A Mindful Life

Television news is like a lightning flash. It makes a loud noise, lights up everything around it, leaves everything else in darkness and then is suddenly gone. –Hodding Carter

This song gives me chills every time I hear it. Before I met my husband, I lived on the edge this song describes. (We are incredibly fortunate and grateful for that.) I also used to work with (i.e., provide social services to) people whose lives were rife with the challenges that he sings about. And [...]

I’m not a parent who buys into the “stranger danger” propaganda. By this, I mean that I’m not worried that a kidnapping or molestation of my child is just around every corner. I’m a big supporter of the Free-Range Kid movement. Occasionally strangers attempt to harm people, but the majority of harm done to children [...]

I’m dealing again with the fact that friendships are fluid; they serve for a time, and then they don’t. This is a challenge when it’s the other friend who decides to move on. It’s tempting to feel rejected, sad, angry, bitter, hurt. So I’m trying to sit with those feelings a bit — feel them, [...]

I just heard a fascinating interview on Fresh Air with Judith Shulevitz as the guest. She has written a book about the history of the Jewish sabbath and also included a memoir about her own journey into keeping Sabbath customs. I found her lyrical and articulate, and her views impressed me. What I especially appreciate [...]

Working in social services because you love to help people is like working at MacDonalds because you love to cook: it is torturously frustrating. –Big Fat Trauma Queen

It’s a few hours after sunset, but I just found out about this. I’m posting it here and then turning off the computer. Click this link of embed doesn’t work.

Life is competitive around here. It is everywhere, but I feel it especially here — in the play group, among other parents in general, especially when the topic of education comes up. Last year, four Gunn High School students in Palo Alto committed suicide by stepping in front of trains; already one child committed suicide [...]

I feel jazzed at the moment. Out of the blue, yesterday I received a lovely, gracious email from a blog reader — someone who has lurked around here for three years — and it made my day. I haven’t been feeling inspired much to write lately. Hearing from someone that she has appreciated this little [...]

The conception of two people living together for twenty-five years without having a cross word suggests a lack of spirit only to be admired in sheep. –Alan Patrick Herbert