Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Connection”
Have you ever experienced a time when you’ve been thinking about a friend, and then they call you “out of the blue?” Perhaps you find yourself somewhere you’ve never been before and realize that this location has been presented multiple times (e.g. you overheard it described; your best friend mentioned it; or perhaps you had a very detailed dream …
Today I’m feeling uninspired. I have flipped through journals, reviewed drafted articles that didn’t get published, and scanned interesting articles by others that I’ve collected. I’ve looked at photos, and some of my favorite books for inspiration or an idea. Nada. Zip. Zero. I’ve distracted myself with emails, a cross-word puzzle, small tasks, and multiple cups of tea. I’ve scheduled …
There is a saying that to understand another person you need to walk a mile in their shoes.
Have you ever been on a scavenger hunt? You know, you get a list of things to find and you and your team are sent off to collect whatever is on your list. Typically, this requires one to engage with strangers to acquire the desired treasures. You must convince others to give you objects on your list. This past week …
We arrived home last Tuesday night carrying our suitcases, backpacks, and memories of our adventures in Delhi, Kathmandu, and the bucolic country of Bhutan. As we petted up the dogs and cats, unloaded our bags, and showered for the first time in days, the dissonance between life in other countries and our home was at times bewildering and welcome. Navigating …
Do you have an emotional vocabulary? Do you use a wide range of words to describe how you are feeling or do you rely on “fine” and “okay?” In our environment of rapid change and clipped conversations (verbal and through technology), most of us rely upon the expedient answer of “fine” when queried by someone, especially in a non-intimate environment …
What makes you laugh? Is it a joke about a man who walks into a bar, a knock-knock joke, an unexpected occurrence or a prat-fall? Psychologists tells us that laughter serves as a type of super glue in that it helps keep us connected. Laughter is universal, but humor is culturally specific. Laughter is a natural behavior of humans and some …
I entered the garden through a metal gate within a gray concrete brick wall. Straight ahead was a walkway and a three-story chorten (stupa) that looked like a large white and gold vase. Instead of flowers, there was a pyramid-like pillar topped by a crescent moon and sun. Each tier was encompassed by a white wrought-iron fence that looked like …
Extroverts, Introverts, and the Brain’s Reward Center As an introvert, I’ve always been intrigued (and at times annoyed) by the ability/propensity of extroverts to talk as much as they do, especially about themselves. Before I really understood how extroverts were wired, I used to think they were unusually self-absorbed. However, it is just that extroverts process information more externally, while …
Climbing a wooden ladder, I arrived at a deck overlooking the bucolic valley in Bhutan. I removed my shoes, and entered the 300-year-old wood and brick home. I was led into a large sunny room with an altar in an alcove. Our group sat along the walls on cushions and rugs while the owner of the house welcomed us to …
