It was, in many ways, far easier to guide people through the wilderness of nature than through the wilderness of life. In the backcountry, the challenges were visible — rapids to be scouted, storms to be waited out, portages to be endured. With a map, a compass, and teamwork, most obstacles could be overcome. But in the wilderness of life, the terrain is unseen. The dangers are inward — fear, grief, loneliness, confusion. There are no physical maps to show the way, and the st

You have to wonder when a child or teenager in school seems to have a hard time paying attention — is the problem really attention, or simply boredom? Perhaps what we label as “inattention” is, in truth, a sign of deep intelligence, curiosity, or sensitivity that isn’t being met by the environment. To diagnose such a child with ADD or ADHD and prescribe pharmaceuticals can sometimes create far greater problems than the original one.Rather than dulling their spirit, we might l

Fly Away Home is based on a true story and is a deeply touching film about love, care, and our connection with other species. It’s a truly heart-warming reminder to cherish and pay attention to those who are closest to us—both human and animal alike. The theme song, “10,000 Miles” by Mary Chapin Carpenter, is truly mystical and fits the spirit of the movie perfectly, carrying the viewer gently on the wings of its emotion long after the film ends.

There’s a famous poster that summarizes the book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Simple lessons, really—share everything, play fair, don’t hit people, say sorry, clean up your mess, take a nap when you need one, and hold hands when you cross the street. It’s almost as though life begins on a gentle slope, surrounded by crayons, kindness, and curiosity—and then, slowly, the hill steepens. After kindergarten comes the long march: Years of schooling, higher

Each season has its beauty and its wisdom. Just as nature moves through cycles of growth, rest, change, and renewal, so do we. The seasons are like gentle teachers, guiding us to live in rhythm with life itself. When we pause long enough to listen, we discover that every time of year holds lessons for the heart — reminders of what it means to be alive, to grow, to let go, and to begin again. Winter — Stillness & Completion Winter invites us to slow down, to rest, to turn inwa

To say  “I love you”  to a family member who has hurt or disappointed us can feel like lifting a mountain with our bare hands. Those three words are simple on the surface, but they carry the weight of every unspoken pain, every unmet need, every moment we felt unseen or unloved. When we’ve been hurt, our hearts instinctively build walls to protect themselves. Those walls become stories —  “They don’t deserve my love.”   “They never said it to me.”   “They wouldn’t understand.

There’s a saying that’s been echoing in my heart lately:  grow where you are planted. For so much of my life, I was drawn to the romantic notion of travel — the open road, distant shores, far-off adventures that promised meaning or renewal. But what I’ve come to see is that there are two kinds of travel. There’s the journey across landscapes, and then there’s the journey into other people’s worlds. The second kind doesn’t require a plane ticket. It can happen right by an outd

I recently read about a friend who decided to leave the corporate world to pursue her passion for wine. It struck me how you rarely, if ever, hear of someone leaving the passion world to join the corporate world. No one ever says, “I left painting to work in accounting,” or “I gave up writing music to climb the corporate ladder.” It’s always the other way around — people awakening from the trance of “success” to rediscover what once made their heart beat faster. The corporat

“Social media killed being social," one friend recently said. Few sentences capture the paradox of our times so perfectly. We have never been more connected—hundreds of “friends,” thousands of “followers,” instant access to anyone, anywhere—and yet the human race is lonelier than ever. What used to be shared in person—meals, laughter, stories, tears—has been reduced to scrolling, posting, and “liking” from behind glass screens. The result is a collective emotional famine: sur

Waiting is one of life’s simplest experiences — and one of its most revealing.When we are forced to wait — in a line, for a call, for a person to respond, for our “big break” — we are stripped of distractions and left face-to-face with our inner world. The way we react in those moments is a window into our psyche. If waiting brings up anxiety , it may show how deeply our nervous system has been conditioned to equate stillness with danger. If impatience arises , it can reveal

It ’s something so simple — to open one’s door, to share a meal, to say, “Come, sit with me.” And yet, in our modern world, this simple act has become almost revolutionary. Inviting someone into your home — especially someone who may be struggling with loneliness — is one of the most profound gestures of love and healing we can offer.It says: You belong somewhere. You matter enough to be welcomed in. The Sacredness of a Shared Meal When we eat together, something ancient aw

“I really care about you. May you never feel alone. I’m always here for you.” Most people go through their entire lives waiting to hear words like these — words that reach beyond politeness or obligation and touch the soul. We live in a world full of noise but starving for genuine reassurance. One sentence spoken with warmth and sincerity can bring someone back from the edge, remind them that they matter, that connection still exists, that love still flows. These are the kind

The Great Unlearning: How Our Society Trains the Genius Out of Us Our society makes no sense. And it all begins with the school system. A NASA study once revealed that  98% of preschoolers test as creative geniuses  — curious, intuitive, brimming with imagination. By grade 12, that number drops to around  20% . By adulthood, only a small fraction remain truly connected to their creative spark. Why? Because our schools don’t cultivate genius — they systematically  condition it

Before there was a concept of a weekend, most people worked all the time never having a break. The Jewish people found themselves in that situation when they were slaves in Egypt ~ they worked hard every day. And then one day, Moses arrived and led millions of them out of slavery and into the desert. 50 days after leaving their life as slaves, they received the Ten Commandments; the fourth commandment being '"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy'. Finally, they had o

How The Ten Commandments Can Change Your Life Many people think of The Ten Commandments as “religious rules” or ancient laws carved on stone. But in reality, they are a blueprint for human freedom , emotional wellbeing, healthy relationships, inner peace, and a meaningful life. If lived sincerely, they have the power to transform a person from the inside out. Here is how they can change your life: 1. “I am the LORD your God…” — Identity & Security This first “command” is actu

How Modern Life Teaches Us Not to Connect A wise friend once remarked that for the last twenty years — roughly since the rise of the internet — humanity has been struggling more deeply than ever before, not because of scarcity, but because of disconnection . We are more “connected” technologically, yet less connected emotionally. Screens have replaced faces, and digital chatter has replaced genuine conversation. The result? A quiet epidemic of loneliness. With my brother in A

The Hidden Tragedy Behind Closed Doors Each year, hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats in North America are euthanized—“put down” not because they are dangerous, diseased, or beyond help, but simply because there is nowhere for them to go. In 2023 alone, more than 359,000 dogs and 330,000 cats were killed in shelters across the United States. Older figures are even more staggering—millions of lives extinguished annually in what has quietly become a normalized act of conve

Friendship vs. Authentic Connection : The Missing Ingredient in Modern Life The question of  friendship versus authentic connection  lies at the core of so much modern loneliness. In today’s world, it’s easy to appear surrounded by people yet feel profoundly alone. We live in an age where we can accumulate hundreds of “friends” on social media, exchange birthday wishes, or meet for coffee — and still carry a deep sense of disconnection. That’s because  friendship  and  authen

Being alone too much can lead to depression , and connection — even simple eye contact — can begin to heal that. 🌿 1. Humans Are Wired for Connection My brother David (on left) and me From the moment we’re born, our nervous systems regulate through others. A baby’s heart rate, breathing, and stress hormones stabilize through touch, tone, and gaze. This doesn’t end in adulthood — our biology still depends on co-regulation. When we’re isolated for too long: Stress hormones (li

I walked into a bank today — polished floors, glass walls, five staff standing around, each likely earning close to six figures. They smiled politely, shifted papers, and waited for signatures. It struck me how much energy and money go into maintaining this one branch — rent, utilities, salaries — all to keep a system alive that mostly circulates numbers on screens. The young man who helped me open an account was kind. His nameplate gleamed under fluorescent light. I asked wh