A Beacon of Light

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  • My name is Kevin Carroll. I was born and raised in San Francisco, California, where I attended Saint Ignatius College Preparatory. I am a graduate of both Santa Clara University and the University of San Francisco. Following a 40-year career in teaching and pastoral ministry, I launched a new career as a writer and speaker.

    I live in San José, California. My wife, Kathy, and I have three adult sons and five precious grandchildren. I have much for which to be grateful.

    I can be reached via email at kmc43sjc@gmail.com

    My books are available for purchase online from Amazon. I also have copies of some of these titles at my home for those who would like to buy them directly from me.

    A Moment’s Pause for Gratitude  (2017)

    Cherries in the Summer  (2021)

    The Ambassador of 38th Avenue  (2022)

    Dad: 12 Questions…  (2023)

    A Focus on Gratitude  (2024)

    Through the Lens of Gratitude  (2024)

    A Bahamian Odyssey (2026)

  • Listen to the Music

    “For those of you
    in the cheap seats,
    clap your hands to this one;
    the rest of you can just
    rattle your jewelry.” 
    John Lennon

    I was in San Francisco for the Summer of Love in 1967. Somehow, I missed it. I lived with my family in the Sunset, not far from the San Francisco Zoo. I attended summer school classes at Saint Ignatius High School for the first six weeks of the summer, and worked as a junior counselor at Silver Tree Day Camp in the canyon behind Glen Park Playground for the last few weeks. I was unaware that something historic was taking place in The City, not far from my home. The Haight-Asbury District and Golden Gate Park became ground zero of a cultural revolution. The unifying element of the experience was music.

    In Golden Gate Park, free, informal concerts featured such musical legends as Janice Joplin, the Jefferson Airplane, and the Grateful Dead. In the wake of the Beatles’ transformation of contemporary popular music in the mid-60’s, a new brand of entertainment came to life. And in the years following, large concerts became commonplace.

    I actually attended a few concerts in that summer of 1967. My family had season tickets to the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra’s summer series, which featured guest conductor Arthur Fiedler. Fiedler was famous for his work with the Boston Pops. We attended several concerts at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium, and one free Sunday concert at Sigmund Stern Grove. Hardly revolutionary. 

    I didn’t attend another concert until 1973. This was my first “real” concert, meaning “without parents,” featuring the 50’s rock group Sha Na Na at Winterland in the Fillmore District. 

    My next concert may have been my most unique concert experience. I was invited to attend a performance by the Vienna Boys’ Choir in the Paradise Island Hotel in Nassau, Bahamas in the spring of 1975. It was an amazing show, but when people of my generation discuss concerts we’ve attended, I don’t know of any of my friends who shared that experience. Understandably.

    In August 1976, I attended a Day on the Green at the Oakland Coliseum. The show began with performances by Linda Ronstadt and Loggins & Messina. The main draw for this concert was the Eagles. It was magical. The stadium was filled to near-capacity. The stage was situated in center field and concert goers filled the playing field, as well as a good percentage of the seating areas. I recall leaving the Coliseum that afternoon thinking that I’d finally been to a real concert.

    During my 20’s, I attended a number of other concerts. Not in any particular order, I saw Billy Joel, the Beach Boys, the Moody Blues, Kenny G., Chuck Mangione, and country singer Don Williams. It was during this period in my life that I also had the opportunity to see Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor, Harry Chapin, and John Denver. Sadly, three of the four have already passed.

    Since meeting Kathy in the mid-80’s, we’ve attended a number of other concerts: Peter, Paul, and Mary, Amy Grant, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Michael Crawford, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Simon & Garfunkel, Pato Banton, Neil Young, and even the Kingston Trio. Our most recent concert was two months ago, when we saw Chicago at the Paul Masson Mountain Winery in Saratoga.

    I’m well aware that this is a fairly tame list of performers. With all due respect, I was never tempted to see groups such as AC/DC, Mötley Crüe, Kiss, Def Leppard, Metallica, Motörhead, or Guns N’ Roses. Not my style. I think I may, however, have enjoyed listening to some of the music of Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin. 

