A Beacon of Light

“Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.”  Dalai Lama A dictionary definition of the word detach reads: “detach: verb – to disengage and separate; disconnect.” Here are a few other thought-provoking insights on the practice of detachment in one’s life: Author Mahatma Prabhu tells us that “detachment means to not be…

“Treat people as an end, and never a means to an end.”  Immanuel Kant Since November 1998, when I first visited Nagasaki, Japan as part of a student exchange program I coordinated, I have had the opportunity to assist countless Japanese students, teachers, and others to better understand spoken English. Schools in Japan do an…

“Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.”  Thomas à Kempis While walking in the Sunset District of San Francisco yesterday, I saw one of those “little library” boxes on a post in front of someone’s home. I noticed…

“There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.”  Saint Thomas Aquinas Elementary school friends. We have so many of them during our early childhood years. We run and play together. We accept each other without judgment. We grow together day after day and year after year without even noticing that…

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”  Arthur Ashe “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,…” These immortal words written by Charles Dickens accurately describe my experience as an…

“Grandchildren are God’s reward for not killing your kids.”  Tony Campolo A barbecue on the first Saturday in February? Why not? Despite the cool air and dark sky, it was an opportunity for us to gather our family together before the big storm arrives. Another one of those “atmospheric rivers” is headed our way and…

“Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude.”  Thich Nhat Hanh I think I might project the image to some people of a guy who has his shit together. The truth of the matter is this: sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. For the most part, I want to believe that, much like…