STORIES FROM ARCHITECTS OF CHANGE
STORIES FROM
ARCHITECTS OF CHANGE
How to Nail Life’s Daily Transitions With Ease
Have you ever noticed that the most stressful times of your day seem to occur around transitioning from one thing to the next? For example, it might be leaving the calm of the car and walking into a bustling workplace where you are slammed with the day’s demands. Or,...
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The Pleasure of Fireflies
For me, growing up on the East Coast meant the pleasure of seeing fireflies in the summer. But my daughter, who was born in California, had never seen one. In our travels we discovered there were fireflies in the tropical nights of Bali. After she went to bed one...
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Mango and Prawn Salad
Tall and tan and young and lovely makes me think of this salad or how I imagine myself eating it on a lounge chair basking on a beach in Thailand (although I am neither tall, tan, or young!). A girl can dream, can’t she? Whether you’re sitting in a snow storm in...
Actress, Save the Children Trustee Jennifer Garner on Her Life-Changing Experience Helping Families on the U.S.-Mexico Border
A few days ago, I traveled with Save the Children—I have been an artist ambassador for more than a decade and now serve on the board of trustees—to the tiny, rural, poor town of Deming, New Mexico. Just 30 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, Deming is ground zero...
How to Regain Our Sense of Faith in a Secular World
In his latest book, "Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do About it," David Zahl coins the word "seculosity" which he says describes what he's witnessing in all aspects of daily life: "the way...
Author Stoney Stamper Reveals Why Dressing Girls For School is Hard
Summertime means very different things to parents than it does to children, doesn’t it? For the children, it just means No School. But for the parents, it means the kids are going to be home all the time. And for us, that’s especially true, because we don’t have any...
Lessons From My Father
I marveled at the way he accepted the diagnosis eleven Thanksgivings ago. “Leonard,” my mother said matter-of-factly, “the doctor says you have Alzheimer’s.” “Really?” “Yes, really.” “Dad, do you have any questions?” I asked. “Nope. I know you kids love me and will...
Hong Kong Steak
My twins and I love to treat Dad with this easy and delicious Hong Kong Steak recipe on Fathers Day. My mother used to make it for my father when they lived in Hong Kong, hence the name. Savory, succulent and melt-in-your-mouth tender, this dish is fit for a king and...
Why Today’s Young Men Are Going Through a Crisis of Identity
In his latest book, "The Boy Crisis: Why Our Boys Are Struggling and What We Can Do About It," Warren Farrell, Ph.D., educator, activist, and author of seven books on men's and women's issues, offers a comprehensive blueprint for what parents, teachers, and...
Sr. Joan Chittister Reveals How to Be a Good Friend Without Losing Your Sense of Self
Friendship is a holy thing, but it is not an easy thing. Love and friendship take us out of ourselves, yes. And that is certainly a good thing. But if there is nothing in us that is ourselves alone, there is nothing in us to give away. Spiritual direction, “holy...
How to Raise a Socially Intelligent Son
Even with the best of intentions, when parents become preoccupied with teaching boys lessons about being men, it can reduce their sons to projects and overlook their unique personalities for the sake of fitting them—often forcefully—into traditional boxes. Most boys...
Author John O’Donohue Explains Why Life Has Many Thresholds
Within the grip of winter, it is almost impossible to imagine the spring, the gray perished landscape is shorn of color. Only bleakness meets the eye; everything seems severe and edged. Winter is the oldest season; it has some quality of the absolute. Yet beneath the...
How To Transition Into Midlife With Confidence
Life is a series of transitions. Like it or not, the world is constantly challenging us to face and embrace change at every turn. Leaving home, attending school, getting married, and building a family or career – these are just some of the stages of life that invite...
Author Louise Aronson Offers Insight On How to Redifine Your Outlook on Aging
In her comprehensive new book, "Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life," noted Harvard-trained geriatrician Louise Aronson uses stories from her quarter century of caring for patients, and draws from history, science, literature, popular...
Lime Glazed Salmon
Lime Glazed SalmonGrill up nutrient packed salmon for your brain health. This recipe from Dr. Marwan Sabbagh, MD, Director of Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health helps you achieve your goal of getting the fats you and your brain need: omega 3-fatty...
Don’t Give Up On Old-Fashioned Love
The past few days have been filled with heavy emotions that include the highest level of joy, gratitude, and appreciation for the freedom fighters of our country’s past and supporters of our present. Last weekend, I married the love of my life, Nick Caprio after...
How to Track Your Life’s Purpose
Why should you care about rhinoceros tracking? I thought you’d never ask. At the moment I’m at a South African game park called Londolozi, running a change-your-life retreat for a few hardy souls who’ve joined me from all over the world. They’re here to find or...
Learn How to Take Ownership of Your Life’s Direction
Go Ahead…Burn the Boats! We know that it’s all too easy to let the challenges and vicissitudes of daily life carry us along willy-nilly with no clear path. If we don’t make the commitment to get in the driver’s seat and take ownership for our life’s direction on a...
Cucumber Pomegranate Salad
Serves 8 This Cucumber Pomegranate Salad is a delicious and refreshing salad for the summer as well as a wonderful accompaniment to a hamburger or veggie burger at any picnic. I love this salad for the following reasons: easy to prep ahead, visually beautiful – a show...
Ramadan Awakens Your Heart to Compassion, Love and Kindness
We are nearing the end of Ramadan, the religious month of fasting in the Islamic tradition. The haunting sound of prayer from the Mosque fills the busy streets. People are rushing to get home for evening prayer and Iftar (eating at sunset), after a long day of...
Lee Woodruff’s Personal Memorial Day Reflection
I could sense the woman behind me, waiting respectfully for my conversation to end. “I hear your foundation helps couples with fertility issues,” she said softly, her eyes flicking around as she searched for her husband. He was rolling up in his wheel chair, the pant...
How Actor Gary Sinise Found His Calling To Honor Our Nation’s Defenders
Perhaps best known for his performance as Lt. Dan Taylor in the landmark film Forest Gump, actor Gary Sinise has made it his life's mission to support the men and women who serve and defend our country. To further his efforts, Sinise founded the Gary Sinise Foundation...
Author David Brooks Is On a Quest For a Larger Purpose
The following is an excerpt from "The Second Mountain: The Quest For a Moral LIfe" by David Brooks One of the most sophisticated methodologies for convening that I have seen is in Baltimore, in an organization called Thread, co-founded by Sarah Hemminger. When...
Eve Ensler’s Latest: “The Apology”
Like millions of women, Eve Ensler has been waiting much of her lifetime for an apology. Sexually and physically abused by her father, Eve has struggled her whole life from this betrayal, longing for an honest reckoning from a man who is long dead. After years of work...
Why Women Must Find Empowerment When It Comes to Their Health
The statistics speak volumes. Women are twice as likely to face depression, insomnia, and Alzheimer’s compared with men. We experience significantly more anxiety and autoimmunity, including four-fold increased rates of multiple sclerosis and at least eight-fold rates...
Empty Nest Is Best Described as ‘It’s Complicated’
The following is re-posted with permission from the parenting blog "Grown & Flown" Last year, in a fit of hubris, I wrote a piece about all the things there were to love about the empty nest. I was not yet an empty nester when I dropped those pearls of wisdom. In my...
How to Honor Mother’s Day Without Your Mother
This week, walking through the card aisle of the local drug store, I stopped and decided to pick out a card for my mom. I bought one that said, “From your daughter,” because not only do I miss having a mother but I miss being a daughter. It’s been 23 years since I’ve...
Cristina Ferrare’s Roasted Shrimp With Cannellini Beans
I am sharing the recipe for the oven roasted "Shrimp with Cannellini Beans" from "Food for Thought" for your Mother's Day Celebration! INGREDIENTS Serves 4 12 large shrimp, peeled and deveined 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon Kosher salt and black...
Mother’s Day Oops!
Oops: My definition: “Uh oh, I didn’t mean to do that and mom’s not going to be pleased.” Oops: Google Definition: Used to show recognition of a mistake or minor accident, often as part of an apology. Nothing captures the essence of Mother’s Day more than the...
Book Excerpt: “How to Raise Successful People: Simple Lessons for Radical Results”
Trust Yourself, Trust Your Child How many of us grew up in an environment full of trust? Not many. I sure didn’t. As I said, my father was in total control of the family, and my mother and I lived in fear of crossing him. A lot of us have a hard time building trust,...
Book Excerpt: The Latte Factor: Why You Don’t Have to Be Rich to Live Rich
In the heartwarming parable "The Latte Factor: Why You Don't Have to Be Rich to Live Rich," author David Bach, along with co-author John David Mann (The Go-Giver), tells the story of Zoey–a twenty-something woman living and working in New York City–who learns “Three...
When Life Wallops You, Turn It Into a Personal Revolution
A friend of mine recently experienced something I call a “life wallop.” You’ve probably had a few wallops in your own life: a relative you funded through rehab calls, high as a kite, asking you for bail money; an elderly parent, lost in dementia, snaps something...
Riding the Wave of Emotions
The following is re-posted from Spirituality & Health Every day we are confronted with emotions that we may or may not want to experience. How we navigate our emotions has much to do with how we were raised and how people in our life do or do not make space for their...
YOU Are the Shining ONE
“Shine on you crazy diamond'” Pink Floyd Do you know that you were perfect long before you were born? And do you know that when taking your first deep breath of life, you were a flawless, beautiful being, lacking nothing? As a matter of fact, we all were. Every single...
Soba Noodle Salad with Probiotic Peanut Miso Sauce
Serves 4 (11 grams of fiber per serving) Soba noodles are a type of Japanese noodle made from buckwheat, which, despite its name, is not a variety of wheat. Noodles made from 100 percent whole grain buckwheat will have the most fiber. The sauce contains miso, which is...
MELANZANE ALLA PARMIGIANA: Eggplant Parmigiana
Chargrilled eggplant works beautifully in this classic dish. It’s actually the only way I make it in L.A. I have a weakness for the chargrilled flavor that you won’t get with frying. The joy of this dish is in the layering. Two layers of eggplant will do, but three or...
Why We Need to Build an Interconnected Community of Women
The feminine mystic is a different creature than the manly prophet. She is not a lone wolf, raising her voice in the wilderness. She is not a strident preacher, warning of doom. She is only as powerful as her community. Alone she is nothing, and she knows it. The very...
Philanthropist Melinda Gates is On a Mission to Lift Up Women in Society
Philanthropist Melinda Gates is on a mission to lift up women in society. Author of the new book "The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World," Melinda says women’s rights and society’s health and wealth rise together, which is why "empowering women is...
Armenian Easter Bread
Yields 3 loaves This Armenian Easter Bread, called "choereg" or sometimes "choreg" is a buttery sweet bread, fragrant with spices called "mahleb" or sometimes "mahlab" along with nigella seeds. I have also seen recipes with just the ground mahleb seeds added. It is a...
Book Excerpt: More Beautiful Than Before
At a conference not long ago, someone asked me about the book I was working on, and I told him it was about the lessons we learn from pain. He asked me what the result of my own pain was, and without hesitation I said: “I am a nicer person.” Not that I was a mean or...
Why We Must Fall in Order to Rise
We all love the rise. Nothing compares to that beautiful climb back up into the light after experiencing feelings of hopelessness, pain, worry, or despair. I could write about the elation of the rise, of feeling back on top, however, there is a secret to peace and...
How Integrating Our Identity Can Bring About Personal Well-Being
There are simple statements we sometimes hear that may echo in our minds for a long time. One of those for me is the basic question, “Who are you?” It sounds simple to answer: “I am me.” Yet underneath the simplicity of these words is a profound complexity inviting us...
How to Start Each Week With Passion, Purpose, and Positivity
It’s no secret that in this day and age, people are hurting. Not a day goes by that I am not reminded that things are off and that we, humanity, are all feeling it deeply. I see it in the headlines: “Millennials and Gen Zer’s are now the Loneliest Generation Ever.”...
Sesame Seed-Crusted Salmon With Green Beans and Orange Miso Sauce
SERVES 4 (9 grams of fiber per serving; 13 grams if served with 1 cup of brown rice) Seeds are a wonderful source of dietary fiber, healthy oils, protein, and various micronutrients. We keep a variety of seeds in our pantry to sprinkle on salads, cooked vegetables,...