    My generation was blessed with some amazing musical performers. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to see some of them in live performances, even if I was sitting in the cheap seats!    

  • The Perfect Gift

    “The best of all gifts around 
    any Christmas tree: 
    the presence of a happy family 
    all wrapped-up in each other.”
    Burton Hillis

    The 2023 holiday season is right around the corner. Retail outlets are elaborately adorned with Halloween, Thanksgiving and, yes, even Christmas decorations. One of the greatest challenges each year is to find an appropriate Christmas gift for a loved one. And of all those for whom we might be looking for the perfect gift, is anyone more difficult to buy for than one’s father? 

    Speaking for myself, I need nothing. If I needed something, I’d have it already. I don’t need new clothes, I don’t need after-shave or cologne, and I most certainly don’t need any more mugs or ties. This, however, doesn’t mean there aren’t things I would appreciate. It’s just that what I would like most from my sons for Christmas this year, and every year, cannot be purchased at the mall, nor can it be wrapped in a box and put neatly under the Christmas tree.  

    What I’d like from my sons is for them to love, respect, and accept each other. I’d like them to continue loving and respecting their mother and me, too. I’d like them to have an awareness of and genuine concern for those in our community who struggle getting through life — for whatever reason.

    I would appreciate it if they would read my books and blog posts. Much of what I write might be beneficial in their lives. I’d like them to feel comfortable asking for my opinion whenever they think it’s appropriate to do so. I’d like them to ask me about my life experiences, while I’m still able to answer such questions with accuracy, and to share their life experiences with me.

    I’d like them to know that I’m proud of them — all three of them — and that even though we may disagree on some things, I have a tremendous amount of respect for them. The days of their developmental need to seek autonomy from parental authority are over. All three of my boys are competent, self-reliant adults who have proven, beyond a doubt, that they can handle life as it comes to them.

    For Christmas this year, and every year, I’d like them to constantly give serious consideration to the difference between wants and needs, and to conscientiously live within their means. I’d like them to be consistently honest in everything they say and do. I’d like them to be compassionately forgiving of themselves and others. 

    I’d like them to express their emotions freely, yet appropriately, and to remember that the only two things they can control in life are their own attitude and their own effort. I’d like them to live their lives in such a way that when people think of kindness, compassion, gratitude, and integrity, they think of my three sons. And I’d like them to continue their habit of performing random acts of kindness for people who may never know of their generosity. 

    In everything they do, I’d like them to strive for excellence, but not get caught-up in the pursuit of perfection. I’d like them to understand that pain and disappointment are inevitable in life, but that misery is optional. And I want them to remember that just because the past may have included a few bumps in the road, it is still possible that their future can and will be better than they ever dreamed possible.

    I’d like them to understand that life will always be complicated, but only to the extent that they allow it to be. Simplifying their lives is an option available to them. I would also like them to remember that it’s not a good idea to judge someone on the opinion of another person. 

    Finally, and not surprisingly, I’d like them to embrace the concept that gratitude is the single most important ingredient to living a successful and fulfilling life.

    I don’t think this is too much to ask. The cost is minimal. No trip to the mall, or shopping spree on Amazon, is required. It’s all simple stuff, and it would make me happier than anything that could be wrapped in a box and placed under the tree.

  • On Happiness

    A friend shared this with me today. It is too well-written for me not to share with you. The following are the words of Pope Francis. They are powerful. They are hopeful. They are enlightening. Please take your time and read this piece slowly.

    • • •

    You can be flawed, anxious and sometimes irritated, but don’t forget that your life is the greatest company in the world. Only you can prevent her from going into decline.

    There are many who appreciate, admire and love you.  And you don’t know but there are people for whom you are special.

    I would like you to remember that being happy is not having a sky without storms, a road without accidents, work without fatigue, personal relationships without disappointments. To be happy is to find strength in forgiveness, hope in battles, security in the box of fear, love in disagreements. 

    Being happy is not only to value the smile, but also to reflect on sadness.

