The last few decades have been "years of plenty," a time of unprecedented abundance. Memories of scarcity are reserved only to the oldest generations now living and we, as a nation, have grown accustomed to what seems to be limitless abundance. If history teaches us anything, it is that complacency is quick to take root in times of abundance. Our …
Category: Observations on Life
Decent Boldness: Overcoming Limitations
We need one another. This weekend I had the pleasure of attending a six year old's birthday party with my eldest son. It is so refreshing to watch children who don't know one another at play together. There is so little posturing, no need to size one another up, no hesitation or reservation and a …
Constructive Criticism: The Path to Progress
Yesterday morning we opened a consideration on feedback. What are the actors in your world telling you? Further, what is the nature of your impact on the world around you? I'd like to dig little deeper on this theme this morning by broadening our discussion to include criticism. Offering and receiving criticism effectively is an art that few have mastered. …
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Externalities and Personal Responsibility
Sometimes feedback doesn't come packaged in exactly the way you'd like it. Don't react, rather, let the core value and meaning of the feedback take root in your heart and ignore the rest. Don't let yourself off on a technicality! The wise person receives all feedback with equanimity and poise, making the necessary changes with as little fanfare as necessary. No need to make a spectacle of yourself every time a little change is in order!
Natalie Merchant sings life into old poems
Natalie Merchant's singing career spans nearly three decades. Whether you remember her from the 10,000 Maniacs or from her solo work, you will likely enjoy Merchant's new album, Leave Your Sleep, a fascinating and diverse collection of poems set to music in true Merchant's unique creative style. The album is an examination of life, centering on the themes of motherhood …
My friend, an email and the bee.
An email arrived in my inbox as I was watching bees pollinate a blueberry tree yesterday afternoon. It was a link to a video clip of a bee taking off in ultra-slow motion, taken from just inches away. A truly amazing sight! Take a look: I've often reflected on the idea of the well-worn phrase …
Have you ever felt one inch tall?
One Inch Tall by Shel Silverstein If you were only one inch tall, you'd ride a worm to school. The teardrop of a crying ant would be your swimming pool. A crumb of cake would be a feast And last you seven days at least, A flea would be a frightening beast If you were …
Hospitality: Friendliness to Guests
Having spent time in a hospital recently I couldn't help but take a moment to discuss the word "hospitality." The word "hospitality" traces its roots through the Old French word hospitalite to the Latin hospitalitem, meaning "friendliness to guests." It's hard to imagine a more challenging service environment than the hospital setting where guests come …
Creative Impulse, True Expression
The Enthusiast, by Herman Melville "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" Shall hearts that beat no base retreat In youth's magnanimous years - Ignoble hold it, if discreet When interest tames to fears; Shall spirits that worship light Perfidious deem its sacred glow, Recant, and trudge where worldlings go, Conform and …
A Word on Causality
"To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right." -Confucius (551-479 BC) …
Gregory Hake 