I am part of a men’s small group that has gathered in person and online regularly since 1995. They are a significant part of my well-being. We have been through a lot together, including the passing of two members. Recently, one of our members suggested we share our statement of faith. I prefer to call […]
“Books are not made to be believed, but to be subjected to inquiry. When we consider a book, we mustn’t ask ourselves what it says but what it means, a precept that the commentators of the holy books had very clearly in mind. Perhaps the mission of those who love mankind is to make people […]
Recently, I was confronted by an “evangelical” in downtown Asheville, NC. She asked if I was going to heaven. I said, “Yes! I am on my way to see my massage therapist!” She replied, “That’s not heaven. Sounds like you are going to hell!” I replied, “I’m living that part of the Lord’s Prayer of […]
Oxford Dictionary chose “rage bait” as its word of 2025. Dictionary.com chose “67” as its 2025 word of the year. “Vibe coding” was Collins Dictionary’s 2025 word of the year. Merriam-Webster named “slop” as its word of the year. Back in January 2025, “turbidity” got my attention as my word of the year —the cloudiness, […]
One of the conversations I got into recently with a coaching client was about creating better first impressions and being memorable. We were reviewing people who made solid first impressions on us, and one of the points we discussed was business cards. First impressions are lasting impressions! Business cards contribute to a memorable impression. As […]
One year after Helene in Western North Carolina (WNC), homes are still in disrepair, roads are still on the “need to repair” list (including I-40), and friends and neighbors continue to seek to recreate “normal” in their lives. The devastation covered a land mass greater than the state of Connecticut. Visitors to our home still […]
I attended my first Wild Goose Festival (also known as The Goose) in 2014, in Hot Springs, NC. The Goose delivers on six commitments: Co-Creation, Storytelling, Radical Hospitality, Real Relationships, Non-Violence, and Always Evolving. Goose participants include social justice advocates, misfits, mystics, prophets, sages, storytellers, and seekers—this is where you experience the disconnect of spirituality […]
In a recent coaching session, we discussed stress and strategies for managing it. The client mentioned she was practicing meditation, yoga, and deep breathing. I acknowledged that all those practices are beneficial. I also pointed out that these activities are focused on herself and turning inward. I asked her what she was doing to help […]
Years ago, I facilitated a simple trust-building initiative for a large group, which opened a conversation on trust. Participants mingled, stopped, looked into another person’s eyes, and said either “I trust you” or “I don’t trust you.” There was no explanation of why they said what they said. They just moved on after their statement […]
While it is true the United States has experienced a recent surge in productivity, driven by a combination of factors that have contributed to the rise in output per worker, I believe we have an epidemic of laziness. I see and experience the epidemic of laziness in critical thinking. “Critical thinking is the process of […]