Excerpt: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
After experiencing her own personal crisis, Lori Gottlieb–a New York Times best-selling author, psychotherapist, and national advice columnist–ended up on a therapist's couch herself. In her book, "Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our...
Ways to Think About Money Before You Buy Anything
How much does a cup of coffee cost? If you go to your local coffee shop, you might see that a twelve-ounce cup of coffee is priced at $3 including tax, so your answer would probably be $3. Seems simple enough, so why am I asking this question? It’s so easy to spend...
How To Look at the World Anew
Everything in this world is subject to change and renewal. We are a flow of yin and yang, of sense experiences and dreams, an ever-changing river of feelings and thoughts. Consistency is the realm of the press release; inconsistency is the reality of life. Relax. Hold...
It’s Time to Break Out of the Age Cage
Today, I am 65. You have no idea how long I've debated about whether or not to speak those words out loud. Well, maybe you do. Maybe you also have mixed feelings about naming and claiming your age. Don't get me wrong, I'm supremely grateful to be 65. There are many...
Book Excerpt: THE TIME IS NOW: A Call to Uncommon Courage
The question, "What will you do?" is at the core of spiritual maturity, of spiritual commitment. To follow Jesus means that we, too, must each do something to redeem our battered, beaten world from the greed that smothers it. We must put ourselves between the...
Chicken & Rice Burrito Bowl
Spice up tonight's dinner with my Chicken & Rice Burrito Bowl. This is my kid's favorite meal because it combines layers of delicious flavor in one big bowl. It includes cheesy rice, spicy shredded cooked-to-perfection chicken, sour cream, homemade guacamole, Black...
Sometimes You Can Find Happiness Right Behind You
Whenever I hear a flight attendant say, “Remember, your nearest exit may be behind you,” I think, “As above, in air travel, so below in ordinary life.” Most of the time we focus only on what we already believe. Fixated on these ideas, we don’t notice anything that...
Sr. Simone Campbell Implements Catholic Social Justice When Advocating for Change
Sr. Simone Campbell has served as Executive Director of NETWORK since 2004. She is a religious leader, attorney, and poet with extensive experience in public policy and advocacy for systemic change. In Washington, she lobbies on issues of economic justice, immigration...
Thank You, Dear Friend
My fiancé, Nick and I are counting down to getting married, as our wedding date closely approaches. The last few weeks of 2018, and the early part of this year has been incredibly overwhelming, and felt like something out of a movie. The news of our “Same Sex Barbie...
When Challenges Arise, Focus on Your ‘Why’
Everyone who has achieved significant goals in their work, family or personal life has learned at some point how to put setbacks in perspective, get back up after a defeat and re-energize themselves to try again. More often than not, the first step they take in the...
Why Perfectionism Isn’t Nature’s Way
With over 3.8 billion years of experimentation, nature has many lessons to teach us about life, leadership and creating environments in which every organism, including humans, will thrive. And yet as individuals, we often have thought patterns that contradict nature’s...
Cauliflower, Chickpeas & Thyme
This one-pot meal is great for those busy nights. It is super easy and tasty, and it incorporates vegetables that you may already have on hand. It is a delicious gluten-free option for guests. You can serve this very versatile dish all year round. One of my favorites!...
Author Erling Kagge Tells Us How to Find ‘Silence in the Age of Noise’
Whenever I am unable to walk, climb or sail away from the world, I have learned to shut it out. Learning this took time. Only when I understood that I had a primal need for silence was I able to begin my search for it—and there, deep beneath a cacophony of traffic...
Excerpt: Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter & Organize to Make Room For Happiness
In my study of happiness, I’ve realized that for most of us, outer order contributes to inner calm. More than it should. In the context of a happy life, a messy desk or a crowded coat closet is a trivial problem—yet getting control of the stuff of life often makes it...
Olive Oil Pizza with Lox and Arugula
Going out for pizza in Rome is as integral to the culture as whipping up a plate of pasta is at home. It’s a social occasion shared with boisterous friends (i.e. most Italians). La pizza is ideal when you don’t want to spend a lot time (or money) on dinner because you...
Transformed by Brain Injury: How I Became a New Wife to a New Husband
On the morning before my 29-year-old husband went missing, he laced up his sneakers and went for a long run around the Tidal Basin, a few miles from our home in Washington, D.C. When he returned, I watched as he stood glistening with sweat and catching his breath in...
How the Success of Actress Yalitza Aparicio Illustrates We Are All Capable of Winning
Yalitza Aparicio is everywhere. She was the second Latina and the only Mixtec woman in history to ever be nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards. Yalitza was nominated for her role as Cleo in the poetic and beautiful film ROMA, Alfonso Cuaron’s masterpiece...
Excerpt: Call It Grace: Finding Meaning in a Fractured World
Our mother fancied herself the mystic in the family. As one friend said, she was a spiritual director before it was cool. Her bedroom and office were filled with prayer beads and poems by Emily Dickinson. She knitted prayer shawls for us girls, hoping we’d wear them...
Teaching Young People the Value of Community Leads to a Generation of Civically-Minded Leaders
I was raised in an artistic household in Vancouver. My mother was an actor/artist and my father was, and still is, a theatre director. They taught me from a young age that I was a global citizen. Giving back was a part of our everyday life, and when I started acting,...
Excerpt: The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. —Genesis 1:1–3 ...
Honoring the Women Who Came Before Me
My mother and her best friend, Theresa, left yesterday after having enjoyed a “Queen for a Day” mini vacation here at our home. I turned the library into a spa and arranged for a therapist to give Theresa her first massage ever, and Mom her first one in a long, long...
Almond Butter Baked Apple
Like most doctors, I am a big fan of eating apples. The old saying that an apple a day keeps the doctor away is actually true. Apples are a potent source of flavonols, important for fighting free radicals and calming inflammation in the brain. Flavonols also keep the...
Shrimp, Tomato, and Chickpea Stew
This is my back pocket recipe for when I want a satisfying, hearty meal that’s ready to eat in half an hour. The combination of chickpeas and shrimp in a garlicky tomato broth is especially good over my creamy Pumpkin Polenta. Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) are one food...
Excerpt: A Letter to the Pope: The Keeper of the Nest
According to the World Health Organization, sexual abuse is a serious global health problem that impacts children around the world. Although the Catholic Church is currently under intense scrutiny for how it has handled reports of clergy sexual abuse in the past, this...
Excerpt: Women Rowing North: Navigating Life’s Currents and Flourishing As We Age
BUILDING A GOOD DAY “One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.” —Iris Murdoch “Habit has a kind of poetry.” —Simone de Beauvoir When I was a six-year-old living in Beaver City, Nebraska, I read an advertisement for a dog in a teacup. It promised...
Why ‘History’ Should Be ‘Ourstory’
Everything we remember is story. “History” is the memory of certain special things, which we all implicitly agree are more important than others. But our culture’s history—even in this, women’s history month—is a story that’s been badly, crudely, massively abridged....
The Life-Changing Lesson I Learned From My Father’s Struggle With Alzheimer’s
When I learned that my father had Alzheimer’s, along with the grief that hobbled me came an overwhelming sense of loneliness. I would have to figure out how to lose my father – this elusive man who I had always wanted to know better – and I would have to do it alone....
Warm Kale Blackberry Salad
There’s a lot to love about this fresh take on kale salad. In fact, this could be my cooking school students’ most beloved recipe! It comes together in under 10 minutes, all in one skillet, no kale massaging required. It’s warm and comforting, yet bright and...
Know Their Names: How This News Junkie Stays Buoyant in Difficult Times
In December of 2012, just weeks after the massacre at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, I was invited to speak at a forum for townspeople who were drowning in shock and grief. A parent whose children attended the school had read my book, Broken...
How to Claim Your 5-Day Calm
How do you cope when it feels as if life is throwing too much at you at once? We can often feel pulled in so many directions that it makes it difficult to handle one thing much less the avalanche of issues headed towards us. How our minds chose to respond to the...
How Journaling Has Transformed My Negative Thoughts Into Positive Action
I am by no means a writer, but since discovering Maria’s book “I’ve Been Thinking…” and “I've Been Thinking...The Journal,” I am much more in tune with my thoughts and how they can determine my meaningful life. I had a wonderful childhood growing up in West Virginia,...
Fast and Sloppy Joes
Could a soy-based meat alternative do justice to this hot and messy American classic? We discovered that even the pickiest kids could enjoy this heart-healthy version. It captures the taste and texture of the original, minus the fat and cholesterol. These sandwiches...
How to Get Started On Your Healing Journey After Trauma
As a trauma survivor, I’ve done everything possible to push aside my most painful memories. While I’ve always considered myself a no-nonsense, “face the truth” type of person, it took me, literally, decades to realize that I was living in denial about what happened to...
NonViolence: Self-Care vs. Soft Care
The following is re-posted from Spirituality & Health We often think of self care as something we do only when we’re stressed, in grief, or otherwise hurting, but it’s really something we have to be doing every single day in order to honor the one relationship we’ll...
Excerpt: Waking Up in Winter: In Search of What Really Matters at Midlife
May Sarton became an important influence for me after I read her book Journal of a Solitude. First published in 1973, it gave the reader access to the private diary of a creative woman who expressed herself through poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. By age twelve I’d...
Deconstructed No Noodle Lasagna
I developed this recipe for “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Pasta,” my first online cooking class, and I wonder how on earth I lived without this recipe before. It’s the perfect meal for the meat sauce lover. You get all of the rich goodness of an Italian ragù di carne...
Parkland Shooting Victim’s Mom Has Turned Her Grief Into Activism
Valentine's Day 2019 represents heartbreak and loss for the Parkland, FL community, as it marks the first anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. A feature-length documentary "Parkland: Inside Building 12," which will be released to the...
Cauliflower Mac N’ Cheese ai Quattro Formaggi
Quattro formaggi refers to the famous “four cheeses” of Italian pizza and pasta. While there’s variation in exactly which cheeses to use, most pastas also include milk and flour to create a base of besciamella (white sauce). However, in order to avoid using any carby...
Hawaiian-Style Chili
Move over, Texas and Cincinnati. The Hawaiian take on America’s favorite stew brings pineapple and Maui onion into the mix for an unforgettable sweet counterpoint to the chili’s heat. Already packed with lots of fiber from the pineapple and plant protein from the...
Why Winning Doesn’t Always Bring Happiness
This year, as I mash up some fresh guacamole and settle in to watch Super Bowl LIII, I’ll remember (as I do every year) how my oldest daughter reacted to her very first sight of American football. Two-year-old Katie peered at the TV screen and proclaimed, “That not...
How Journaling Helps You Cope With Mental and Physical Pain
A journal is your completely unaltered voice - it's just for you. And if you know that voice, and you like it, you can bring it out to everyone else, and that's the most honest and vulnerable thing you can do. ~ Lucy Dacus, musician “Dear God, Help me to be more...
Janet Dorsett Reveals ‘the Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat’ as the Wife of NFL Superstar Tony Dorsett
The city of Atlanta will host the National Football League’s (NFL) Super Bowl LIII on February 3, 2019. My husband, Pro Football Hall of Famer, Tony Dorsett, had the opportunity to play in two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, and they were the winners of Super...
When Progress Stalls, Think Bold
There is a lot to be said for persistence . . . that ability to work your plan with one logical step after another. Except when it’s not working. When the results aren’t coming, or progress is so slow it’s almost hard to measure, it’s time to replace reliable, quiet...
What Can Be Gained If We Learn to Pause and Savor Life
I can hardly wait until I can go to kindergarten. I am 5-1/2 and going on six. I can hardly wait until Christmas. I can hardly wait until my next birthday. I can hardly wait for summer. I can hardly wait until I start high school. I can hardly wait to get my driver’s...
Nancy’s Sockeye Salmon Avocado Salad
Servings: 31 can (7.5 oz) Trader Joe’s Wild caught Pacific “Sockeye Salmon”, canned (or equivalent if no Trader Joe’s conveniently located)1 Avocado, ripe (remove skin, dice)1 medium Celery Stalk, chopped¼ Sweet Bell Pepper, diced (orange, yellow or red)¼- ½ cup fresh...