    It is not just commemorating success, but learning lessons from failure.

    It is not just having joy with the applause, but having joy in anonymity.

    Being happy is recognizing that life is worth living, despite all the challenges, sadness, misunderstandings, and periods of emotional and economic crisis.

    Being happy is not a fate of destiny, but a conquest for those who know how to travel within their own being.

    To be happy is to stop being a victim of problems and become an actor in your own story. It is crossing deserts outside of oneself, but being able to find an oasis in the depths of our soul. It is thanking God every morning for the miracle of life.

    Being happy is not being afraid of your own feelings. It is knowing how to talk about yourself. It is having the courage to hear a “no” even from those you love. It is having security to receive criticism, even if it is unfair.

    To be happy is to let live the free, happy and simple creature that lives within each one of us. It is having maturity to say ‘I was wrong’. It is having the audacity to say ‘forgive me’. It is having sensitivity to express ‘I need you’. It is having the ability to say ‘I love you’.

    Never give up! 
    Never give up on the people you love.
    Never give up on being happy, because life is an unmissable show!

  • The Sunset District

    “I can walk down the  
    streets of San Francisco,  
    and here I’m normal.”
    Robin Williams

    With all due respect, it’s not San Fran, and it’s most definitely not Frisco. San Francisco is The City — with a capital T and capital C. This is something with which all native San Franciscans can agree. In fact, there is quite a bit on which natives of The City by the Bay are in agreement. San Francisco was a great place to grow up in the 1960’s. It is one of the most scenic metropolitan areas in the world. Summer weather normally arrives in September and October. If you prefer cooler temperatures, stay west of Twin Peaks. The Giants’ ballpark is one of the most magnificent sports venues in the country. (The football field at Washington High School is another one.) 

    Yes, San Francisco is a special place. Those who say it’s not what it used to be are correct. Much has changed, and not necessarily for the better. Still, The City is an amazing place which offers a plethora of activities and destinations for visitors and locals alike.

    There is one particular topic, however, on which there is significant disagreement. It seems that there is some confusion as to the labeling of districts on The City’s west side. A look at the image above clearly, and accurately identifies the Richmond, Inner-Sunset, and Lakeshore districts. The point of contention seems to be whether the southwest corner of The City is part of the Sunset District or the Parkside District. I’m specifically referring to the area between Sunset Boulevard and the Great Highway, and Quintara Street to Sloat Boulevard.

    I grew up on 38th Avenue, halfway between Vicente and Wawona Streets. I always considered this location to be part of the Sunset District. When my mother put our family home on the market in 2014, the realtor claimed our home was in the Parkside. It seems he’s not alone. I always thought the Parkside was within the boundaries from about 15th Avenue to Sunset Boulevard, and from Ortega Street to Sloat Boulevard, yet some claim that the Parkside extends west to the Great Highway.

    This may not seem like an issue worthy of attention or discussion, yet whenever anyone asks me where in The City I grew up, my response is always The Sunset. I’m proud to identify with the Sunset District. There’s certainly nothing wrong with the Parkside. That’s where we went to go to the local public library, to Larson Pool for swimming lessons, to Zim’s for a cheeseburger and shake, to Herb’s for a meatball sandwich, to the movie theater on Taraval, and to the jet at 19th & Vicente. But that’s not the district in which I lived. I have a small piece of evidence to support my opinion.

    Points of interest in the neighborhoods can be a good indicator of what district one is in. For example, Sunset Playground is located at 28th & Lawton. The reservoir situated between Ortega and Quintara Streets, from 24th to 28th Avenue is the Sunset Reservoir. West Sunset Playground extends along 41st Avenue between Ortega and Quintara. All of these are consistent with the Sunset (and inner Sunset) being labeled as they are.

    On the south side of Vicente Street, from 26th to 28th Avenues is what used to be called Parkside Playground. It’s now called Parkside Square. The library at 22nd and Taraval is the Parkside Library. The theater on Taraval Street was the Parkside Theater. Again, this is consistent with the designation of this area as the Parkside.

