I’ve Been Thinking … We Shouldn’t Fear Being Alone

We all feel lonely at times. I have a family mem­ber who calls herself a hermit—she doesn’t really feel the need for much in the way of companionship. But I sense that there are moments when she feels lonely. I know a guy who jokes about not wanting or needing friends. Yet I don’t kno...

Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly Devote Their Lives to Fighting Gun Violence

In 2011, former congresswoman Gabby Giffords was shot in the head while meeting with constituents in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona. Though critically injured, she ultimately returned to service with husband, Navy combat veteran and retired NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly. Following the...

I’ve Been Thinking … The Heart of Forgiveness

“Hatred never ends by hatred, but by love alone is healed. This is the ancient and eternal law.” No matter how extreme the circumstances, a transformation of the heart is possible. Once on the train from Washington to Philadelphia, I found myself seated next to an African American ...

Maria’s Sunday Paper: Finding Your Way in Times of Transition or Uncertainty

As I’ve traveled the country these past few weeks for my new book “I’ve Been Thinking…”, I’ve had the opportunity to meet thousands of people. In my conversations, I’ve been struck by the number of people of all ages who have told me that they feel as though they are in “t...

Pioneering Palliative Care Doctor Offers Patients Realistic and Dignified End of Life Care

Dr. BJ Miller, a hospice and palliative medicine physician at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, was inspired by his own near-death experience becoming a triple-amputee, to change the way we die. BJ has made it his mission to create a respectful and graceful end of life ...

I’ve Been Thinking … Teach Us to Pray

In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 11, Jesus prays alone, off by himself. When he is finished, the disciples ask him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (v. 1); and he replies, “When you pray, say: ‘Father . . .’ ” (v. 2). This word is the “secret” of the prayer of Jesus; it is the key tha...

I’ve Been Thinking…When the World Feels Awful

“So there you have it: two things & I can’t bring them together & they are wrenching me apart. These two feelings, this knowledge of a world so awful, this sense of a life so extraordinary—how am I to resolve them?” ―Richard Flanagan There is something to be said for li...

I’ve Been Thinking … Seeing The Goodness

“It never hurts to see the good in someone. They often act the better because of it.”- Nelson Mandela  When we bring respect and honor to those around us, we open a channel to their own goodness. I have seen this truth in working with students, refugees, prisoners and gang members. W...

Maria’s Sunday Paper: I’ve Been Thinking About Gratitude

There I was, sitting in a small back room at Molloy College, waiting to go on stage to talk about my new book, “I’ve Been Thinking…” This was Wednesday, two days into my book tour. I had just driven two hours from Manhattan to Long Island and I was tired. I was sitting alone. I ...

Susan Bay Nimoy Disrupts Ageism With Grief, Passion and Renewal in Her Film, ‘Eve’

At 75, Susan Bay Nimoy is no slacker. As a former single working mother, a grandmother and philanthropist, she could have coasted. Instead, she made Eve, an exquisite short film about a raw, beautiful, sexy, woman-of-age, a poster image for an older, appealing and complex female character. ...