As I hit a “milestone” birthday this weekend, I find myself grateful for the journey so far and excited about the possibilities going forward. There’s a lot of things I would do differently if I could regarding people, circumstances, and key choices. But I’ve learned and grown from every outcome, every disappointment, every ounce of […]
Helping Others to Thrive
One of my core values is being kind and loving to people first and foremost, before any other agenda. When I’m at my best (and not saddled by some kind of fear, which may very well be the poisonous root at the bottom of every negative emotion), I am in a mindset of trying to […]
Today
Another mass shooting in America. Dozens of futures ripped away; hundreds of survivors who will deal with the emotional and physical recovery for the rest of their lives. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of friends and family members grieving in disbelief. And millions and millions more Americans talking about it on social media, at work, at schools, […]
Letter From a Tennessee Suburb
I am the prototypical white, privileged, straight male. I was raised in a middle class home, and though my parents were far from wealthy I was sent to college and they paid for all of it. I moved into the professional work force, and eventually earned a master’s degree that was fully funded through grants […]
The Paradox of the Crowd
Sometimes you’re surrounded by hundreds of people in every direction, but you feel alone. Last night was the home opener for the Franklin High School football team, playing against its rival Brentwood I arrived a little after the start with my 12-year-old daughter Olivia and her friend Grace, and we parked far away and walked […]
MLK’s “Beloved Community” and the 2016 Election
The societal backdrop for the 2016 Election can be described from many vantage points, and most of these are better explained by other writers. One observation I will declare, however, is that the dialog permeating Decision ’16 is anything but a manifestation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of “The Beloved Community.” We are, […]
Neutralize Your Hindrances
What potential hindrances might get in the way of accomplishing what matters the most to you? It can feel very motivating and encouraging to clarify what you want the most, think through the most valued roles that you play during this season, and establish some meaningful, high-level goals or mission statements for each of these […]
Goals for Your Roles
As I continue this series on “Doing What Matters the Most,” let’s explore how to create meaningful and achievable goals within the various roles that we play in each season of life. Think of a high-level goal for a specific role as a “mission or vision statement” for that role. If you’ve been professionally involved […]
Doing What Matters Most
Amid the onslaught of choices and information we face each day, the act of actually doing what matters the most to us is sometimes lost in the noise. This new blog series tackles specific action steps you can take to not just dream but accomplish what your heart desires. These steps are based on years […]
The Crescendo of Practice: Mindful Relationships
Steady, consistent mindfulness practice truly is progressive. It can take the receptive practitioner on a continuous, non-linear journey from a deeply felt connection to the body and the present moment, through emotional peace that facilitates diminished attachments to outcomes, all the way to discovering profound joy in three key dimensions of relationship: solitude, community, and […]