    If you travel west down Vicente Street and across Sunset Boulevard, there is another city playground on the southwest corner of 40th Avenue. It is circled in red in the photo above. The name of this park is South Sunset Playground. The names of the public recreation areas were decided by officials of the City of San Francisco.

    Case dismissed. 

  • On Teaching

    “Students don’t care  
    how much you know  
    until they know  
    how much you care.”
    John C. Maxwell

    In my early days of teaching, I attended a professional development presentation by Dr. Eleanor Brown at which she spoke these prophetic words (paraphrased): If you are someone who needs immediate positive feedback from your students, I suggest you seek a different profession as soon as possible. It rarely happens. What will happen, however, is that ten or fifteen or twenty-five years later, you will be walking through a mall and someone will come up to you, call you by name, and say, “You were my teacher when…” The person will then go on to tell you about something specific they recall from your class, or about you, and how that experience made a positive difference in their life. 

    Teaching is an undervalued profession. In previous generations, when many parents themselves may have completed only a high school level education, if that, teachers were highly respected. Parents recognized that teachers were well-educated. They also acknowledged and appreciated that teachers devoted their lives to educating the next generations of young people. Today, as a greater percentage of men and women have earned advanced degrees, many who are now parents display little respect for the expertise of the teachers. They also seem to have a lack of appreciation for the commitment and sacrifices the teachers make to educate today’s youth. 

    In my 40-plus years as a professional educator, I had the privilege of working with a handful of inspiring women and men who had mastered the art of teaching. It was not uncommon for me to sit-in on a colleague’s class during my prep period to observe how they interacted with their students. I became a better teacher because of the example they provided for me. Sadly, I also worked with a number of colleagues who seemed far more interested in being popular with their students than being professional educators. 

    As I reflect back on my career in the classroom, I am well aware that, despite my best efforts, there were others who were simply better teachers than me. I don’t let this reality bother me, because I know, without a doubt, that I consistently put forth my best effort. There are most certainly some former students, now adults, who will have less than positive memories of their experience in my classroom. I can only hope that this would be a small percentage of those I taught. I take solace in knowing that most of my former students are living successful, productive lives, and that their memories of being in my class are are primarily positive. I am tremendously grateful to have played a small part in the life journey of these women and men.

    To my family and friends who are currently working in the field of education in Japan, the Bahamas, and here in the United States, thank you for the work you are doing. You are appreciated today — World Teachers’ Day — and every day.

  • October 2023

    “And all at once,  
    summer collapsed  
    into fall.”
    Oscar Wilde

    If there is any such thing as a perfect day, today was it. It’s Sunday, October 1, 2023. The cool, crisp morning air gave way to a delightfully pleasant autumn afternoon. The sun was bright, the air was clear, and I had nothing in particular I had to do today. 

    After attending the 10:00 Mass with Kathy at Mission Santa Clara this morning, I enjoyed a 45-minute stroll through our neighborhood. Along the way, I couldn’t help but notice and appreciate the changing colors of the trees on every block. A scattering of fallen leaves decorated front lawns, sidewalks, and streets. 

    I spent a good portion of the afternoon watching the San Francisco 49ers improve their season record to 4-0. And to top it all off, with our front door and upstairs windows open since noon time, we’ve enjoyed a comfortable breeze passing through our home throughout the day. It doesn’t get much better than this.

    I mention pretty much every year that autumn is my favorite season of the year. I used to think that November was my favorite month, but I’ve had a change of heart about this. While Thanksgiving Day is still my absolute favorite holiday of the year, I’ve gained a tremendous appreciation for the month of October. Days like today help me to realize what a blessing it is when October rolls around.

  • “You can’t do that!”

    “Decision making is easy 
    when your values are clear.” 
    Roy Disney

    It’s been 25 years since I made an unpopular decision I’ll never regret.

