Unexpected occurrences happen in all of our lives. How we deal with them reflects not only our deepest ingrained values, but also our current state of mind…our mindfulness. By way of example, at a recent retreat along the Northern California coast, one of my colleagues had the unfortunate experience of being “skunked.” It seems his dog, Marley, rooted out a skunk that was none too happy to be disturbed. Already in a compromised mood because of Marley’s intrusion, the skunk became rather assertive in his quest to share his bad mood and proceeded to not only spray poor Marley but also my colleague. Read more »

September…October…A little too soon to think about Christmas? I know it is a lot to stomach. Back to school displays have barely come down, Christmas goes up and we usurp Halloween and Thanksgiving. I have overheard similar complaints more than a few times while standing in line at the popular big box retailers. Even Facebook book friends have noticed the premature red and green push. Read more »

Sometimes when I listen to my mind chatter, I am reminded of Chicken Little. One little acorn fell on his head and off he went to tell the king that the sky was falling. In most versions, his story does not end well. We’re often driven by our worries and fears, and then we too are taken off our best path. Read more »