coverage, we use outrage to advance our political or social agendas rather than to advance safety, healing, and justice for our children. Any casual reader of 52 Steps Forward knows I frequently (just […]