    In late spring 1998, I was asked by Ron Modeste, the principal at Saint Lawrence Academy, to step into the role of Athletic Director. The previous AD, who was also our head football coach, had decided to move his family back to Portland, Oregon. Ron had already lined-up an off-campus coach for the 1998 football team. While I had no interest whatsoever in doing the Athletic Director job, I knew Ron needed me to step up, so I agreed.

    In my transition meeting with the departing AD, I was informed that the 1998 varsity football schedule was complete. There would be a total of ten games, the first five of which were preseason games. Saint Lawrence was fairly new to high school football. As a small school, there were few schools with which we could compete, so our kids ended up traveling to places like Biggs and Point Arena for games. When I looked at the 1998 schedule, I noticed that our last preseason game would be in Pacific Grove. I was just a bit surprised, as Pacific Grove had been a CCS runner-up the previous season. When I asked the departing AD about this match-up, I was told that both schools were in need of an opponent for Week 5 of the season. The two ADs had agreed to schedule the game just to complete their schedules.

    In the first four weeks of the season, Saint Lawrence was winless, losing by more than 40 points per game. In the Week 4 game, our starting quarterback was injured and ruled out for the remainder of the season. 

    Meanwhile, Pacific Grove was undefeated in their first four games, outscoring their opponents by more than 40 points per game. They boasted that they had fourteen returning seniors on their team, making them even more competitive than in the previous season. So on Monday of Week 5, I made the call.

    I informed the Pacific Grove Athletic Director that Saint Lawrence would not be traveling to their stadium that Friday night for the game. I explained that the contest should never have been scheduled in the first place. Pacific Grove had more than twice the number of players on their varsity team. They also had junior varsity and freshman teams. Saint Lawrence had about 20 players, freshmen through seniors, on their one and only football team. Not surprisingly, the Pacific Grove Athletic Director was furious.

    “You can’t do that!” he screamed into the phone. He went on to tell me how a significant percentage of his athletic department budget was funded by ticket and concession stand sales at their home football games. I assured him that I understood his concern, but that my concern, my only concern, was for the well-being of our student-athletes. The game would not be played.

    The next day, I received a phone call from a sports writer from a local Pacific Grove newspaper. He wanted to discuss my decision to cancel the game. I was fairly certain that his article would reflect poorly on Saint Lawrence Academy and on me as the Athletic Director, but I was pleasantly surprised. The writer sent me a copy of his article when it was published. Rather than criticizing me for jeopardizing the Pacific Grove athletic budget, he was quite supportive of my decision, pointing out how refreshing it was to see the well-being of student-athletes prioritized over everything else. He also agreed that scheduling a game between the two schools, simply for the convenience of completing the season schedules for both teams, was an irresponsible decision on the part of both ADs.

    Author Thomas Sowell made an interesting point when he wrote, “It is hard to imagine a more stupid or dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions into the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong.” 

    In the end, despite the short notice, Pacific Grove was able to find a Week 5 opponent. They hosted Riordan High School from San Francisco, a WCAL team. In a well-contested battle, Pacific Grove lost the game, but I’m confident that, in the end, that loss was a far more valuable experience for the Breakers than another lopsided preseason victory over a weak opponent. I’m also confident that ticket and concession stand sales were far more lucrative than what would have been earned had Saint Lawrence played in the game.

    “In any moment of decision,  
    the best thing you can do  
    is the right thing,  
    the next best thing  
    is the wrong thing, and  
    the worst thing you can do  
    is nothing.”
    Theodore Roosevelt

  • No Matter What

    “Faith consists in believing  
    when it is beyond
    the power of reason  
    to believe.”
    Voltaire

    I was reading a book recently when I came across a word with which I was unfamiliar: pertinacity. Of course, I referred to a dictionary for the meaning of the word: a quality of sticking with something, no matter what. Pertinacity is a form of persistent determination which empowers individuals to stick with things doggedly, even when the situation is challenging. I immediately recognized five areas of my life in which pertinacity plays, or has played, a key role.

    Marriage, and raising children, requires pertinacity. The concept of two unique individuals, each with their own history and agenda, becoming one couple, committed to loving each other and working collaboratively for the remainder of their lives, is a monumental challenge. Likewise, raising children who, at some point, will inevitably embrace the developmental task of seeking autonomy and move on with their own lives, requires persistent determination and a willingness to let go at the appropriate time. This is no easy task.

