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Let’s Talk about Relationships

“We need silence to be able to touch other souls.” – Mother Teresa Let’s talk about relationships. Unless we are a hermit by nature, we want and need relationships to be fulfilled. They are an

Does Positive Thinking Work?

My mom and I have a nightly ritual. Before I fall asleep I call her from Iowa, where I live, and chat with her in California, where she lives in an assisted living near my sister and her family.

Because of the different time zones, and because she goes to bed early these days, we are both saying our goodnights to each other at the same moment.

The Real Yoga

I attend yoga classes as part of my fitness routine. Something that was an ancient tradition for health and balance in life in the east had become a fad and then a part of our

Going Beyond “Darkness” and “Light” into the Silence that Nourishes: A Response to Theologian Barbara Brown Taylor

I was struck by the cover of the April 28th Time Magazine: FINDING GOD IN THE DARK. Beyond Enlightenment: Acclaimed preacher Barbara Brown Taylor argues that strength, purpose, and true faith are found in the shadows.

Having just finished my blog post series on the quest for enlightenment, my immediate response was: What is Ms. Taylor getting at? Do we really need more darkness in our already challenging lives? Why would she—a popular theologian in our troubled world—not be interested in light and enlightenment?

Success without Stress: An Interview with Robin Zabel

Janet: Robin, tell me a little about your career as a lawyer. Did you go to law school directly out of college? Robin: My “legal” career has been a strange one. I guess you could

Art and the transcendent through the eyes of an artist

As an artist I am very grateful for my artistic talent, but I did not realize how precious this gift was until after learning the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program. This is when its value and purpose became clear.

During Transcendental Meditation the mind and body settle down to quieter levels of activity. The thinking process becomes more refined and subtle until the mind actually goes beyond, or transcends the thinking process altogether. One is then left in a place of pure Being—the transcendent.

Grannys Kick Up Their Heels

In 2007, a mayor in Japan organized for a group of grandmothers to perform on television to promote tourism with their song-and-dance routine. By 2010, they were national stars, representing a new, energetic attitude toward

The Power of Cuddles

One of the most heartening signs of positive change in the world must be when penal institutions begin to turn away from punishment and instead promote prevention. Such a sign may be detected in recent statements issued by the Violence Reduction Unit of Strathclyde Police, Scotland, UK.

The Unit has been particularly successful in dealing with some of the more ingrained antisocial habits of the young. As a result, its recommendations are given due attention by government.

Women and Heart Disease: A Risk at Every Age

According to recent research presented at the 2014 American Heart Association Sessions on quality of care and outcomes, young to middle-aged women may have worse long term outcomes after experiencing a heart attack than men

Do Gender Differences Affect Student Achievement?

In most developing countries, the education of girls lags far behind that of boys. Yet because educated girls are better able to care for their families, universal education for girls is considered a major way to lead developing countries out of poverty. Helping all girls and boys receive an education is the mission of UNGEI, the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative.

The good news is that in America, the education of girls is on the rise. In fact, some researchers think that it’s not the girls who now need help, it’s the boys.