Teenage Somalia Refugee Saida Dahir Is Using Poetry to Change the World
Saida Dahir is a 17-year-old political activist using poetry to change the world. She is a Muslim, Somali refugee who spent the first three years of her life in a Kenya refugee camp before fleeing to Utah, where she now currently resides with her family. Dahir is an...
Jean Case: We Must ‘Be Fearless’ in Order to Live Extraordinary Lives
"Be Fearless: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose" by Jean Case is a call to action for those who seek to live extraordinary lives. Maybe that’s you. Below is an excerpt from the Introduction, Copyright © 2019 by The Case Foundation. If you think that...
How To Live Our Most Meaningful Lives With Compassion and Self-Love
“Live joyfully, without anxiety about imperfection.” - Zen In 1989, at one of the first international Buddhist teacher meetings, Western teachers brought up the enormous problem of unworthiness and self-criticism, shame and self-hatred that frequently they arise in...
Cristina Ferrare’s Protein-Packed Black Bean Soup
Here is a protein packed, hearty soup made with black beans that contain nutrients that affect our bodies in many beneficial ways. Beans are high in fiber and full of vitamins and minerals. Beans are a great way for you to get your protein. When you combine beans with...
Excerpt: Kamala Harris’s ‘The Truths We Hold’
The following is an excerpt from the introduction of Sen. Kamala Harris's new book "The Truths We Hold" published by Penguin Press, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright © 2019 by Kamala Harris. Most mornings, my...
Dr. Dean Ornish Explores How the Power of Love Can Heal Our Lives
This is an excerpt from Dr. Dean Ornish's new book “UnDo It!,” co-written with his wife Anne Ornish. In this chapter, Dr. Ornish explores how well you live is meaningfully influenced by how well you love and how well you are loved. Love and Intimacy Are Healing,...
The Aspen Institute Releases Report Revealing We Are a ‘Nation of Hope’
Our nation is at a turning point. We now understand that social, emotional, and cognitive development underpin children’s academic learning. This breakthrough in understanding how people learn is fueling a growing movement to educate children as whole people with...
Trust Yourself to Know What You Need for Your Health
When something about your health concerns you, you may decide to visit your doctor and get help. But if you’re like the countless Americans who feel that traditional medical doctors have failed them, know you are not alone. You’ve heard it time and again: There’s...
Suzy’s Carrot Cake
The kids love carrot cake, and this is our rockin’ carrot cake recipe. We veganized this from an existing recipe by using applesauce, oil, and Ener-G Egg Replacer. And we swapped the icing for vegan cream cheese and vegan buttery spread. Just make sure you find the...
Why You Should Pay Attention to Your Intuition
After my divorce from a husband I adored, I was in shock. How could someone I trusted so completely have turned out to be different from what he appeared to be? During the course of our marriage, I’d occasionally had the sense that something was wrong, and I would ask...
When You Trust Yourself, You Live Your Best Life
I’ll tell you this for free: Not all resolutions are created equal. As a new year begins, many of us write lists of noble promises—and break them before the ink dries. Why do most resolutions have so little sticking power? Because they’re what I call “outside-in”...
Tips on How to Stop Negative Self-Talk in the New Year
My mind has a “mind” of its own. I can’t seem to control it. I don’t know how to stop the negative thoughts and negative self talk. I know I am supposed to be positive and loving with myself and the people in my life. I speak my positive affirmations. I repeat my...
Author Celeste Headlee Explains Why Admitting You’re Wrong Is the Right Thing to Do
Imagine this: you’ve assumed your whole life that polar bears live at both the North and South Poles. You get into a discussion about the bears over dinner with a friend and casually make mention of a bear at the South Pole. Your friend laughs a bit and corrects you,...
Changing Our Point of View Can Help Us Achieve Work-Life Balance
Our health and happiness depend on maintaining a balance between our professional and private lives. In the excerpt below, author Bryan E. Robinson explains how to stop stressing by changing our point-of-view. DARE TO ADVENTURE If you look at your life from a...
Why We Need to Take Responsibility For What We Say on Social Media
According to Webster’s Dictionary, social media is defined as: “forms of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other...
Suzy’s Family Favorite Chili
This chili recipe is super fast, super easy, and everybody loves it! It is a mild chili that originated in Canada. Over the years we have altered the ingredients to make it fully plant-based. Feel free to add jalapeños, Tabasco, or other spicy favorites. You’ll see...
Claire Bidwell Smith Reveals The Beauty of Entering and Exiting the World
Ten years ago I was working in hospice as a bereavement counselor when I became pregnant with my first child. I spent my days driving around the snowy suburbs meeting with patients and families who were grappling with the end of life. I would wake up in the morning,...
How the Simple Act of Lighting a Candle Can Create Meaningful Purpose in Everyday Life
“How far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.” – William Shakespeare We light candles to momentarily suspend time; to become present in the miraculous moments. Candle lighting can be so much more than just a pretty glow or...
Nancy’s Cherry Date Coconut Dessert Balls
YIELD: 24-30 1-inch Balls / Gluten Free Prep time: 5 minutes to mix; 10-20 minutes to form balls and roll. Ingredients Dates, pitted (soft Medjool dates are best!) 1 pound Almond butter, raw ...
Martha Beck Explains Why It’s Okay to Change Up Family Traditions
Holiday traditions have always made my heart beat a little faster—not with excitement, but with stress. Growing up as the seventh of eight children, I spent every December struggling to find gifts and make treats for everyone in the family. Things got easier when I...
Stephanie Wittels Wachs Reveals the ‘Horrible and Wonderful’ Memories of Her Brother Following his Death From a Heroin Overdose
Stephanie Wittels Wachs was devastated after losing her brother Harris, a star comedian known for his work on shows like "Parks and Recreation," to a heroin overdose. In her new book "Everything is Horrible and Wonderful: A Tragicomic Memoir of Genius, Heroin, Love,...
Creating Space to Do Nothing
According to researcher Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries, empty time is one of the best things we can do for our mental health, for several reasons. It can be an incubation period for future bursts of creativity, he posited in a paper on this subject, and, it can also be...
Grieving the Death of Her Father Has Taught Journalist Victoria Oldridge to Live Life to the Fullest
In April of 1983 in the southwest of England, I was a little girl of five years, solemn and intuitive as I knelt on the floor next to my father while he lay on a bed battling a wave of fatigue and discomfort; the rest of my family waiting in another room for the...
Author Dave Asprey Offers Game-Changing Advice on How to Win at Life
What would happen if you sat down, one on one, with 450 successful, unusually impactful people and asked each of them their secrets to performing better as a human being based on their own life experience — and then took the time to statistically analyze their replies...
Nancy’s Cauliflower and Potato Mash
YIELD: 8-9 Servings, about 1 cup each Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds potatoes (general purpose, Yukon or red) (1 Qt cubes) 1 large head Cauliflower, cut into florets, stems included (2 Qts florets) 1 Tbsp Olive oil, extra virgin (or to taste) 1/4 tsp Black pepper, freshly...
Lessons to Be Learned From a Family’s Dynamic
Both of my parents are one of seven when it comes to their sibling count, which means I have the pleasure of having a diverse group of aunts, uncles and cousins fill up my life. Ever since I was a young, my aunts and uncles represented more than just family. They...
In ‘Gate 4-A,’ Naomi Shihab Nye Illustrates How A Divided World Can Come Together
Gate 4-A Wandering around the Albuquerque Airport Terminal, after learning my flight had been detained four hours, I heard an announcement: “If anyone in the vicinity of Gate A-4 understands any Arabic, please come to the gate immediately.” Well – one pauses these...
Max Kennedy Challenges Personal Demons in His Latest Book About an Adventure on the High Seas
When author and sailor Max Kennedy agrees to rehabilitate and deliver a dilapidated 90-foot wooden schooner, Valkyrien, to Washington, DC, from San Francisco, via the Panama Canal, he understands it won’t be easy, but little does he know what this journey has in store...
Rabbi Gil Steinlauf Explains How Hanukkah Can Light the Darkness to a Brighter Future
Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights, where Jewish people celebrate the miracle of our small Jewish numbers overcoming tyranny in the Land of Israel. One of the central ideas of Hanukkah is something called “Pirsumei Nisa.” This phrase, which literally translates as...
Cristina Ferrare’s Pumpkin Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting
I was frankly shocked when I made these cupcakes for the first time. I took several passes at it and to be honest I was skeptical that when it came to baking unless you use butter, sugar and white flour it wasn’t going to bake up nice and moist or taste good. I was...
How to Give Ourselves The Gift of Self-Love During the Holiday Season
As we move out of Thanksgiving and into Christmas, you may be feeling the stress and pressure of playing the holiday game. We can easily become lost in obligation, guilt, and meeting the expectations of others in order to avoid disappointing others and to maintain our...
How 30 Days of Kindness Made Me a Better Person
Reposted with permission from SUCCESS magazine I don’t know his name, but his messy, shoulder-length hair hides a pair of hauntingly blue eyes. It’s a warm September day in New York, but he’s sitting under a mountain of ragged bits of clothing, towels and blankets. In...
Remembering Fr. Thomas Keating: A Mission of Unconditional Love Beyond Love
On October 26, one of the great spiritual leaders of our time, Thomas Keating, died at the age of 95 at St. Benedict’s Monastery in Spencer, Massachusetts. Like many great masters of the spiritual life, he was known only in a relatively small circle during his life....
Joan Chittister Tells Us How to Partake Of A Full Harvest
Life is a thing of many stages and moving parts. What we do with ease at one time of life we can hardly manage at another. What we could not fathom doing when we were young, we find great joy in when we are old. Like the seasons through which we move, life itself is a...
Nancy’s Cranberry Fruit Nut Holiday Sauce
YIELD: 25 Servings (2 Quarts) Ingredients: 1 1/4 pounds Fresh raw cranberries (rinse & remove any soft or rotten berries) 1 cup Pear, any variety (ripe, leave skin on, diced; may substitute ripe grapes or plums) 1 1/2 cups Apple, ripe, skin on, diced...
Spiritual Gifts From My Brother Who Suffered From a Mental Illness
In my case, my brother's special gifts helped heal the wounds of our family's traumas with his extraordinary gifts. My father, a World War II veteran, suffered from PTSD decades before there was such a label. Not long after she married him, my mother's schizophrenia...
Alzheimer’s Advocate Nihal Satyadev Tells Us Why It Takes a Village to Care for Our Elderly
It has long been said that it takes a village to raise a child but not much has been said on what exactly it takes to care for our elders. Perhaps, this is because our elders, unlike children who can be seen at our parks, schools, recreation centers, and faith-based...
Cristina Ferrare’s Holiday Cheer Smoothie
I serve this smoothie during the holiday season to my family and guests. Just because it may be cold out doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy this heart healthy drink, which includes the star of the season, pumpkin! Pumpkin is filled with potassium, fiber and Vitamin C, all...
Gratitude: The Eyes of the Heart
Gratitude is a big word. As humans, living in a society that demands we constantly be productive, we get pulled into this vacuum of thought where we desire more and more. We strive for this perfect life, which is an illusion of sorts. We find ourselves wanting more...
Author Chip Conley Explores the Wisdom and Inner Peace That Come With Age
RETHINKING THE THREE-STAGE LIFE “When work for most people meant manual labor, there was no need to worry about the second half of your life. You simply kept on doing what you had always done. And if you were lucky enough to survive 40 years of hard work in the mill...
The Power of Having an Open Heart
In this life and these times, we are all moving at a supernova speed. It is exciting, it is empowering; however, it can also be challenging. And for some reason, there never seems to be enough ‘time.’ We are moving so fast to stay on top of our goals and priorities...
How to Find Inner Peace Through Scripture
The widest river in the world is not the Mississippi, Amazon, or Nile. The widest river on earth is a body of water called If Only. Throngs of people stand on its banks and cast longing eyes over the waters. They long to cross but can’t seem to find the ferry. They...
Youth Activist Ramon Contreras Champions Minorities to Participate in Politics
Ramon Contreras is a 19-year-old political activist and filmmaker who is changing the nature of civic engagement by championing and encouraging minorities to participate in politics. Contreras is a powerful gun control enthusiast and founded YouthOverGuns, a platform...
