In the practical blog on marriage and raising kids, I asked you to spend some time assessing how you spend most of your time. The pathway to change begins with examining your current situation. As you took notice of your schedule, what stood out for you? What would you like to spend more time doing? […]
It may sound so simple to “keep the main thing the main thing,” but oftentimes it is not. As the new year begins, we have a valuable opportunity to examine our lives and schedules and ask ourselves if the main thing [we want] is really the main thing. The truth is that each one of […]
Like most good things in life, kindness requires intentionality. Just as studies show you are more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down, you are more likely to perform acts of kindness if you write them down. So, make a list of acts of kindness you can perform at home and in […]
“I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” This quote is from “A Streetcar Named Desire,” a play from 1947 written by American playwright Tennessee Williams. For some reason, when I think of the word kindness, I think of strangers and then loved ones. I know this sounds weird, but I believe it is […]
Forgiveness was a runny, gooey ball of wax in my mind for years. Back then, I did not understand the importance of forgiveness and the freedom found within it. I found myself trying to reach out and touch or hold forgiveness in my most treasured relationships, but I always wound up messy. Also, I had […]
Now that I have kids I often think about what my life was like growing up. Lately, I have been thinking about forgiveness and what my parents taught me about this difficult subject. They did a great job unpacking the idea that forgiving others—even if you do not condone or agree with what they did—brings […]
Positive, thoughtful, honest and deliberate communication is something I strive for in each of my relationships. Now, I do not share my deepest thoughts and feelings with each person in my life. And I certainly do not always tell the more difficult people in my life just how incredibly difficult they are. BUT, I do […]
If I had to name the skill I teach most in counseling sessions I think it would be communication. In the age in which we live we are constantly receiving and sending information. And, yet, for some reason so many of us do not possess the communication skills necessary to live our best lives now—lives […]
I do not watch football, nor do I follow sports—not that I am against them I just don’t. So, I am very surprised I am going to write about Tim Tebow in this piece on empathy, but here it goes.
Okay, okay. I am the first to admit that I NEVER say to anyone, “I know exactly how you feel.” Each person has a unique personality AND background (family, culture, upbringing, etc.) coupled with specific life experiences. Because of this, I personally do not believe any two people are exactly alike. Moreover, I never pretend […]
