With very personal and poignant experience, I (Jeff) have learned that it is far better to approach adversity with strength rather than weakness. When my brother died in 1993, I gained weight, my academic performance dropped, and I looked depressed — because I was. When I got divorced in 2010, I was so distraught I […]
In November of 1621, 401 years ago, the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony gathered with the Wampanoag tribe for an autumn harvest festival. It is now recognized as the first Thanksgiving feast in America. These Pilgrims came to America in search of a new start due to the collapse of the Dutch textile industry and the […]
One of the ways that we can know when we have forgiven someone is when we sincerely wish them well in our hearts. When good things happen to them, our hearts are happy for their success. Even if it might be something we want for ourselves, we hold that space and possibility open for our […]
In July 2015, the Arbinger Institute published, "The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict. The fundamental premise of the book is that our hearts are either at war with each other or at peace, and that peace in our hearts creates peace in the home, the community, and the world. A heart at […]
Remember to be grateful. It will make you happy. The end. Just kidding! We have a bit more to say about the magical subject of gratitude and giving thanks. After several years of financial poverty in Jeff's mid-single years, he finally start to turn things around. While living in Texas that summer, he needed a […]
When we think about Halloween, we associate it with cultural rituals like costume parties, trick or treating, and school carnivals. In fact, these rituals have their origin in an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced “Sow-wen”), which literally means November. It was considered the day when the world moves from the light part of the […]
We have experienced a fair amount of both death and divorce in our lives. "The Death of Marriage" (this week's podcast) can be every bit as painful and devastating as losing a loved one to death. Yet divorces don't have funerals. Why is that? Such rituals can be very helpful to those mourning a deep […]
As some of you know, I (Jeff) recently lost my 24 year-old son Henry in a climbing accident. A few weeks earlier, I commented to my wife (Cathy) that it felt like life was just about perfect. Then some severe work stress intervened, followed by receiving heartbreaking news that is every parents' worst nightmare. In […]
One of the hardest things about being a single faithful Latter-day Saint is the expectation of celibacy. This indefinite break from sexual activity for those who have been married previously can be a rough transition. Sometimes we might wonder if this is even smart. If I want a good intimate partnership, how do I find […]