Gisele Bundchen Reveals That Discipline is the Key to a Meaningful Life
Everything in life starts with a dream. But first the dream needs to be clearly defined and, more important, you need to understand why you want it. At fourteen, and at twenty, and at twenty- seven, I never said to myself, “My goal is to be a great model.” Rather, my...
Martha Beck Explains Why Voting Should Be Part of Our Daily Lives
Every time I vote, as I hope we all did last Tuesday, I get a little misty-eyed. For most of history, most people haven’t had voting rights. Feudal systems, slavery, dictatorships, colonialism—so many structures suppressed so many people for so long. When my father...
Bridging the Political Divide: Dare to Listen, Dare to Speak
I grew up listening uncomfortably to after-dinner political debates between my conservative parents and my liberal maternal grandparents. My maternal grandmother was known to have “converted” my grandfather from the Republican to the Democratic Party. My grandfather...
Cristina Ferrare’s Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
Aren’t these beautiful? I love sweet potatoes and this is one of my favorite ways to prepare them — Hasselback style. The skin is crispy and the insides, smooth, creamy and sweet. (This recipe is in my new cookbook, "Food for Thought" out on December 4.) One sweet...
Author John O’Donohue Explains Why ‘Sister Oppositions’ Create Unity
One of my favorite sentences in the Western philosophical tradition is from Leibniz; it was subsequently used by Schelling and Heidegger: "The real mystery is not that things are the way they are, but that there is something rather than nothing." I think this is a...
How Sisterhood Is Our Greatest Strength: Show Up for Her
We’re standing in a room in the middle of a circle surrounded by some of the most powerful women in Hollywood: directors, presidents, producers, recognized leaders in the industry. How did we get here? We’re hearing women say that they’ve always been at this alone,...
How the Teachings of Dharma Can Benefit Us All
Many Buddhist practitioners have questioned what to do in these turbulent times. More than anything, I believe the world is in need of a spiritual perspective. The Dharma teachings of generosity, virtue, loving-kindness, and wisdom are non-partisan. The benefits of...
Bishop Michael Curry Says Loving Your Neighbor is the American Way
Allow me to begin by saying we do not come in hatred. We do not come in bigotry. We do not come to put anybody down. We come to lift everybody up. We come in love. We come in love because we follow Jesus. And Jesus taught us love. Love the Lord your God. And love your...
Cristina Ferrare’s Turkey Meatballs
I prefer using only turkey sausage for meatballs because I find that they come out lighter and tastier than beef meatballs. You don’t have to add a lot of seasonings to the mix because the meatballs get their flavor from the seasoned sausage meat! (This recipe is in...
Advocate Leeza Gibbons Reminds Caregivers to Be Kind to Themselves
I often speak of caregivers as being heroic. I refer to them as warriors and say they are fierce and fearless. I believe it. I see evidence of it every day while working with our communities of courageous caregivers at Leeza’s Care Connection, where we...
Dr. Sara Gottfried Shares Tips On Keeping Your Brain Sharp With Age
My granny blinked behind her glasses as she drove us to her home after school, trying to conceal her panic. It was 1975. I was seven years old, and she was fifty. Granny wasn’t sure where to turn her Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme next. The distance between the school bus...
Bestselling Author Mitch Albom Offers Glimpse Into Next Person We Meet in ‘Heaven’
Mitch Albom’s new book, “The Next Person You Meet In Heaven” is a sequel to his 2003 worldwide bestseller “The Five People You Meet In Heaven.” It follows the story of Annie, a little girl who was saved from an accident at an amusement park when she was a child – an...
The Burden of My Survival
For several years now, I’ve looked forward to October 26th. I’ve been fortunate to be allowed space on mariashriver.com on this date each year to share my story, and to be included among Maria’s pantheon of Architects of Change. Given the company I’m in — people whose...
Cristina Ferrare’s Healthy Brownies
When I started to experiment with the brownie recipe, I wanted to add nuts into the batter because I love nuts in everything! I needed to find out first if the brownie would be moist, and the texture would be pleasing. These brownie delivers that and more. It has a...
Filmmaker Sara Hirsh Bordo Shows Us the Power of Young Women Speaking Their Truth
“You belong more in an apron than an office.” That is what my former female boss said to my face when — after a year of having my confidence undermined by her — I resigned from my job at a Hollywood film studio. The pain of this still stings because I come from a long...
Elizabeth Lesser Reminds Us the Power of Hope to Awaken Our Spirits
I spent all of yesterday at the Eleanor Roosevelt home, Val Kill, in Hyde Park, New York. Every year an award is given to several women and men whose work and lives echo Mrs. Roosevelt’s values and legacy. This year one of the recipients was a beloved friend of mine,...
We Must Allow Ourselves to Dream
“In a dream you are never eighty,” Anne Sexton wrote. Whatever happens to the body, what toll age takes on the physical, the spirit does not grow old. In our dreams, in the way we ourselves see ourselves, we are forever becoming. Our dreams are always the vision of a...
Finding Courage in These Fearful Times
Years ago, Gavin de Becker, the well-known security expert, wrote a book called The Gift of Fear. The focus of the book was on the small voice inside all of us that often serves as a warning about imminent danger. It’s the voice that floats outside our thoughts, that...
Cristina Ferrare’s Cream of Tomato Soup with Homemade Ricotta Cheese & Arugula Pesto
As far as soups go this is my favorite soup to make, serve and eat! (It's in my new cookbook, "Food for Thought" out on December 4.) It’s basically a very simple and quick tomato sauce for pasta, omelets, and baked dishes such as chicken or fish. The big bonus here is...
How to Bridge Our Divides By Owning Our Experiences
We are living in a time of shadows. What is ugly in our world is rising out of the basement where we have locked it up for a long time. Countries, communities, and individuals are divided into extremes: left and right, rich and poor, citizen and foreigner, Muslim and...
The Power Behind Asking Yourself, “What Do I Want?”
I am big a believer in saying what you mean and meaning what you say. My delivery can come off blunt and direct, especially when I am asked for my opinion on something related to relationship, career and life advice. The shy, awkward and timid, 12 year old me would be...
Author Anne Lamott Helps Us Find the Hope Buried Within Each of Us
Some days there seems to be little reason for hope, in our families, cities, and world. Well, except for almost everything. The seasons change, a bone mends, Santa Rosa rebuilds after the fire. In the days after a cataclysmic school shooting, thousands of students...
Bob Goff Shows Kids How to Find Hope and Faith in Their Daily Lives
(The following is an excerpt from "Love Does For Kids," by Bob Goff) Our family’s experience making friends all across the world began with some postage stamps—236 stamps, to be exact. On September 11, 2001, something scary happened in the world. Some people decided...
Between Men and Women, Where is the Hope?
Tension runs high between the sexes as women are attacked on the national level. I found hope for the relations between men and women at a table on a sidewalk. Six people were sitting at the table, both benches filled, no room for any others. There was tension, even...
The Mother Pac Hopes to Build the Political Power of Oregon Mothers
The Mother PAC, a political action committee, was created by mothers and is a sister organization to Family Forward Action, an advocacy organization focused on building the political power of Oregon mothers. Their mission is to elect more pro-equity and pro-family...
Why We All Need to Practice Self-Empathy
One reason we resist practicing self-empathy is that we mistake it for self-pity. We view it as a soft and fuzzy euphemism for self-indulgence. The difference is that self-indulgence can become a destructive force that allows you to give in to anything that makes you...
Cristina Ferrare’s South African Red Lentil Soup with Spiced Oil
Maria and I are getting the launch ready for "Food for Thought"! Every two weeks until publish date, December 4, I will share a recipe from the book. Two years in the making and now it's finally happening! A portion of the proceeds from this book will go to The...
Musician Tena Clark Reveals How Her Southern Upbringing Influenced Her Activism
(The following is an excerpt from "Southern Discomfort: A Memoir," Tena Clark's new book which explores how her upbringing in a repressive society in rural Mississippi during the Civil Rights Era forged her path towards women's rights activism.) Where I grew up, girls...
Repeat Roses Delivers Repurposed Event Flowers to Joyful Recipients
Event planner Jennifer Grove grew frustrated over the fact that hundreds of pounds of flowers wind up in the trash after every private and public celebration. Seeing this as a waste of resources, Jennifer recognized that this was an opportunity to change the status...
Martha Beck Responds With ‘Lovingkindness’ to Heated Emotions Stemming From Kavanaugh Hearing Testimonies
As I write this, the controversy over the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh is filling the internet with such fury—from both sides—that I think my computer may explode. The situation feels like a microcosm of all public controversy in a time when technology has given...
Gold Star Mother Has Learned to Embrace Her Title With Pride
I confess that labels are hard for me. Not that I don’t love several brands whose label signifies something special. I do have dreams of owning a true Chanel dress and a brand-new pair of Dior shoes. But I choose, instead, clothes that conceal the label just as my...
3 Steps to Finding and Connecting to Your Inner Voice
When we are looking for the clarity we need in life in order to find the path that is right for us, we can find ourselves on an endless search. It can be all too loud and overwhelming in a world of voices screaming their advice, their way, their thoughts, their...
How to Raise Our Kids With a Kindness Advantage
(The following is an excerpt from "The Kindness Advantage: Cultivating Compassionate and Connected Children") No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all...
The Seasons of Life
We can live wisely only when we accept the reality of change. Where I lived as a Buddhist monk, impermanence was central to the curriculum. We deliberately contemplated change, our moods, the seasons, the passing of visitors, our aging, and the movement of our breath...
Happy the Golden Jam Spreads Compassion and Medical Care to Shelter Dogs
For 23 years I have regarded my orchard in Malibu as a gift, one to be shared and enjoyed. The orchard is nestled in a ravine, a hundred meters from the sea and is protected from the salt air by a stand of mature avocado trees. Despite its proximity to the ocean mist,...
Save a Warrior Heals Veterans From Post Traumatic Stress With Compassion and Unity
Jake Clark is a US Army veteran of the Cold War era and the California Army National Guard. He founded Save a Warrior (SAW) because he wanted to make a difference and for his life to matter. According to Clark, 30 percent or somewhere between 800,000 to a million...
Maria Shriver Op-Ed: A Challenge to Elected Officials, Candidates and American Voters on World Alzheimer’s Day
READ MORE STORIES THAT MOVE HUMANITY FORWARD READ MORE STORIES THAT MOVE HUMANITY FORWARD SIGN UP FOR MARIA'S SUNDAY PAPER [mc4wp_form...
Greg O’Brien Reflects on His Mother’s Struggle With Alzheimer’s and the Profound Affect It Had On Him
In the spring on Brookdale Place, in Rye, New York, the Forget-Me-Nots bloomed like a botanical garden, a sea of soothing pastels that kindled the memory. The Greeks called the flower Myosotis, translated “mouse’s ear,” an allusion to the shape of its leaf. Who could...
Mallika Chopra Explores Why Mindful Meditation Is Beneficial for Our Kids
(The following is an excerpt from "Just Breathe: Meditation, Mindfulness, Movement, and More," Mallika Chopra's new fun and accessible how-to book on mindfulness and meditation for kids. We encourage you to share the below lessons with your children and also consider...
Mom’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Inspires Photographer to Create ‘Flowers For Mom’ Series
Since August 2, 2016, photographer Elmore DeMott has taken a photograph of a flower every single day in a total of 20 states and 11 countries. Entitled "Flowers For Mom," this unique series is Elmore's artistic response to her mother's struggle with...
Why Anxiety Is Often An Unresolved Stage of Grief
I was eighteen years old when I had my first panic attack. I was on a road trip with my high school boyfriend, Jordan. We had just graduated, and it was the summer between our senior year of high school and our freshman year of college. We were headed to separate...
Learning to Release Control and Ease Through Transition
There’s an odd theme in ancient Asian art: a jolly man playing the flute while riding on an ox, backwards. Obviously (not), this is a metaphor for true wisdom. In Taoism, the ox represents the vast, powerful flow of energy that runs through all of nature, including us...
Surviving Empty Nest Syndrome: A Mom’s Journey Dropping Her Sons Off at College
Three days and counting… Today it hit me. My husband and I will be “empty nesters” very soon. I was fairly calm until I realized that my youngest still needed to buy a few more things like a larger suitcase, a beard trimmer, and socks. Yes, socks. Finding the...
