My son graduated from high school. I’m going to have an empty nest. It’s summertime. I bought a boat. My Rotary presidency is ending. All are examples of times when we begin again. I was talking to people this week and asked the question what prevents us from starting over or beginning a new venture. […]
I want to buy a boat. Do you ever feel that way? Usually it’s in the spring and every boat for sale along the highway, I stop and look at it or wish I could (when others are in the car, there is a price to pay). I have often wondered if this is a […]
This week I am putting together a program titled “You Are a Song”. This is for a community building program I produce once a month entitled “Songs of My Life”. My friend and I developed this project 5 years ago. Usually the topics are like “community” or “grief” or “celebration”. This month I decided to […]
Yesterday, Monday, friends and I went on, “The most exciting kayak ride ever!” My son Bryce is visiting for my other son, Gabe’s graduation. Okay, we were sitting around on my driveway eating some hot dogs and about 4pm someone says, “Are we going kayaking today?” I’m thinking, “ummmmm”. Bryce and his buddy, Ryan say […]
“We all are so deeply interconnected; we have no option but to love all. Be kind and do good for any one and that will be reflected. The ripples of the kind heart are the highest blessings of the Universe.” ― Amit Ray, Yoga and Vipassana: An Integrated Life Style My friend, Charlie Cogan is […]
I was talking to my daughter last Sunday and she asked me, “Dad, why are you so cheerful all the time? You can’t always feel that way, do you?” I didn’t exactly know what to say. I ventured, “Yes, I am cheerful most of the time. She said that sometimes it was hard to trust […]
Robert Bly died this past year. I read his book “Iron John” in the mid 90s. It changed my life. Both from the standpoint of what a man could be and also with its mix of poetry, prose, spirituality and humor what a book could be. Robert Bly is one of Minnesota’s (and the country’s) […]
Todd’s Two Cents: I read the following on facebook this morning. The original post by Robert Brezsny is here: If a cow is given a name by her owner, she generates more milk than a cow that’s treated as an anonymous member of the herd. That’s the conclusion of a study done by researchers at […]
Last week I told a joke about ducks that a high school student had relayed to me. Our group had fun with it. Why do ducks have feathers? – To cover their butt quack! Telling a good joke is an art. I’m constantly trying to get better at it. I thought I would share a […]
For most of my life, I’ve been under the assumption that I need to become a better person before I can help others. A “you can’t give away what you don’t have” kind of an attitude. Of course this is true, but also the opposite is true. By helping and engaging with others, I can […]