    Getting and/or staying physically fit is another endeavor which requires pertinacity. In my younger years, maintaining a healthy body took little effort on my part. Despite the fact that my nutrition habits were abysmal, I was able to maintain a healthy weight due to my level of activity. I played basketball, tennis, and golf quite regularly. I rode my 10-speed bike for both convenience and pleasure. The late-night runs to Round Table Pizza didn’t seem to have an adverse effect on my body. As I got older, however, and my level of physical activity waned, my poor eating habits caught up with me. Only recently have I made getting back into shape a top priority for myself. To maintain this level of physical fitness will require a healthy dose of pertinacity.

    It’s unfortunate, but many people find themselves employed in work places which are less than ideal. I know I did. While the option to walk away from the job might be available, there are times when the job itself is more of a calling than just a job. It’s possible for an employee to believe that he is in the right place even when the situation around him is toxic. To remain in this type of situation, and to stay motivated to continue to give one’s best to their work, requires the gift of pertinacity.

    Much has changed in the world during my lifetime. Many of the changes have been positive and life-changing in a good way. Other changes, however, can be difficult to accept. Having grown up in San Francisco in the 1960’s, it is heartbreaking to see how The City has deteriorated in so many ways. The significant increase in homelessness and crime, and the erosion of basic practices of civility are heartbreaking. Staying positive and maintaining a sense of gratitude can be daunting tasks. Despite the cultural demise of my hometown, a level of pertinacity can assist us in maintaining perspective.

    Finally, it seems that we are all confronted with events in our lives which cause us to ask why a particular thing happened or why things are the way they are. For some, this might cause a bit of a crisis of faith. So often, people ask, “How can God allow this to happen?” In the midst of tragedy, it can be challenging to maintain our faith in a loving and compassionate God. This is where pertinacity comes in: a quality of sticking with something, no matter what. Yes, there are times when we are blindsided by hardships in life. Although it’s not easy, it is essential that we persist in our conviction that God loves us more than we will ever comprehend. 

    Pertinacity. It’s a great word.

  • 55 Years and Counting

    “It’s not what we have in life,  
    but who we have in our life  
    that matters.”
    ~ Unknown

    I first saw Michael on the San Francisco Muni bus on my way to school during my freshman year in high school. He climbed aboard each morning with his school books and his clarinet case. He was a sophomore. It wasn’t until a year later that, through a number of mutual friends, I had the pleasure of getting to know him. I had no idea, at that time, that our friendship would be going strong fifty-five years later!

    Michael Cetinich (S.I., Class of 1971) is, first and foremost, a gentleman. He is one of those guys who can be trusted implicitly. During his years as a student at St. Ignatius College Prep, he got involved in school activities and made the most of his high school experience. In addition to his membership in the California Scholarship Federation, Michael was an active member of the school band, the Sanctuary Society, the Sodality, the Service Club, and Student Government. He was best known, perhaps, for his successful involvement in the S.I. Drama Department. He had lead roles in the stage productions of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Luther, and Celebration.

    After his high school graduation, Michael attended the University of San Francisco, where he majored in marketing and communications. This experience opened doors to a successful career in business. Having gained valuable experience at companies such as McCann-Erickson, Clorox Corporation, and International Diamond Corporation, Michael accepted an administrative position with the San Francisco Unified School District, where he served for twenty years. His effective organizational and communication skills served him well in each of these positions.

    While Michael was keeping busy in the world of business, I had moved to the Santa Clara Valley to attend college and begin my own career in education. Despite the fifty-mile distance, we have been able to connect fairly regularly over the past fifty years. Today was one of those days. We thoroughly enjoyed lunch together at the Cypress Grill at Harding Park Golf Course. Both of us had played a number of rounds of golf at Harding Park through the years, so it was nice to visit the recently-renovated facility. We spent six hours sharing memories of the people we know in common and the myriad experiences which have enriched our lives during the past five decades.