The Child Mind Institute Offers Specialized Care and Dignity to Kids With Mental Health Issues
The Child Mind Institute was founded in 2009 to bring together clinicians, researchers, and educators in an independent, non-profit organization that would focus solely on children’s mental health. Of the 74.5 million children in the United States, an estimated 17.1...
The Unconditional Love Only Grandparents Can Give
The qualities of empathy, self-understanding, kindness, and acceptance are the building blocks of character. The more we have, the better our world will be. Of all the many ways in which grandparents help their grandchildren, nurturing their moral imagination is our...
Let’s Stop Bullying and Add More Kindness to Our Culture
“Kindness is choosing love over hate, light over darkness, compassion over judgment.” - RAKtivist I was bullied as a kid. It was decades ago when I was enrolled in a new, suburban middle school, mid-year, and had just arrived from a small town with small-town values....
Pando Pilgrimage Celebrates Unity Amongst Us All
PILGRIMAGE TO PANDO is a contemplative journey to the home of the largest living thing on Earth – a massive aspen grove in remote south-central Utah and named Pando. Pando nourishes itself from the waters of Utah’s Fish Lake and ranges for 106 acres up the neighboring...
‘Sisu’ and Why Finland Is One of the Happiest Places on Earth
Framing sisu within the context of my own quest for a healthier and ultimately happier life greatly interests me. I believe that tapping into a reserve of grit or resilience that I didn’t know I had— whether by making the effort to go for a cold water swim each...
Jesuit Priest Founds Spiritual Retreat Program for the Homeless and Addicted
In 1998, Father Bill Creed SJ joined forces with Ed Shurna, former executive director of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, to fashion an experience that would help build community, hope and transformation among those experiencing homelessness and addiction. The...
Parker Palmer Explains Why Inner Contemplation Is So Necessary
I was about thirty when I first felt drawn to the contemplative life. Inspired by reading Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk, I had visions of joining a monastic community. I thought the Abbey of Gethsemani, where Merton spent half his life, would be just right....
Sharon Salzberg Teaches Us That Letting Go of Conformity Can Reveal Our True Selves
There is a story I’ve heard various versions of from Ram Dass, over many years. I find it a wonderful description of our daily efforts to conform to the expectations of others, the stories they project onto us, our own assumptions of what perfection must look like,...
Tony Schwartz: “Relax! You’ll Be More Productive”
The following is a reposted essay from The Energy Project Think for a moment about your typical workday. Do you wake up tired? Check your e-mail before you get out of bed? Skip breakfast or grab something on the run that’s not particularly nutritious? Rarely get away...
Joan Chittister Remembers Eunice Kennedy Shriver at Flame of Hope Ceremony
Timothy Shriver: My mother and father loved and admired and learned from Sr. Joan Chittister for decades. So, it was a powerful blessing that she came to Hyannisport on my mother’s birthday this year to help light the flame of hope to commemorate the 50thanniversary...
I’ve Been Thinking… ‘You’re Barking to the Choir’
The following is an excerpt from "Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship" by Father Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries. Start with a title. It’s a terrible way to write a book. So I’m in my office at Homeboy Industries talking with Ramón, a gang...
I’ve Been Thinking …The Aspen Grove
An old friend drove me into the Santa Fe National Forest so we could walk the aspen grove. We stopped along the way to smell some Ponderosa pine. I stuck my nose into the crease of its bark and cupped my hands around it. The tree smelled like vanilla. We continued up...
I’ve Been Thinking … Divorcing My Relationship With Money
My relationship with money was always very painful. I am an immigrant who came from communist Cuba at 4-years-old. My family lost everything from one day to the next because of Cuba’s entire regime, banking, and currency change. It was the worst thing imaginable that...
I’ve Been Thinking … Exploring the Vampire-Empath Relationship
With our natural proclivities for taking care of others, along with the wounds we empaths have endured—and the work we have done to gain acceptance—it is no wonder that we are desirable prey for people who feed off the energy around them. This is especially true for...
I’ve Been Thinking…How to Find Peace and Happiness in All Our Relationships
When we hear the word relationship, most of us tend to think of our romantic or partnership relationships. If asked if we are “in a relationship”, we think in terms of married, single, or divorced. We give most of our mental focus and attention to thinking about who...
I’ve Been Thinking … Life is a Feast. Take Your Place at the Table.
“We must love one another, or die,” urged the poet W. H. Auden in a line that has stuck with me since high school. And I like the poignancy of love lost in the Rascal Flatts song: “I should have stolen every moment / Now there’s a page with not enough on it.” And let...
Filmmaker Makes It Her Mission to Reunite People Who Are ‘Erased’ From Their Families After Divorce
Documentary filmmaker Ginger Gentile (Erasing Dad), a child of divorce herself, believes that unfair laws break families apart following divorce or separation, which often leads to "erasure" of a child or parent. In response to this problem, she directed Erasing...
I’ve Been Thinking … The Spirit and Promise of America’s Open Road
When planning a vacation or weekend getaway, there are often a few different factors worth considering: where do I really want to go?; what is my budget?; and how can I make the most of my time off? These are all valid questions to ask yourself when time, money, and...
I’ve Been Thinking … From Longing to Belonging
Once a year I travel ten thousand miles to be with my community. We’re a mixed bunch, that’s for sure. We come from every continent except Antarctica. Some of us live in huge cities, others in tiny villages. Some of us aren’t even human. But when we all come together...
I’ve Been Thinking … Lunches With the Homeless
Ten months ago, I was walking along Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, shopping for a gift, when a grey-haired man wearing jeans and a jacket approached me. He looked friendly, had a twinkle in the eye, and was holding a sign that read: ‘Need Food For Myself And...
I’ve Been Thinking … It’s Time For Us to Come Together
The following is a speech given by Timothy Shriver at this year's Special Olympics USA Games opening ceremony in Seattle. In a special way, mothers and fathers, and by them I include any people who have mothered or fathered these graduates, nurtured, held,...
Identifying the Signs of Drug Abuse in Teens & Young Adults: 1 Parent’s Journey to Recovery
It’s been over five years ago, now, that I was on a business trip in Washington, D.C. when I received a jarring phone call from my wife at home in Los Angeles. The second I heard the phone ring, I knew she wasn’t calling to say hello. After all, it was 4:25 a.m.,...
I’ve Been Thinking … A New Generation Must Draw the Line
Before February 14, we thought we had plenty of time. We wanted to do something that would make the world a better place, to fight for justice as lawyers or activists or crusading journalists, to be responsible citizens and raise good-hearted children. But first we...
Media Veteran Founds ‘Report For America’ to Provide Quality Journalism to Underserved Communities
Steve Waldman, a former Washington political journalist, believes that many parts of our country are underserved when it comes to quality local news coverage. Pulling the best elements of AmeriCorps, Teach for America, the Peace Corps and the nation’s best nonprofit...
I’ve Been Thinking … About What We All Can Agree On
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the state of our union and how much it feels like we’ve become the Divided States of America. These days, we’re living in an age of the preposterous and the unthinkable. We’re subjected to a 24/7 news cycle of anger and...
I’ve Been Thinking …Be In Charge Of Your Own Happiness
How many of us really depend on ourselves to fulfill our own happiness? At one time or another, I think most of us have heard that no one else can make us happy. We’ve also heard that money can’t fill our voids or nagging emptiness that we may feel. But then, why do...
I’ve Been Thinking … I Was Once Suicidal. Now I Live in Bliss. Here’s What Helped Me.
Last week, the suicides of celebrities Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain shocked the world. Many people wondered publicly, how could people with unimaginable success, good looks, admiration, and incredible wealth feel unhappy enough to end their lives. But silently, a...
I’ve Been Thinking … The Gift of Listening
We each have within us a beautiful capacity for understanding one another. Especially in difficulties, we must learn to listen in a new caring way. Some years ago, one of the greatest primate biologists, George Schaller, came back from studying gorillas in Africa....
I’ve Been Thinking …Three Green Lights
We don’t need as much confirmation as we think we do. I spend a lot of time on planes. I mean, a lot. People are everywhere, and I like to be with people, so planes are just a part of my life. Last year I flew almost a half million miles. They call me “Mr. G” at the...
I’ve Been Thinking … Why Confronting My ‘Trolls’ Opened My Eyes
I don’t want to brag, but someone from Twitter once told me that I have some of the worst trolls on the platform. Okay, I am bragging, and I know that’s a weird thing to brag about, but in my less horrified moments I can see it as some indication that people who don’t...
I’ve Been Thinking … Why Starting a Podcast Changed the Course of Our Lives
My friend and I recently embarked on a fascinating journey at a time in life when many are slowing down, or maybe like us, looking for a way to stay engaged or even reinvent themselves. One of our many common threads over a 30 year friendship has been our desire to...
Teen Suicide Attempt Survivor Now Helps Others By Building Life-Saving Apps
Once overwhelmed by depression and anxiety, Amanda Southworth saw no end to her misery and attempted to kill herself multiple times. What changed her life was an introduction to technology through a sixth-grade robotics course. She went on to develop a love of coding...
Kate Snow Shares Suicide’s Impact on Her Family
The following piece is reprinted from Today.com. "There aren’t many days that go by that we don’t think of him. But this past week has been particularly difficult." It’s been almost eight years now, but it’s still fresh. Not just for me, but my entire extended family....
I’ve Been Thinking … Hello, World!: Remembering My Father
When I was a high school freshman, my dad took over the morning routine from my mom, whose reign involved the usual nagging — time to get up… your breakfast is on the table… don’t forget your biology book… I said time to get up… you’re not wearing those jeans to...
I’ve Been Thinking … ‘Every Day is Kids Day’
I have two magnificent sons. Being a father to Reece and Blair is the greatest gift I could ever receive. It is also the greatest responsibility, one that I strive to uphold. A couple of years ago, one of them asked, “Dad…there’s Mother’s Day, there’s Father’s...
Family Hopes ‘Saving Carter’ Will Cure Their Son and Others Like Him Of ‘Childhood Alzheimer’s’
When Carter Sarker was 3-years-old, his parents, Jennifer and Samir, noticed he was behind in his speech, physical abilities, and fine motor skills. During a physical exam, the doctor said that because Carter wasn't potty-trained, he wanted to run some tests with a...
I’ve Been Thinking … I Didn’t Want To Raise Girls…Until I Did
Recently one of my readers asked me if I wish I had boys instead of girls. Of course the answer is an emphatic, “NO” – but did I always feel that way? I’d be lying if I said yes. First, let’s rewind a few years back. When my wife showed me the positive pregnancy test...
I’ve Been Thinking …The Confidence Gap
I have read much of the literature and attended many conferences about women’s issues in business. One of the first things you always hear about is the confidence gap—that women don’t feel sure about their leadership abilities, that they are hesitant to take risks,...
I’ve Been Thinking … Progress Demands Action, Not Perfection
We all want to be good at what we do, perform our jobs well and reach our goals. When we fill roles we have mastered, we feel confident and in control. However, limiting ourselves to positions we are already “good” at can become a dangerous trap that halts progress...
I’ve Been Thinking … There is Always Hope
I’m not a crusader, but maybe I should be. Maybe it’s my obligation. Maybe my duty and my payback as the survivor of a suicide attempt is not only to take care of myself, but also to devote my energy to eradicating a terrible, preventable scourge. Kate Spade’s death...
This Pride Month, Take Pride in Yourself and Embrace the Power of Love
June brings many exciting and fun-filled activities, like pool parties, family BBQs, summer holidays and more. One party that will be getting my RSVP is the celebration of Pride Month. I write this to you with the intent not to push any political views or opinions...
Three Individuals Honored For Their Courageous Contributions to Humanity
Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity is a prestigious, annual international humanitarian award, which recognizes those courageous individuals or organizations that have an impact on preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes. It is awarded on behalf of the...
I’ve Been Thinking … A Day of Reverence
On June 5, 2004, as a dense fog burned off, my father took his last breath. Moments before that breath, he opened his eyes, which he hadn’t done in nearly a week. And they were blue again, which they hadn’t been in more than a year. As Alzheimer’s conquered more and...
