Recently I discovered the joy of napping and I invite you to join me in this decadent pleasure. A friend schedules a brief “interlude” on her calendar every afternoon at 3:00 PM. I was a skeptic, worrying that an afternoon nap would interrupt my momentum — until recently when a heavy head cold flattened my productivity. I was surprised by how much rest my immune system demanded to perform its healing role. I learned firsthand how refreshing and revitalizing a few-minute break can be. So what used to be a clear “nope” to napping is now an enthusiastic “yup!”
Read moreService
I recently heard myself ask the question, “How can I help?” It stuck in my mind because it’s not what I meant. The real question was “How may I serve?” Serving is different from helping. Helping is based on inequality. Helping is when we use our strengths to assist those of lesser strength. When we’re attentive to what's happening inside of us, we’re always helping someone who's not as strong as we are – someone needier than we are. Helping is valuable, but people feel the inequality. Serving accomplishes the same goal, but it’s a relationship between equals.
Read moreImpatience
Having patience is not my strength, but it’s not exactly a weakness either. I lack patience when I’m learning new things and I’m extremely impatient when I’m waiting for anyone who is even a few minutes late. Impatience feels awful. It’s frustrating when our intentions are thwarted, but it doesn’t work to blame others or get snarky and mean-spirited. Try curiosity instead. Impatience fades into the background when we’re curious about solving the problem that’s the source of our irritation – and it’s a way to entertain ourselves while we wait.
Read moreLife Happens
Tom Wilson is a cartoonist adept at capturing our experience – especially when things don’t go our way. He definitely makes every picture worth a thousand words. Ever have things like this happen?
Read moreThe Dream
Martin Luther King is the only non-president to have a national holiday celebrated in his honor. It’s well deserved. During the 13 years he led the American Civil Rights Movement, there was more progress toward racial equality in America than in the previous 350 years. Dr. King is regarded as America’s foremost advocate of nonviolence. Emulating his role model, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. King led a nonviolent movement to achieve legal equality for African-Americans in the United States. He led similar campaigns against poverty and international conflict. He stayed faithful to the principle that men and women everywhere, regardless of color or creed, are equal members of the human family.
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