It was Baron Dahlberg-Acton (English historian, politician, and writer) who first coined the phrase,“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” I’ve been wondering about the nature of power lately. No, I didn’t go back and re-read Machiavelli’s treatise on power, nor did I review Sun Tzu’s Art of War. But I’ve been curious about what I’m observing in …
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 …
Words fail me in so many ways. I can locate and place together a of string of words that clearly convey thoughts, feelings, and experiences, most of the time. There are other times in which I am unable to express myself. Language is but a system of aural sounds and written symbols. We use these sounds and symbols to bridge the …
A friend sent me a note last week in which she mentioned that she had put up a few holiday lights to “ward off the dark” at this time of year. That got me thinking about the winter months and how we react to the shorter days and the darker nights. I continue to be startled by how quickly it …
While reflecting on an experience a few days ago, a vision of a trout thrashing on a shiny metal hook popped into my head. I imagined she had been swimming along peacefully, when she spied something that looked familiar and reacted by snapping at it. She was hooked! What caused me to imagine a hooked trout? I was that trout. I …
I received a series of gifts, moments of deep gratitude, this weekend. Although the event that provided those moments I wouldn’t describe as a gift. You see, I was trimming a tree and fell off the ladder landing on a short wooden (and very sturdy) fence, then bounced to the ground, hitting my head on the tree trunk. Minutes earlier …
We entered a crowded square after sunset. Even though it was dark, it was still very warm and I felt sticky from the heat and humidity. It had been a long day, and I was thirsty, tired, and slightly cranky. I told myself if I only had a cold bottle of water, I’d be happy. In front of us was …
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 …
Last week I wrote about how easy it was to meditate in the temples and gardens of Bhutan and Nepal, and how challenging it was to maintain a practice at home with all the distractions and triggers. Creating change in our behavior is difficult at best and nearly impossible if we aren’t aware of the environment and its impact. You …
