Maria’s Sunday Paper: I’ve Been Thinking…

The other day, I told my friend Elizabeth what I was thinking. She responded in the best way possible. “You are,” she said, “right on time.” Her words landed and made me feel grateful and joyful. Here I am exactly, where I’m supposed to be. This week, my new book “I’ve...

I’ve Been Thinking … Redefining ‘Awesome’

Before the glossed, material girls of the San Fernando Valley became, like, so sure about what was grody and what was totally tubular, the word awesome was more likely to be heard describing waterfalls, arias and peacock feathers than leg warmers, Olivia Newton-John and perms. I’m here ...

I’ve Been Thinking … All Shall Be Well

I have a variety of coping mechanisms to deal with my anxiety about our country and the world. Some are more thoughtful than others! Recently I have been re-reading Revelations of Divine Love, a book by the 14th century mystic, Dame Julian of Norwich, who is said to be the first woman to...

UCLA Volunteers Provide Safe Shelter For Fellow Students Who Are Homeless

Back in 2015, UCLA students Louis Tse and Luke Shaw began noticing fellow students staying in unusual places–conference rooms, lecture halls, cars in the parking lots–after school. The fact that their homeless peers were trying to reach their academic dreams amidst economic depression an...

I’ve Been Thinking … About Integrity

My life goal right now is to be just one thing. I don’t mean a Nobel Prize winner or a tycoon, I mean literally just one thing, a single being, consistent in all times and places. Because that’s the literal definition of the word “integrity.” After decades of study and observation...

I’ve Been Thinking … About the Power of Words

Words spoken in our minds have the power to control how we behave and interact with others. Words determine if we embrace others with love and compassion. They determine if we ignore and avoid others and push them away out of fear. Words have the power to build up or tear down a person’s c...

Accept Yourself Unconditionally (Even When You’re Struggling)

“Self-acceptance is my refusal to be in an adversarial relationship with myself.” ~Nathaniel Branden Have you ever thought that you accepted yourself fully, only to realize there were conditions placed upon that acceptance? There was a point in my life when I realized I had stopped...

How to Eliminate the ‘Shoulds’ From Your Life

'Beware the barenness of a busy life' - Socrate And now we come to the final word that I want to draw your attention to – and then kick to the curb. Should. Should is a word that implies obligation and expectation and often comes as a box-set that’s gift wrapped in guilt and even sha...

Maria’s Sunday Paper: What I’m Giving Up For Lent This Year

On the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, my pastor asked all of us at church to start thinking about Lent. What might we do this Lenten season, and what might we give up, he asked? His sermon really got me thinking. In the past, I’ve used Lent as an opportunity to give up things that I loved...

Maria’s Sunday Paper: What Makes You Feel Loved?

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been mesmerized by love stories. Love stories in books. (Hello, “Wuthering Heights.”) Love stories on the big screen. (“The Sound of Music,” “Notting Hill,” “Love Actually”… I won’t tell you how many times I’ve watched these film...