A Beacon of Light

“The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater his success, his influence,  his power for good.”James Allen I’m not exactly sure what caused me to think about this last night, but I wish I had learned about the power of calmness long before I did. Maybe it’s human nature, or a “guy thing,” or maybe it’s just…

“Every individual bears the responsibility to be of value to humanity.” Seneca Seneca was a philosopher in ancient Rome. What an amazing accomplishment, and honor, to be remembered, respected, and quoted almost 2,000 years after one’s death. In his words above, he reminds us that we are all called to make a positive difference in the world during…

“Times of calamity and confusion have been productive for the greatest minds.” Charles Caleb Colton The State of California experienced yet another unusual weather phenomenon yesterday and today. Hurricane Hilary, which was downgraded to a tropical storm prior to reaching southern California, had wreaked havoc in various parts of Mexico. California had not experienced a tropical storm in…

“Music has healing power.” Elton John I was in middle school (1967) when Van Morrison, the singer-songwriter from Belfast, Ireland, hit the charts with his first hit song, Brown-Eyed Girl. Since that time, the artist has continued to create memorable tunes familiar to many of us. In 1995, Morrison released his twenty-third studio album, named after…

“You can’t stop a teacher when they want to do something. They just do it!”J.D. Salinger Yes, in mid-August!  Tonight, in homes across America, teachers are putting the final touches on their lesson plans for the upcoming week. Gone are the days when students and teachers returned to the classroom on the day after Labor Day in…

“Look back in GRATITUDE, stay present inLOVE, and the future will unfold with GRACE.”Judy Parker Kathy and I had the honor of attending a gathering this afternoon at Bracher Park in Santa Clara. Prior to today, I’d never been to this venue. With afternoon temperatures in the mid-80ºs, and a gentle breeze passing through the trees and across the vast…

I don’t think this image needs any explanation. It is, however, certainly worth pondering.

“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” Mark Twain I was recently asked to share my favorite story from my more than forty years of teaching. While I’m sure there are many I could have shared, this was the first that came to mind. I was teaching at Saint Lawrence Academy in Santa Clara.…

“A place where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars…”George Cory The acclaimed San Francisco cable cars have been serving The City by the Bay for the past 150 years. In my childhood, they were a viable means of transportation from downtown to Fisherman’s Wharf or Ghirardelli Square. A less popular route moved transit riders along California…