Last week, when leaving the SF Fine Arts Museum at the Legion of Honor, I passed yet again beneath this statue of Rodin’s “Thinker”. We all know this guy, forever thinking. He’s iconic, right? Only this time, I had this thought: What if Rodin had Google? Would this statue even exist? Would he have had… Continue reading Just Google It Already!
Category: Lessons in Life
Gratitude – Basic Hygiene For the Heart
Are current events getting to you? Getting you down? They are me. Just a few recent items: The “killers in high places” (as Leonard Cohen calls them) are still murdering their citizens; priests and football coaches are abusing their kids; the black rhino is now extinct; our “leaders” are arguing like children while our… Continue reading Gratitude – Basic Hygiene For the Heart
Making Friends With Change
Hello dear Reader. It’s good to be back with you. I know it’s been a while, but I don’t like to pester you with a bunch of words based on some artificial schedule as in: “Oh, it’s been 2 weeks, gotta write something.” My words to you, for better or worse, come from my heart… Continue reading Making Friends With Change
Never Too Late
In the spring of 2002, I attended my daughter Julia’s graduation from Smith College in Northampton Mass. Obviously, the best and biggest part of that memorable weekend was about our wonderful Julia – our happiness for and pride in her. Like most of her classmates, Julia was just shy of 22. But there… Continue reading Never Too Late
Totally Nuts? Really? Who Exactly?
“My mind is like a bad neighborhood. I try not to go in there alone.” I love this quote from Bay Area author Annie Lamott. At first blush, it’s really funny, but for many of us, despite the fact that we really do need to observe our thoughts and actions carefully, so as to take… Continue reading Totally Nuts? Really? Who Exactly?
Understanding the Rocks
Crossing the street in Saigon and Hanoi (and doubtless many, many other Asian cities) is an act of faith and trust. Intersections with traffic lights are scarce, and so at some point you have to take a deep breath, and insert yourself into the flow of scooters, cars and buses coming at you from all… Continue reading Understanding the Rocks
What you DO is NOT who you are
I love this little story. I think you will too: Keichu, (1640-1701) the great Zen teacher of the Meiji era was the head of Tofuku, an important temple in Kyoto. One day, Kitigaki, the governor of Kyoto decided to visit him, and announced himself by presenting his business card to Keichu’s attendant: KITIGAKI GOVERNOR OF… Continue reading What you DO is NOT who you are
We Are Running…
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished” – Lao Tzu We are running running and time is clocking us from the edge like an only daughter. our mothers stream before us, cradling their breasts in their hands. oh pray that what we want is worth this running, pray that what we’re running toward is… Continue reading We Are Running…
Right Action?
“Do you have the patience to wait Until your mud settles and the water is clear?” Back in the day, in my first corporate incarnation, I was fresh out of school, and working at our family owned company. One day I was walking by my uncle’s desk – the very uncle I’ve already posted about… Continue reading Right Action?
Moving To “And” Land
“The Master resides in the center of the circle, while yes OR no pursue each other around the circumference” – Lao Tzu We are, every one of us potentially, (including the two gentlemen from Missouri, seen here disagreeing on Prop C.) – the “master” whom Lao Tzu evokes. I reckon that since that sage offered… Continue reading Moving To “And” Land