“Worst Day Ever?” is a poem attributed to 11th grader Chanie Gorkin of Brooklyn, New York. It has been making the rounds on the internet and I thought was worth sharing, if you haven’t read it. The poem captures a worldview that is far too common, but be ready for an interesting twist at the […]
Years ago, at the great Bolshoi Ballet, auditions for the troupe were conducted among 8-year-old girls. That’s because it took ten years to become great. How did the auditions work? The teachers weren’t looking for the best dancers. They were looking for the dancers who took coaching the best. The rest would come with time. […]
There’s a story of an old man who carried a little can of oil with him everywhere he went. When he passed through a door that squeaked, he poured a little oil on the hinges. If a gate was hard to open, he oiled the latch. As he passed through life, he lubricated all the […]
Thank you is a phrase that has the power to transform our health, happiness, and inner state of mind and heart. Research shows that grateful people are happier and more likely to maintain good friendships. A state of gratitude, according to research by the Institute of HeartMath, improves the heart’s rhythmic functioning, which helps us […]
This is the talk I gave at the fall TEDxAbbotsford event. In it I tell my story of how I found opportunity in the midst of adversity. My desire is that this video will inspire you to see adversity as something with the potential to bring transformation in your life and in those you touch. […]
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of […]
Your capacity for occasional blunders is inseparable from your capacity to reach your goals. No one wins them all, and your failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Shake off your blunders. How will you know your limits without an occasional failure? Never quit. Your turn will come.” — Og Mandino I […]
At the beginning of 2014, Ricky Mena was completely broke, slept on his friend’s couch, and was unsure of what to do with his life. He wanted to work as a personal trainer but was unable to land a job. One night, however, everything changed. Ricky had a dream. In this dream, his late grandmother […]
You and I are called to serve. Serving looks and feels different for all of us but is essential if you want to live with purpose and make a difference with your life. Serving also helps us to get the focus off of ourselves and onto others — which is so important when getting back […]
Loons mate for life and usually make their home on northern lakes.* What is also true — a small lake will support only one family of loons. If a loon family sense another couple has moved in, they will probably leave and look for months for a new lake to call home. If you’ve ever […]