    William Shakespeare’s definition of a friend accurately describes my relationship with Michael:


    “A friend is one who knows you as you are,
    understands where you have been,
    accepts what you have become,
    and still gently allows you to grow.”

    For this friendship, I will always be grateful.

  • We Can Do Better

    “American food is not 
    what I’m used to — 
    everything is like 
    three portions.”
    Estelle, British Rapper

    I noticed it, but I ignored it. I could see it at the mall, the beach, and in restaurants. I could see it at Giants’ games, on school campuses, and at Starbucks. Worst of all, I could see it in the mirror every day. I could see it, but I didn’t want to notice it. The truth of the situation was embarrassing. America has an obesity epidemic, and I was participating in it. No more.

    Since April 1, 2023, I have lost 63 pounds. This might surprise some who know me, because it seems that people didn’t think I was significantly overweight. I guess at 6’3”, I carried it well. The point is, I carried it — all day, every day, everywhere I went. Still I turned a blind eye to the situation. 

    Can you imagine filling a backpack with a dozen 5-pound bags of sugar and wearing that backpack all day every day? 

    I could offer a variety of excuses for how that happened to me, but the truth is that the problem was caused by one factor: a lack of self-discipline. By the grace of God, I got a wake-up call at the end of March, one which did not involved a heart attack or a diagnosis of diabetes. And fortunately, I found myself motivated to do something about the situation.

    My experiences of visiting Japan fourteen times since 1998 helped me to realize that portion sizes in America are alarming. I’ve said many times that the amount of food served to me in an American restaurant would be sufficient to feed a family of four in Japan. Despite this realization, I did nothing to address the issue.

    Recently, I’ve come across a few statements worth sharing. Fitness guru Richard Simmons warned people to “watch your portions. Splitting your meals up into smaller, more frequent portions will enable food absorption and utilization of nutrients.” An excellent recommendation.

    For some fortunate individuals, portion size isn’t a problem. American actress Alice Greczyn admitted, “Honestly, I’m blessed with good genes and a good sense of discipline. I eat whatever I want, but I eat very controlled portions and stop when I’m full.” Many of us aren’t so lucky. And many of us were taught to eat everything on our plate, because there were starving children in China. This approach to parenting was misguided, to be sure.

    Recently, I’ve learned a lesson shared by Indian television actress Rashami Desai, who said, “I followed a controlled diet where I took care of my portions and ate at regular intervals; every 2-3 hours.” I’ve been implementing this strategy for the past five months. It’s quite effective.

    When it comes right down to it, even the size of the plates themselves can lead to overconsumption of food. American dinner plates are larger than many Japanese platters. This can be especially challenging at a buffet-style meal. American journalist Rachel Nichols shared a recommendation from which we can all benefit. She said, “I never pile a plate to the point where it overflows. I’d rather have a small plate with small portions and then get up for more if I’m still hungry.” 

    So what, exactly, is an appropriate portion? I’m sure there are many responses to this question, but one response in particular stands out for me because it is such a practical way of measuring the amount of food we should eat. The quantity of food for one meal needs to fit into the two hands of the person eating it. I have large hands, so I like this suggestion. Then, again, I’m a fairly tall person. A smaller person, with smaller hands, would most likely need less food to adequately nourish them.

    It really does come down to self-discipline. Dr. Umar Faruq, an American Islamic theologian, wrote, “Hunger is the first element of self-discipline. If you can control what you eat and drink, you can control everything else.” He went on to say that “self-respect is the root of discipline: the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.”

    Author Karen Salmansohn tells us that healthy eating does not mean starving yourself. Rather, “healthy eating means eating the right food in the right amount… Eating healthy food fills your body with energy and nutrients. Imagine your cells smiling back at you and saying: ‘Thank you!’”

    I’ll end with a challenge by American restauranteur David Chang who points out, “America is a country of abundance, but our food culture is sad — based on huge portions and fast food. Let’s stop with the excuses and start creating something better.”