Ripe — The Art of Aging Well
What if getting older is not a weakness? What if it is more like ripening? Continue reading Ripe — The Art of Aging Well
Category: Relationships
Meeting Chris in Pai: Muay Thai, Life, and the Stories I Didn’t Expect
“In the quiet charm of Pai, a conversation about Muay Thai turned into one of the most fascinating — and so wildly different from my own life — exchanges I’ve ever had, blending shared ground and stark differences Continue reading Meeting Chris in Pai: Muay Thai, Life, and the Stories I Didn’t Expect
YOGA AND ASHRAM LIFE
«Have you ever lived in an ashram?” people used to ask me. My answer was, no. But here I am, two months into it, and I can say that ashram life is more than just yoga. Life in an ashram in Rishikesh is a journey of self-discovery—one that challenges you to push beyond what you thought was possible. It demands commitment, acceptance, practice, patience—and then, … Continue reading YOGA AND ASHRAM LIFE
Tips for Productive Conversations
A couple of weeks ago, an email popped into my inbox with tips on having productive conversations about climate change. In an increasingly divided world, where the need to be right puts relationships with others at risk, the email was an excellent reminder of the importance of seeking to understand different points of view in all areas of life. The email, from The Carbon Almanac, … Continue reading Tips for Productive Conversations
The Value of Work Friendships
Last week, I had a chance to celebrate my upcoming retirement with work friends and colleagues. As I look back on my career, I’ve been thinking a lot about the value of work friendships. I’ve worked in a lot of roles with many different people over the years. When I look back, the most memorable accomplishments were with teams I felt a strong social connection … Continue reading The Value of Work Friendships
Curiosity killed the cat
We often think about the future like it’s a far-away land we haven’t reached yet, right? Think again! The future isn’t just some distant dreamland; it’s being cooked up right here, right now, in the present moment. Yep, you heard that correctly! It’s all about what we’re thinking, feeling, and how we take on the big wide world around us and respond to it right … Continue reading Curiosity killed the cat
Do We Have a Loneliness Crisis?
Over the weekend, I attended a talk by Jeremy Nobel, author of Project UnLonely. Dr. Nobel discussed why we need to be concerned about the increase in loneliness and disconnection we are seeing in our world today. He also offered some possible solutions to the loneliness crisis. Being Alone vs. Being Lonely Dr. Nobel started his talk by showing us a picture similar to the … Continue reading Do We Have a Loneliness Crisis?
Repost: The Importance of Language When Making New Year’s Resolutions
It’s that time of year again when people think about the new year and how they’d like to make changes in their lives going forward. We often refer to these proposed life modifications as “new year’s resolutions.” The other day, while stepping out of the shower, the idea hit me—insights come as flashes of insight and often at the strangest times—that the way we verbalize … Continue reading Repost: The Importance of Language When Making New Year’s Resolutions
Repost: The Real Secret to Being Happier and More Successful in the Workplace
In “What I’ve Learned about Life while Watching My Father Age,” a blog I wrote several weeks ago, I mentioned that I’d been reading On Death and Dying, a wonderfully insightful book written by Elisabeth Kϋbler-Ross. Throughout that tome, the author argues that doctors need to take a more “human” approach while treating dying patients. She also points out that the field of medicine stresses the … Continue reading Repost: The Real Secret to Being Happier and More Successful in the Workplace
A Tantra Way of Living
Some days ago I received an email and it gave me Déjà vu. This story started back in 2022. I had been told that I should explore Tantra on many occasions over the years. Tantra? Should I explore sexuality with random partners and call it spiritual sex? No, thank you, that is not for me, I thought. Maybe it triggered my ultra-Iranian origins ; who … Continue reading A Tantra Way of Living
Repost: Places that “Made” Me: Installment Three
My greatest regret during my Peace Corps experience is that I wasn’t into taking photos at that time. I was into living life, though, as hard as it could be lived, tiptoeing right up to the line of being wildly self-destructive. It’s just that I don’t have much of a photographic record of all that living beyond the boundaries. I do have memories, tons of … Continue reading Repost: Places that “Made” Me: Installment Three
The Power of Connection – Thriving Together in the Face of Challenges
In our lives, there’s a thread that binds us all, a common truth that transcends cultural, geographical, and temporal boundaries: connection. As social beings, our journey through life is enriched when we share our burdens, joys, and tribulations with others. Picture this: you’re navigating the unpredictable currents of life, faced with challenges that seem impossible. In moments of solitude, the weight of these challenges can … Continue reading The Power of Connection – Thriving Together in the Face of Challenges
Repost: Places that “Made” Me: Installment Two
If you read my first installment, you know that I was a Peace Corps Volunteer and was sent to PĨock, Poland, a beautiful and fascinating city located on the Vistula River, to complete my Pre-Service Training (PST), a demanding educational regime that was designed to see if I’d be up to the various challenges I’d certainly encounter once I was sent off to the town or city … Continue reading Repost: Places that “Made” Me: Installment Two
Repost: Places that “Made” Me: Installment One
My mind works in mysterious ways. For example, three or four days ago, for no particular reason, the following question popped into my head: I wonder who said, “Clothes make the man”? I then almost immediately forgot that I’d asked this question—my brain having its own unique way of functioning—and went about my daily business. This morning I got online and found out that Mark … Continue reading Repost: Places that “Made” Me: Installment One
Repost: On Anger
I’ve been thinking a lot about anger recently. In fact, I’ve been looking at the topic long enough to be ready to put my thoughts on paper. For a person interested in studying anger and the angry response, this is a kind of perfect moment. There’s so much anger out there, being expressed in all sorts of contexts by all kinds of people, that there’s … Continue reading Repost: On Anger
Repost: A Meditation on Something I Heard the Other Day
On Friday, October 11th, I attended a professional development workshop at the college where I’m employed. The title of the session was “Communication Skills for Collaboration.” Looking back, I don’t think the title gave an apt preview of what the talk would cover. Plus, the title was boring; whereas, the actually workshop was quite interesting. During the early moments of the presentation, the presenter began … Continue reading Repost: A Meditation on Something I Heard the Other Day
Repost: On Dealing with Emotional Extremes
I’m getting older. We all are. Of course, as we age, we lose things. For example, because I’m older and injured my knee playing competitive sports when I was a young guy, I can no longer jog without having significant pain afterwards. That sucks, but I’m fine with that limitation and loss. It’s not all bad news though. I’m gaining things too. For example, I … Continue reading Repost: On Dealing with Emotional Extremes
Identity: What’s in a name?
Context The catalyst for this post was my most recent Introductions Over Coffee #10 post. There I discuss why new bloggers should use a name. That got me thinking about the nature of identity. In particular, why we feel its necessary for others to have names, why it might be difficult to pick a name and the likelihood of exclusion as a result. These are … Continue reading Identity: What’s in a name?
Repost: Napping as an Act of Defiance
I’ve been thinking a lot about defiance lately. Actually, because I’m very much a contrarian at heart, I’m always thinking about ways to defy. That’s what contrarians do; they defy conventional wisdom (among other things). (By the way, it seems pretty clear that we need a lot more contrarians in the world.) I guess you could also say that I’m part of the resistance against … Continue reading Repost: Napping as an Act of Defiance
RIP Mr Nils
Once upon a time, I knew a man.
I met him at a writing course which he was teaching at Bøler Library.
Today I found out that he has crossed over to the other side.
I felt a strong desire to honour him by sharing a poem he had written.
Continue reading RIP Mr Nils