Iris Apfel: Woman of Style and Attitude
“I never expected to have a one of a kind Barbie doll made in my image.”- Iris Apfel As the saying goes: don’t judge a book by its cover. But in the case of Iris Apfel, Accidental Icon: Musings of a Geriatric Starlet, you should. The vibrant cover photo is an...
I’ve Been Thinking … Is There Such a Thing as Perfect Timing?
Ever hear that saying there’s a time for everything? Well they were right, there is a perfect time, a sequence of events, you may even call it divine timing… There is a book you should have been given at birth. It explains how your time here on this Earth works, what...
I’ve Been Thinking … Money Is Not the Goal, Time Is.
This post “Money Is Not The Goal, Time Is” originally appeared on Millennial Money. “Happy Friday,” the woman at the checkout counter says, “We finally made it.” Every week it feels the same in the corporate world – my friends are excited it’s the weekend, clients...
I’ve Been Thinking … Gold Star Mom Pays Tribute to Her Son’s Legacy
I am blessed to be the mother of two. And like my last name, Bent, so, too, is the Gold Star which envelops me. You see my son was returned home from the front lines in Afghanistan, OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom), with the injury that would later claim his life. And...
Purple Table Reservations Offers Tailored Dining Service to the Mentally and Physically Impaired
When Jenifer Apazidis' mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, she noted that the dining experience became a challenge due to her special needs. Following her mom's death, Jenifer opened a restaurant in her honor and began offering a monthly luncheon,...
I’ve Been Thinking… Tony Thomopoulos Shares His Story of the ‘Road Less Traveled’ As a Male Caregiver
I humbly realize that my story is not an unusual one and that millions have gone through — and will continue to go through — this journey. But I am sharing my perspective at the urging of a dear friend. She insisted I tell my story of life as a male caregiver, knowing...
Try This Blueberry Cobbler
INGREDIENTS 1 cup old fashion oats 1 cup whole wheat flour 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons lemon zest 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt 3 tablespoons of pure maple syrup 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil 6 cups fresh blueberries 3 tablespoons Monk fruit sweetener*...
I’ve Been Thinking … The Power to Heal
This essay by Timothy Shriver was adapted from a recent speech he gave at Mount Sinai's 2018 Icahn School of Medicine commencement. In a special way, mothers and fathers, and by them I include any people who have mothered or fathered these graduates, nurtured, held,...
I’ve Been Thinking…Knowing When to Heal
When it comes to healing emotionally and mentally, it can be difficult at times to even know where to begin. Knowing where to start unraveling years of being hurt by the words and actions of those around us can be a daunting task. I always suggest to my clients, to...
Eco-Minded Couple Develops Regeneratively-Farmed, Biodynamic Baby Food Company
Meghan and Keith Rowe founded White Leaf Provisions following the birth of their son when they quickly became aware of a lack of truly pure and organic foods that were farmed in an eco-minded way. Keith is a professionally trained European chef, and their time living...
I’ve Been Thinking … A Son’s Lessons from Caregiving
My 86-year-old Mother is a retired teacher and real estate agent. Three years ago she was diagnosed with dementia and she is now in the mid stages of the disease. For various reasons my brother and sisters are unable to directly care for her, so the responsibility has...
I’ve Been Thinking … A Mindful Approach to Overcoming Postpartum PTSD
When I was diagnosed with PTSD, I was limping through life. Everyday activities that I’d done a thousand times were suddenly excruciatingly difficult, like getting out of bed or taking the dog for a walk. Once my brother came over and said I looked like I needed some...
I’ve Been Thinking…What Mother’s Day Means to Me
A friend of mine, whose mother recently died after years of dementia, told me that toward the end she allowed herself a rare moment of vulnerability with her mother. They had always had a challenging and difficult relationship, one marked by disdain and indifference...
I’ve Been Thinking … Motherhood and Faith
This essay by Savannah Guthrie was adapted from a recent speech she gave at a Catholic luncheon. Motherhood and faith go together. I couldn’t do one without the other. You need faith to get through motherhood. Wine helps. But faith is crucial. Motherhood tells us...
I’ve Been Thinking … Adoption Becomes a Reality
Blogger Kari Wagner-Peck, MSW, and her husband, Ward, decided to adopt a foster child late in life. In her first book "Not Always Happy," Kari chronicles the emotions the couple experienced while going through the adoption process and raising their son, Thorin, who...
Mother-Daughter Activist Duo Discover That Life is a Journey of Passion and Purpose
After discovering that her 9-year-old daughter Hudsyn was unhappy attending traditional school and that her "spirit was melting," Erin Toppenberg decided to offer her daughter home-based 'lifeschool," the ability to choose how and what she learns based on what is in...
A Mother’s Love and Legacy to Her Sons
Some say there’s no bond like the one a mother has with her son. Given the close relationship that I have with my mother, and the close relationship that my fiancée Nick has with his mother, I believe that statement to be true. Needless to say, we are both...
Kentucky Man Fights for the Rights of the Aging and Elderly
As a member of the Kentucky Institute on Aging, Jeff Rubin is a vocal advocate for the elderly who believes that every individual has the right to be heard and the power to make a difference regardless of their ability or age. He is also the author of "Wisdom of Age:...
I’ve Been Thinking … Regaining My Faith
Five months pregnant and on a flight to Seattle in 2015, Allison Pataki's seemingly healthy, 30-year-old husband, Dave Levy, suffered a sudden and massive stroke. Following an emergency landing, Dave was rushed to the hospital. When he awoke, he had severe memory loss...
I’ve Been Thinking … Self Care in Troubling Times
You Are Not Going Crazy Since the early 1990s, when I started working with people dealing with acute stress and post-traumatic issues, the most frequently asked question I hear is, “Hey Doc, am I crazy?” In reassuring someone that his or her responses are appropriate...
I’ve Been Thinking … Finding Purpose Projects for Today’s Youth
March for Lives is now one of the largest youth-led movements in the past few decades in America. Across the country young people are standing up for their rights and social change. Many students who weeks ago were politically apathetic or unengaged have found a...
Doctor Ensures Health Care, Compassion and Spiritual Support for L.A.’s Homeless
President and CEO of Los Angeles Christian Health Centers (LACHC) since 2013, Dr. Lisa Abdishoo oversees a staff of 150 medical professionals plus nearly 100 volunteers per year for over 10,000 patients annually. Lisa takes pride in the fact that LACHC may be the only...
I’ve Been Thinking … Together Moving Forward
Walking up to the Seaport World Trade Center Boston to claim my husband, Jeff’s, bib for the 122nd Boston Marathon, I saw a banner depicting a sentiment that resonated with me the entire weekend and will perhaps for the rest of my life – "Together Forward." Seeing...
I’ve Been Thinking … Making Authentic Connections
I had been known to put these massive walls up when it came to meeting new people. It was a defense mechanism that immediately went up like an invisible fortress. This was partly due to my years of being bullied as a kid as well as the experience I had living in Los...
Ivelise Markovits Makes It Her Mission to Find Community For Homeless Youth
Ivelise Markovits began her career as a placement officer for the Los Angeles County Probation Department and was responsible for finding residential treatment facilities for female wards of the court. Frustrated by the difficulty of placing teenage girls in foster...
Instead of Processed Sugar, Try This Dessert Sweetened By Mother Nature
I wanted to share some of the research I did while writing “Food for Thought.” Please take the time to read this. It may get you to stop and think before you continue to consume foods that are filled with sugar, too much salt, unhealthy fats, processed and genetically...
I’ve Been Thinking … The Power of Teaching Love and Compassion
Today I had the delight of paragliding over Dharamsala, a colorful town situated at 7,000 feet on the edge of the Himalayas. It is home to the Dalai Lama and a large Tibetan exile community, and this week it is the site of the latest Mind & Life Institute meeting,...
Ancient Medicine for Modern Problems: Less Stress, Better Health and More Energy this Spring
According to Chinese medicine, the leading cause of death and disease is negative emotions. It’s not that our negative emotions are inherently bad; common day-to-day feelings like disappointment, sorrow, envy, anger and rage. But when strong emotions are suppressed...
I’ve Been Thinking … A Lesson in Faith
I have met many famous people of deep religious faith, including Mother Theresa, Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Anwar Sadat, Menachem Begin, and Billy Graham, some of whom have had a direct and beneficial effect on my life. There is...
Florida Judge Strives to Heal Rather Than Jail the Mentally Ill
Every day, in every community in the United States, law enforcement agencies, courts, and correctional institutions are witness to the impacts of untreated or under-treated mental illnesses that lead to multiple incarcerations at a high cost to taxpayers. Judge Steven...
I’ve Been Thinking … Eunice Kennedy Shriver: The Kennedy Who Changed the World
In her cobalt-blue wool suit and white kidskin gloves she could have been mistaken for a guest at a White House social reception instead of the architect of the pioneering legislation the president of the United States was about to sign. As John F. Kennedy slid into...
I’ve Been Thinking … 4 Phases To Jumping Into Your Dream Career
When I read the Sunday Paper piece about being “in transition,” I was encouraged by the way Maria's wisdom supported what I learned from years spent collecting the stories of people who successfully jumped from one career to another. There was a time in my own life...
I’ve Been Thinking … Embrace Your Battle Scars
“Show us what you have been through. It tells us what we can survive.” All of our presidents age in office. It is practically a national pastime of ours to marvel at the toll the job takes on the face of our presidents. During President Obama’s second term, I remember...
I’ve Been Thinking … Finding Your Rock
"The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi," chronicles Kathie Lee Gifford's personal journey to the land of Israel where she went to discover a deeper understanding of the Bible's ancient text. In this excerpt, she recounts the moment her late husband, Frank, had his...
I’ve Been Thinking … Choosing Gratitude as a Way of Life
A friend of mine recently went through a painful personal crisis. At first, it seemed to be the result of a breakup. Then it went deeper, as he realized that he did not understand the meaning or purpose of his own life. He was both anxious and depressed. “I think,” he...
Making Caring Common Shows Us How to Raise Caring, Ethical Youth in Today’s Social Climate
The notion to elevate the emotional intelligence of today's youth was the goal for Richard Weissbourd and Stephanie Jones, faculty at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, when they founded Making Caring Common in 2012. The program utilizes research, expert...
I’ve Been Thinking … Holy Week Is A Time to Reflect On Where We Are Broken
I remember the first time my oldest son cut himself. He was a year and a half old. We were in the backyard. It was summertime and he was wearing blue shorts and a white t-shirt. Still wobbly on his legs, he fell on a patch of concrete and scraped his knee. This was a...
Jay Shetty’s Goal Is to Make ‘Wisdom Go Viral’
Have you ever met someone who inspired you so much, it changed the path of your life? It is exactly what happened to Jay Shetty who is a very successful millennial content creator and motivational speaker with millions of followers Facebook. At age 18, Jay went to...
I’ve Been Thinking … Letter to a Shelter Dog
Dear Paloma, There you were, standing on your hind legs with your two giant paws up on the kennel door, like you’d been waiting for me. Perhaps you knew I’d just binged on a stale, two-day-old birthday cake in the break room of the San Diego Humane Society, where I...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
I’ve Been Thinking … Purpose is Power
With no formal position or power, the teenage survivors of the recent Florida high school shooting have sparked meaningful national dialogue around gun rights and gun control where the most influential politicians and celebrities have failed to gain traction. I think...
Arizona Woman Creates Food Delivery Program That Brings Joy to Homebound Cancer Patients
The Joy Bus began in 2011 when founder Jennifer Caraway’s friend, Joy, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of ovarian cancer. While she was receiving treatment, Jennifer noticed the struggle that Joy experienced, particularly with meal preparation and nutrition and...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
How To Get Through To Your Man
I teach both men and women what I call Fierce Intimacy – taking each other on, standing up to one another with love. In Patriarchal culture, power and connection are split. You can be loving and accommodate, (as women did for years) or you can find your voice and...
How to Discover Your True Life’s Purpose
We all have a unique purpose. Exodus 9:16 says, “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” There is a greater purpose at work than your personal happiness or satisfying ego....
Don’t Hate on Love
I am a sucker when it comes to Valentine’s Day. The balloons, the candlelit dinners, the lovey-dovey messages…they all totally get my heart beating. Yes, I love this holiday that’s filled with chocolate heart boxes, cupid-shaped cards, and stunning red roses. In fact,...
