A Beacon of Light

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.”  Richard Bach I was blessed with three siblings — one brother and two sisters. Each of us has experienced a full, productive, and unique life journey. Our interests vary. Our likes and dislikes can…

“Change is inevitable — except from a vending machine.”  Robert C. Gallagher The Oxford Dictionary defines impermanence as “the state or fact of lasting for only a limited period of time.” In an online article published in November 2020, Hal Atwood wrote, “Impermanence is an inescapable, essential fact of life.”  Seneca, a philosopher of ancient…

“Anyone can become angry — that’s easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way — that is not easy.”  Aristotle This may come as a surprise to some, but many who have known me for a long…

“The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.”  Marcus Tullius Cicero Trevor Brown was a stay-at-home Dad. His wife’s job with the federal government allowed him to provide care for his three children, ages 6, 9, and 11. Trevor was also a volunteer firefighter with the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company…

“Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”  James M. Barrie Growing up in the Sunset District of San Francisco in the 1960s, where the typical summer day was characterized by persistent fog throughout much of the day, I was unaware of the need for sun protection unless my…

“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”  David Steindl-Rast It is astounding to consider the numerous elements which contribute to who we are, how we feel from one day to the next, and how others perceive us. A quick review of some of these components might be…

“Life is beautiful not because of the things we see or do. Life is beautiful because of the people we meet.”  Simon Sinek I love meeting people. Getting to know someone new energizes me. It nourishes my soul. To the best of my recollection, I’ve always been this way. Perhaps this is what prompted my…

“This world is but a canvas to our imagination.”  Henry David Thoreau For most of my life, I willingly admitted to being artistically challenged. When I think back to art classes in my elementary school years, I recall four images I relied upon to be an active participant in those classes. The first was the…

“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…