Happy Mistakes. Those rare times when something goes technically wrong but turns out better than the originally anticipated outcome. Who or what is responsible for this phenomenon? … More The Happy Mistake: God Taking Care Of Us Or Dumb Luck?
The only reason I stopped at that particular gas station was because they had a giant, brightly painted wood sculpture of a squirrel (or maybe it was a groundhog) all dressed up in backpacking gear, out front. You could see it from the highway. My usual instinct when I need gas is to keep driving … More Remembering The Bison & Confronting Our Hateful Past
A reckless driver almost took me out, but it was my fault? Seems to be the way these days, and it’s weakening us as a society. … More Un-Reproachable Us: Your Faults Are My Fault?
“Come out to my car and check this out,” my cousin said. He was a few years older than me and always kept me up to speed on what the cool, older kids were into. I was in middle school, he would graduate soon. It was Christmas Day 1984. We were visiting extended family at … More Influence: Remembering Prince On His Death Day
A humorous look at our Easter “fun” and trauma-causing traditions. … More I Got A Problem With Easter
Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what you can do to help, especially when the problems are big and out of our control. Watching the news from Ukraine these past few weeks, the question of “how do I help” keeps resurfacing, but the answers don’t come any easier. How can I respond? Last week, a … More Responding To Ukraine- With Music & A Plea For Help
Everybody’s talking about Will Smith’s Oscar slap on Chris Rock. I’m not usually interested in Hollywood happenings, but this one is different. Despite everything else going on in the world right now, I can’t get The Slap off my mind. And, I think it has to do with my career in the classroom, as a … More Will Smith’s Oscar Slap Has Parallels To The Classroom
An Suess-style Poem to Inspire Your Best Life I’m not really into poetry- unless it’s from my poet-hero, Dr. Suess. Nobody else, in my mind, has his ability to deliver both serious messages and goofy fun with such imagination and humor, while maintaining a simplistic poetic structure. I think he’s a genius and an inspiration. … More Get Started!
Putin’s War Poses Uncomfortable Questions by Todd Fulginiti The news today shows another round of destroyed Ukrainian buildings, including a theater where civilians had been sheltering to avoid being killed by Russian shelling. It didn’t work. Other headlines cite breadlines and humanitarian help centers coming under fire as well. The death tolls are unknown. … More What Does It Take To Kill?
Look around. Notice the first stranger you see. What do you think about them? What jumps to mind? What assumptions do you make? Now imagine that person as part of your family; a son or daughter, brother or sister, maybe one of your parents. Can you switch perspectives? How does doing that change your initial … More How Do You See People? Developing Empathy