How a Caring Community Launched a Thriving, Worker-Owned Grocery Cooperative
Before community members of West Oakland, California formed Mandela Foods Cooperative in 2009, area residents relied on small, poorly stocked stores for nutrition. The Cooperative was born out of the desire to not only improve access to healthy food but to create...
How to Integrate Mind-Body-Spirit to Create the Life You Want to Live
Welcome back and congratulations on your Health Reboot! This week is all about the New You and will integrate the previous weeks of mind, body and spirit. If you haven’t yet visited these articles, please click here first. The New You Did you know that you have the...
How to Make Your Mind Work For You
Welcome to your Personal Health Reboot! Firstly, congratulations on choosing to be here. Making the time to learn and understand all about your body, mind, and spirit - and how to care for and support each part - is a wonderful first step to a healthier, happier, more...
How One Woman is Turning a Decaying Neighborhood Into an Urban Oasis
Shamayim ‘Shu’ Harris wanted to make a difference in her once-thriving Highland Park, Michigan community. A mother, community activist and former school administrator, "Mama Shu"–as she is affectionately called by friends and family–was inspired to take action after...
How to Discover Your Own Unique Spiritual Path
Welcome back and congratulations on reaching stage 3 of your Health Reboot! This week we will be looking at your spirit, what it means to reconnect with this part of yourself, and how to be guided by your intuition and spirit. When we talk about health, talking about...
Why It’s Important to Understand What People Really Think of You
If internal self-awareness means gaining insight by looking inward, external self-awareness means turning our gaze outward to understand how we are seen. And no matter how hard we try, we simply cannot do this on our own. We live in a world where people usually don’t...
How to Stop Internal Mental Abuse
What is the difference between a healthy push and self-imposed mental abuse? Have you ever heard someone say, "You really shouldn't be so hard on yourself"? For many of us, our inner dialogue can be incredibly cruel, harsh, and relentless. We mentally abuse ourselves...
How Just a Little More Movement Can Change Your Life
It’s 2018, and according to public polling, topping the resolution list for most is the same thing: get more exercise! I’ve been teaching movement for over twenty years, and one thing I’ve learned is that adherence to exercise programs is often thwarted by how we feel...
Teen Fights Global Hunger and Poverty With ‘Heart’
Most 4-year-olds don't think about the well-being of the those less fortunate than themselves. In 2005, Joshua Williams was not your typical 4-year-old. When the South Florida pre-schooler discovered that people in his neighborhood went without food, he founded...
How Knowing Your Body Type Can Put You on the Road to Better Health
Before penicillin, there were no antibiotics. Before the internet, there was no email. Before the printing press, there was no form of mass-communication at distance. And before personalized health, there was no way to accurately prescribe food, exercise or...
4 Tips for Dreaming and Creating Your Resolutions for 2018
Happy 2018, everyone! As many of us know, our resolutions for the new year can sometimes dry out by the end of February. At that point, we may find ourselves running out of steam and stamina to make the changes we want to see in our world happen. Some of us then slip...
Mom Promotes Opioid Addiction Recovery From a Place of Love, Respect and Compassion
Lori Erion knows first-hand the pain and struggle of addiction. A recovering alcoholic herself, she is the mother of April, a recovering heroin addict. When she noticed there was a lack of resources for families dealing with drug-addicted loved ones in her Ohio...
Kindness Is Not a Seasonal Brand
As I was listening to the radio the other morning, someone on-air said, “Isn’t this the time of year when we are all supposed to be nice to each other. It’s the holiday season and we should all be kind to one another, right?” This sentiment struck me as disruptive on...
10 Ways To Have Yourself a Merry Little Holiday
It’s that time of year again: the modern miracle known as "The Holidays," when into the dark little months of late November and December, we squeeze Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Years Eve, and a myriad of other celebrations, from ancient Solstice rituals to...
It’s Time For a Kindness Revolution
A much better writer than I could ever hope to be, Zora Neale Hurston once said, “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” What of the years that do both? What of the months, the days that do both? We stand today in a world filled with questions, and...
10 Ways To Give Back to Architects of Change
If you've been inspired by the Architects of Change Maria has interviewed this year, then may we encourage you to consider them when making your charitable giving this holiday season. We've certainly met some extraordinary individuals this year who have devoted their...
The Sound of a Happy House: When Your Kids Come Home for the Holidays
There’s something about the barely discernible hush of a house when your family is under one roof, asleep in their beds. It’s somewhere between a whisper and a sigh, and it’s just this side of silence — that ever-so-soft sound a home makes late at night when the kids...
Tips For Managing Your Holiday Stress Levels
The holiday season is upon us, which has many people’s stress levels on high alert. For some of you, just the thought of traveling or being around family can bring on those deep breaths of anxiety. Please kindly allow me to be blunt: family parties and the holiday...
Emotional Intelligence: An Antidote to Emotional Abuse
These days, you can hardly go more than 24 hours without hearing reports of sexual misconduct by some of our nation’s political leaders and celebrities, yet the authorities tell us that we can’t believe the news. In this current climate, where reality is in question,...
After The Tragic Death of Their Son, Couple Finds New Respect For Life
Richard and Samantha Specht lost their 22-month-old son, Rees, in a drowning accident in 2013. Though they could have become immersed in emotional grief, the Long Island couple turned their personal tragedy into something positive by founding the ReesSpecht Life...
Surviving Grief Is Similar To Riding Ocean Waves, Unpredictable Yet A Reality
Christmas is my favorite time of year. My heart would fill with joy seeing the gleam and sparkle in the eyes of my children as they raced down the stairs to see what Santa had left. But this year was different. It was my first Christmas morning as a divorced parent,...
What Does Love Really Mean?
Before we define love, it’s important that we first look at the two different aspects of ourselves, because each aspect has a different view and need of love. Let’s make this simple to understand by looking at ourselves as the child part and the adult part. Some...
Famed Songwriter Discovers True Meaning of Unconditional Love Through Caregiving
Franne Golde is a renowned singer/songwriter, musician, and writer. Her songs have appeared on more than 100 million records worldwide, and she has worked with some of the biggest recording artists in the industry. In 2016, she started "The Perfect Black Pant"...
Instilling Social And Emotional Health In Today’s Youth
If there’s one question that seems to be central in the country today, it’s this: “is there anything that gives us hope for the future?” The politics of bullying has led to increasing divisiveness, inequalities only seem to grow worse, and a never-ending stream of...
How to Stay Merry and Mindful This Holiday Season
Remember what Ram Dass said about spiritual progress? If you think you’re enlightened, go spend time with your family! The holidays are in full swing and so are our triggers, blind spots and shadow selves. As the year winds down, so do our spiritual reserves but the...
Cristina Ferrare’s Brain-Healthy Roasted Beet Salad
When I found these today at the open market I knew immediately that I wanted to make a delicious salad. When I came across wild organic baby arugula I knew the combination would be perfect! I can’t eat beets that have been boiled, to me they taste like dirt, I prefer...
A Love Letter To My Brain
Nadine Schiff is an accomplished journalist, a great mom, and a beautiful writer. She is also a dear friend of Maria's. Today, she shares this poem that she wrote entitled, "A Love Letter to My Brain." I want to thank you for allowing me To view the Grand Canyon, Hear...
Lu Parker Talks to Robert Shapiro About Loss of His Son and the Secrets to a Strong Marriage
If you take a moment to think about it, chances are you know someone who struggles with alcohol or drug addiction. The truth hits close to home way too often for many of us. I admit that it continues to affect my family, but that is a story I am not ready to tell. ...
Social Media and the Pressure to Be Perfect
When I kicked off 2017, I made a pact with myself to make it my most honest year yet. I wanted to be truthful about how I felt and I wanted to put my integrity stamp on every decision made. For some of you, that may sound like an easy resolution to conquer. However,...
Siblings Devoted to Saving Heroin Users From Overdosing With Life-Saving Drug
Jennifer and Sam Plumb lost their brother, Andy, to a heroin overdose in 1996 at the age of 22. Their tragic loss motivated the Utah-based siblings to do what they could to prevent others from meeting the same fate. In 2015, They founded Utah Naloxone an organization...
‘Angst’: Film About Anxiety Evokes Hope
Anxiety isn’t cool but talking about it is. Why a movie about anxiety and why now? I get involved with and make social impact films about topics like empowerment, bullying and screen addiction because I believe film is the most powerful medium on the planet. I also...
Mom of Sandy Hook Victim Chooses Love
Five years ago, my six-year-old son, Jesse Lewis, was shot in the forehead in his first-grade classroom at Sandy Hook Elementary School. He was murdered by a former student, alongside 19 of his classmates and six educators in one of the worst mass shootings in U.S....
The Night I Was ‘John Doe’
I have always tried to reflect on the past, but not to dwell on it. That has not always been easy. 2016 ended as a year that stirred deep emotions for many of us, and, in some cases, a feeling of powerlessness (a feeling, definitely not a fact). I don’t know about...
Ways to Protect Your Mind, Body and Spirit This Fall
The cold winds of change are upon us and so is cold-and-flu season. Have you ever noticed that when the seasons change, we start wishing we could change, too? While springtime and summer inspire creativity, fun and reinvention, fall and winter guide us to look inward...
There’s More Than One Way To Be A First Responder
First responders have been in the news a lot lately: brave men and women who rush to those who need them in mass shootings, weather catastrophes, and war zones. Their courage is worthy of our support. But recently I’ve been wondering, who gets to be called a first...
‘Wear Glasses That Work’: Adjust Your Perspective and Get the Outcome You Desire
Years ago my daughter Sydney, like many teenagers, had her share of struggles with self-esteem. Compounding this struggle was the fact she had lost her hearing at an early age. It often made it difficult for her to communicate and served as fodder for the kind of...
National Geographic Author Solves the Riddle of Happiness and Longevity
Best-selling author Dan Buettner has been leading National Geographic expeditions around the globe for 15 years. In 2000, Buettner and his team stumbled upon what he termed a "mystery" in Okinawa, Japan–their population had the longest, disability-free life expectancy...
100 Suits For 100 Men Gives Underprivileged Men New Lease On Life
Kevin Livingston was sick and tired of watching underprivileged young men being ostracized by society and decided to do something about it. He firmly believed that by donning crisp, business suits, these high-risk youths would feel better about themselves and make...
Five Years Since My Suicide Attempt, My Life Is Filled With Love
Isn't it sad that I couldn't think of anything to write about today? After all, I've written something for mariashriver.com every year around this time — ever since October 26, 2012 — and it's always come easily. October 26, 2012, is when I tried to kill myself, and...
A Millennial Making a Difference For a Brighter Future
Erin Schrode, 26, has developed eco-education and action platforms to inspire, educate and mobilize millions of people from all over the world. The internationally renowned millennial was recognized by the White House in 2011 as “a dynamic, passionate and ambitious...
Finally Deciding You’re Good Enough Can Quietly Change the World
There have been a few bleak seasons in my 46 years, starting at a young age, when I wanted to opt out of life. Disappear quietly. I knew I could never keep up or measure up and that I didn't have what it takes. What I hadn't learned yet, or not fully, was that I do...
Why Trusting in Yourself Can Make All the Difference
What motivates you to want to make a difference, to want to create change in the world around you? Are you motivated by fear and pressure of what will happen to you personally if you don’t do something, or are you motivated by true compassion and creative inspiration?...
The Unexpected Health Benefits of Pumpkin
It’s time to usher in the fall! I get so excited when I start to see pumpkins and pomegranates everywhere I go to shop for food. It signals the start of the holidays, cozy blankets, candles, sweaters, and wood-burning fireplaces. My family has already made our trip to...
Battling Injustice: How Female Nobel Peace Laureates Have Led the Way
In this world, which is so full of turbulence due to widespread injustice, the first thought of any person who has nurtured empathy for their fellow human beings is the thought of fighting that injustice. The concept of battling is central to human life. In the many...
How to Leverage the Power of Service
One of my favorite quotes about service comes from the late Muhammad Ali, who said,“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” Service is an obligation, not just something you do as a stepping stone. Learn to take joy in serving well and...
