A Beacon of Light

“Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead has never watched them dancing on a windy day.”  Shira Tamir The well-quoted phrase, “The only constant in life is change,” is attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. His prophetic words are as valid today as when they were first uttered in the 6th century B.C. I…

“The heat of autumn is different from the heat of summer. One ripens apples, the other turns them to cider.”  Jane Hirshfield When I think of the season of autumn, I think of words like brisk, cozy, chilly, and colorful. I also find myself immersed in a pumpkin-spice culture: pumpkin-spice latte, pumpkin-spice breads and muffins,…

Brother David Steindl-Rast has made a name for himself as the “Guru of Gratitude.” His insights into what it means to be happy in life, and his claim that gratitude is the key to happiness, has inspired thousands of women and men around the world. I invite you to take a break — a 24-minute…

“Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you’re alive, it isn’t.”  Richard Bach “Why am I here?” Four simple words. One fundamental question. When I was a child, the question was posed as a cute invitation to dream about my future. “What do you want to be when…

“The beauty of memories lies not in their clarity, but in the warmth they bring to our hearts.”  Author Unknown On Saturday, August 24, 1974, my friend and high school classmate, Dan Pasini, and I boarded a 10:00 p.m. flight from San Francisco to Miami. From there, we took a connecting flight to the Bahamas.…

“There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be diminished by a nice cup of tea.”  Bernard Paul Heroux I grew up in a tea family. The rich smell of coffee brewing in the morning permeated our home only when my paternal grandmother stayed with us after a number of hospital visits. For…

“When you look at your mother, you are looking at the purest love you will ever know.”  Mitch Albom My mother died two years ago today. Her death was not unexpected. Mom, who was less than a month shy of her 93rd birthday, passed away peacefully in her home at the Villa Siena Retirement Community…

“It takes courage to say yes to rest and play in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol.”  Brené Brown In his book, Live Life from the Heart, Mark Black writes about the importance of relaxation. He cites that rather than being an indicator of laziness, relaxation can actually be both beneficial…

“They say that time heals all wounds, but we never live long enough to test that theory.”  José Saramago  Sixteen years ago tonight, I gathered with my mother and siblings at San Francisco General Hospital to say goodbye to my father. Earlier that evening, Dad had taken a fall down the back steps of our…

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” Albert Einstein I began my elementary education as a first grader at Saint Gabriel School in San Francisco in September 1960. I had attended kindergarten at our local public school, as Saint Gabriel did not offer a kindergarten program at that time. My brother, Tom was in…