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Luminosity
“Look carefully around you and recognize the luminosity of souls. Sit beside those who draw you to that.” ~Rumi Other people’s moods and opinions are as contagious as the common cold. In fact, there’s a clinical study suggesting that we become like the five people with whom we spend most of our time. According to this theory, if your spouse and peer group are serial pessimists and complainers, you might be one too. It’s also likely that you share the same political views. Psychological studies aside, I’m always drawn to folks who spread their sunshine and draw me out of the shadows when I’m down. In his best-selling book, How…
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Where the light enters
“The wound is the place where the light enters you.” ~Rumi I spend a lot of time thinking about the quotes I post here. I always hope they’re thought-provoking, informative, or useful to you in some way. Some of you tell me you prefer a dose of positivity to jumpstart your day; others like to be challenged to look at old problems in new ways. At the same time, I consider whether or not the quotes are in sync with the news of the day or the cultural climate. When there’s news of yet another mass shooting in our deeply troubled country, for instance, I feel it would be insensitive…
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Meaningful gifts
“Gratitude is an emotion that reflects our deep appreciation for what we value, what brings meaning to our lives, and what makes us feel connected to ourselves and others.” ~Brene Brown, Atlas of the Heart My nesting instincts kick in when summer winds down and the new school year begins. I’m motivated to move furniture, declutter my closets, and donate books to the library. Though it sounds like work, early fall cleaning makes me appreciate the changing season as well as the treasures in my home. The salt-glaze pottery shown in today’s photo is one example. It was a gift from my college pal, Libby, who moved to Virginia after…
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What is integrity?
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” ~C.S. Lewis Lately I’ve been thinking about the word integrity. Growing up, I was taught to believe that integrity was a non-negotiable quality to expect in our leaders, whether we were talking about business, education, community groups, or government. Integrity was essential to consider when choosing my friends and life partner. It still matters to me today, more than ever. So what does integrity mean? Here’s how Merriam-Webster defines it: 1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility. 2 : an unimpaired condition : soundness. 3 : the quality or state of being…
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Registration open for Self-Help Book Club
Earlier this month, I announced the Self-Help Book Club, a new fall program I’ve created for the Blair Memorial Library in Clawson. Registration is now open for our September book discussion: How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen, by David Brooks. The discussion will be held on Monday, September 22, 6:00PM to 7:30PM. This highly acclaimed best-seller will help you improve your relationships and deepen your understanding of how other people think. Author David Brooks borrows from the fields of psychology, philosophy, neuroscience, history, and education to help us discover what drives human relationships. To read my review of this title, click here. Enrollment…
