Embracing Gratitude and Positivity
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We All Rely on Others—and That’s a Good Thing
Recently I was at a local park with my wife and a long-time friend. We were enjoying the tranquil scene before us, which included five ospreys flying gracefully over a large pond. Suddenly, a swan flew right over us and crashed loudly through a thick growth of reeds before landing clumsily in the water. For…
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From Adversity to Triumph
Imagine starting out life by being thrown away. That’s what happened to Samuel Jimenez Coreas, who as an infant in El Salvador was discarded in a trash dump. From such tragic and humble beginnings, Sam has made a happy and successful life for himself. His story is one of courage, resilience and striving to realize dreams in…
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Life Might Not Be Perfect—But We Can Enjoy Near-Perfect Moments
Can anything in this life really be perfect? Since perfection implies something that has no flaws or limitations, probably not. Perfection is more of an ideal that inspires us to improve and aim for excellence. But we can certainly enjoy the many near-perfect moments life can bring. We use the word “perfect” a lot, and…
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The Path Forward
I’m all for living in the present—letting go of the past and not waiting for the future. But sometimes we have to look back a bit in order to strengthen our resolve so we can take the path forward. We need to acknowledge the progress we have made. A year ago at this time, I…
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Inspirations from the Silver Screen
I’ve been meaning to write a post about movies that are particularly inspirational, and with the Academy Awards coming up this seems like an appropriate time to acknowledge these films. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but the following 25 movies (in alphabetical order) are some I’ve found to be especially uplifting, motivating…
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A Loss Can Lead to New Opportunities
Sometimes a great personal loss can set us on a path toward an exciting new adventure in life. That’s what happened to Aimee Flynn. Losing her father was devastating. But it helped her make the decision to do something he would have applauded: launch her own photography business. “I wasn’t always a photographer, but I’ve…
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How to Find Joy: Gratitude Plus a Few Important Companions
Every once in a while I come across a book that’s not only enjoyable to read, but that leaves me with a meaningful message that stays with me long after I’ve completed the book. One such example is The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World, by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu. It’s…
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Giving the Gift of Life
What happens when generosity, compassion, courage and empathy come together? Something quite special. You might recall from a previous post that my brother Paul was in need of a kidney transplant. He has polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a chronic ailment that reduces kidney function over time. Several people volunteered to be organ donors for Paul, including Steven Tock, a…
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Finding Gratitude Through Music
Sometimes when we read or hear about what other people experience in life we gain new perspective and appreciation. Their stories can leave us with a positive feeling and maybe some inspiration. That’s why I’m beginning a series of profiles of people who I think have interesting and heartfelt stories to share. My hope is…
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Making the Most of Change
The beginning of a new year is a time to set goals and make resolutions. Maybe you want to learn a new skill, lose weight, start exercising more, quit smoking or spend more time with family and friends. It’s great to have ambitions. Even if we don’t achieve our goals in full, we can at…
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