The Kindness of These Women Will Inspire Your Heart
Lauren Paul and Molly Thompson met as film students while attending Pepperdine University. They soon discovered that they shared a bond over bullying incidents they each experienced in their youth. Motivated by similar wounds, the women embarked on a cross-country...
A Mom on a Mission to Reform Gun Laws
Shannon Watts is determined to use the power of her one voice to save the lives of millions of others. As the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, which is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, Shannon is fighting to change laws and change minds. No...
A Tip for Using Your Mind to Open Your Heart
"Sometimes the desire to be lost again, as long ago, comes over me like a vapor. With growth into adulthood, responsibilities claimed me, so many heavy coats. I didn’t choose them, I don’t fault them, but it took time to reject them. Now in the spring I kneel, I put...
Feeling Empowered Through Forgiveness
What can we learn about forgiveness? It is a question that continues to hit the core of our souls and hearts throughout our entire lives. Forgiving usually comes when we have been dealt with some kind of level of hurt. Hurt is often unexpected and can knock you to the...
Saying Goodbye to a Child
Have you ever heard a story about something really tragic happening to someone but somehow that person finds a way to turn pain into love? I experienced it in real life this month when I interviewed Eric and Jana David who lost their 10-year-old son Dylan to brain...
The Science Behind How Desire Shapes Our Beliefs
People love propagating information and sharing opinions. You can see this online: every single day, four million new blogs are written, 80 million new Instagram photos are uploaded, and 616 million new tweets are released into cyberspace. It appears the...
The No. 1 Salad Green You Should Be Eating Now
I eat a lot of salads with different kinds of lettuce and greens. Not all greens are created equal, but I was surprised to learn that the top-rated salad green is not kale, but watercress! Watercress contains the highest percentage of your daily recommended intake...
Stop Trying to Change Others. Start Within Yourself.
Byron Katie is an esteemed author and thought leader who has spent years helping people around the globe do "The Work" needed to change their perspective on the world. "The Work" is a simple, yet powerful, process of inquiry that teaches you to identify and question...
How Loss Strengthened My Faith in the Power of Love
Architect of Change Sally Quinn is a veteran Washington Post reporter and the wife of the late Ben Bradlee, the paper's legendary former executive editor. In her new book Finding Magic, Sally bravely opens her heart and shares what it was like to gradually lose the...
Why We Are Living Amidst a ‘Blessed Crisis’
We are going through a moment in which our system as a whole is collapsing. Every area of society is in crisis: the political system, the economy, education, the environment. Even though everything seems to be falling apart, I consider this to be a positive moment – a...
This Woman’s ‘Pop-Up Care Villages’ Are Bringing Hygiene and Dignity to San Francisco’s Homeless
"Doniece’s work is the embodiment of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s call to service." This week, we honor Doniece Sandoval as our Architect of Change of the Week. Doniece is the founder of Lava Mae, a nonprofit that transforms decommissioned buses into mobile hygiene...
Still Grandad: Seeing My Grandfather’s True Soul Through Alzheimer’s Disease
On June 6, 1944, at the seemingly invincible age of twenty, Ronald Dennis Longman found himself at the helm of a British landing craft packed with other countless young souls as they shook with angst while their boat approached France’s Juno beach; each soldier...
Summertime Tips for Cultivating a Reverent and Open Heart
“Reverence” is a feeling of deep respect tinged with awe. If you’ve ever been spellbound by the crashing of waves, the silver of moonlight or the sound of a child’s laughter, you know the gift that is reverence. If you just thought, “I don’t have time for stuff like...
When Was the Last Time You Performed an Act of Kindness?
Have you felt it lately? I know I have for months now. Many of my friends and family agree that something feels heavy, negative and disconnected. I am referring to the energy surrounding how we have been treating each other as if a heavy cloud is lingering over our...
Malala’s Father Shares Lessons for Fathers to Empower Their Children
Last month, I conducted an interview with Zia Yousafzai, former Swat Valley teacher, Co-founder of the Malala Fund and father of Nobel Prize laureate, Malala. With an infinitely determined voice, Yousafzai spoke of the importance of embracing our children for who they...
This Family’s Foster Care Story Will Inspire Your Heart
"Extending a hand to the most vulnerable among us is a privilege." Every week in Maria's publication The Sunday Paper, we honor individuals who are using their voices, their hearts and their minds to Move Humanity Forward. This week, we honor Rob and Reece Scheer as...
Want to Strengthen Your Family’s Values? Try This.
Architect of Change Sean Covey, a motivational speaker, the EVP of Global Solutions and Partnerships for FranklinCovey, and the New York Times-bestselling author of the books The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make, The 7 Habits of Happy Kids, and The 7 Habits...
Tara Brach Is Inspiring Calm and Compassion Across the World
"Pausing, finding a quiet space, and opening up to the present moment exposes us to our unlived life." Every week in Maria's publication The Sunday Paper, we honor individuals who are using their voices, their hearts and their minds to Move Humanity Forward. This...
How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self
"Boredom is a luxury we should give ourselves permission to indulge in more often. It’s good for our brains, our sanity, and for keeping in touch with ourselves." On the subway this morning, a sticky mid-July Thursday, the woman sitting next to me started yelling into...
The Science Behind Why Boredom Is Better For Your Brain
"Those moments when we don't have to focus on anything in particular, and can allow our minds to roam free, are actually quite valuable." If alien anthropologists are observing humans right now, they would assume that the worst thing we can ever be is bored. We whip...
Want to Find Your Purpose? Spend More Time Alone.
"It's only when we step away from those distractions and take the time to think and reflect that we can come to a deeper understanding of who we are." I recently wrote a book called The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life that Matters, which is about how people can lead...
A Conversation With Jane Goodall: 4 Lessons on Aging, Communicating & the Environment
Jane Goodall exhibits an enviable calm about her life’s third act. “I’m not afraid of death. Just the dying part; it depends what you die of. I don’t now what happens when we die. I just feel there’s something else. To me, death is kind of an adventure,” she reveals...
Elizabeth Dole Is on a Mission to Honor and Support Military Caregivers
"Military caregivers are our nation's hidden heroes." Every week in Maria's publication The Sunday Paper, we honor individuals who are using their voices, their hearts and their minds to Move Humanity Forward. This week, we honor Sen. Elizabeth Dole as our Architect...
The Permission to Live Openly
Admitting who we are is truly a powerful feeling. For me, that was choosing to acknowledge what I had known since early childhood, yet had been scared to admit out loud for fear of rejection from family, friends, roommates, community, teams, co-workers, and church....
The Secret to Longevity? Change Your Habits.
"Remember, your cells are continually dying and new ones are taking their place. If the new ones that come in are not healthy, then you can imagine what happens to your body: it starts deteriorating." Elaine LaLanne is a fitness inspiration to us all. At 91, the...
Betty White: ‘I’m a Cock-Eyed Optimist’
Actress. Comedian. Writer. Singer. At 95, Architect of Change Betty White remains one of Hollywood's most beloved stars. Today, she exclusively shares a few quick thoughts on how she's maintained joy and a good sense of humor over the decades. To receive content like...
Sheila Nevins Keeps Us Honest About Aging
Architect of Change Sheila Nevins, the head of HBO's documentary unit for over three decades, is one of the most powerful voices in the film industry today. Her wisdom has influenced some of the most powerful and award-winning documentaries of our time, including...
James Altucher Wants to Help You Reinvent Yourself
"Have a vision that can motivate all of the other actions you take in the name of that vision. This will give you energy, inspire you to have the positive habits that will help you on your mission, and take part in the reinventions your vision will constantly...
These Two Moms Are Making the Workplace More Flexible For Women
"Half of all college-educated women between the ages of 30-40 years old will leave the workforce for some time. This was our call to action." In the summer of 2014, we were both in pivotal career transition moments. (Jenny was a broadcast journalist looking to...
Humanity: Our Best Competitive Advantage in the Workplace
"Computers don’t have feelings, but people do. Precious few of us will differentiate ourselves in the marketplace by coming up with the next big technological advance. We’ll do it by becoming more wholly human." Earlier this week, I flew from New York to Boston and...
Learning to Command Your Time
"It’s time to set your schedule in order so that you don’t look back on the day of your death and wonder why you never really lived." I have always had a troubled relationship with time. I don’t like the way it passes, taking every material form along with it. I don’t...
This Vet Opened a Free Vacation Retreat for America’s Military Families
"Our goal is to provide our veterans with an incredible place where they can relax, enjoy bonding together as a family and as a fellow service member, and where they can find their “new normal” on their own terms." Every week in Maria’s newsletter publication The...
Everything I Know About Freedom, I Learned in Prison
"Yet sometimes the best way to fully appreciate something is to live without it. Or better yet, to have to redefine it." They say you can’t form accurate memories until you have the language skills to assign meaning to your experience. I disagree. We moved to Alaska...
With the Joy of Freedom Comes the Fear of the Unknown. Embrace It.
"People often prefer a very limited, punishing regime—rather than face the anxiety of freedom." Along with the joy of freedom is a fear of the unknown. Freedom can be both exhilarating and unnerving. The conflict runs deep. When a rabbit runs free, it has to watch for...
America: Still the First Place I Would Go
"Many of my American friends at the moment feel estranged from the government. Traveling to Hong Kong and Paris (where I’m writing from now) reminds one how far the U.S. has fallen behind, in matters of simple infrastructure and efficiency. America’s glory days as an...
Every American Should Serve For One Year
"America needs to get back to its roots. Throughout history, we have empowered our citizens to create change and break down barriers to overcome our greatest challenges. A year of national service has the power to do this once more, binding our country together in...
Put Down Your Phone. It’s Time to Look Up.
We spend far too much time looking at the screens, rather than looking into people's eyes or listening. I think we can learn more about ourselves, society and the world at hand if we look up more as we communicate and look down less. I have been to a few year-end...
How I Learned to Lead From a Place of Authenticity
An honest evaluation of the self requires the acknowledgment and acceptance of gifts and weaknesses, both of which are necessary for balance. Twenty-eight years ago, I embarked on the first day of my clinical psychology internship. What I learned about courage that...
Seeking Acceptance? Start With Yourself.
This moment in American history is begging all of us to rise up and join together to demand that America lives up to her promise: Freedom and justice for all instead of for a privileged few. Glennon Doyle Melton is a powerful voice with a lot to say about identity,...
Meet the Founder of the First All-Accessible Waterpark
Inclusion and accessibility are two of the most important words in our vocabulary. I truly believe our inclusivity and accessibility inspire guests to do things previously thought not to be in their range of capabilities. Every week in The Sunday Paper, we honor...
Architects of Change Lu Parker and Moby Talk About the Path of Life
I have been intrigued by Moby for many years. I met him originally in 2014 at a vegan event in Los Angeles, and was impressed with his demeanor and dedication to animal welfare. That encounter was one of the main reasons I chose to reach out to him when I created The...
Jeff Lew Is on a Mission to Wipe Out Student Lunch Debt
My son will be 9 in August. I hope that he's learned to be compassionate towards others. And I hope that he learns to take action when there's something that he feels isn't right. I hope that by seeing me take action and fight for the issues I'm passionate about, he...
From Dad at 16 to CEO Inspiring Men to Lead
I want men to know how incredible their presence is in the lives of their children. As a father, I discovered that my sons loved me just the way I was. I didn't need to possess expensive clothes, shoes, cars, or objects. I only had to be me. Cole Williams was 16 years...
What A Trip to the ‘Wrong Side of Town’Taught Me About My Dad
People who focus on living with a sense of purpose are more likely to remain healthy and intellectually sound and even live longer than people who focus on achieving feelings of “happiness” via pleasure. My father was a Detroit riot cop, a huge rock of a man with...
Finding My Father Through Letters From World War II
So, this Father’s Day, I may not be able to give my father a tie or even a crayon-colored handmade card as I did so long ago. But I can give him a greater gift. I can offer him the daughter that I have become – one that I hope he would be proud of. As Father’s Day...
When Searching for Love, You Must First Find Love for Yourself
"You deserve nothing but the best when it comes to love. Who you allow to share your life with you should be just as wonderful as you are." I’ve noticed something about young women that has me bothered. I’ll get straight to the chase since you may be wondering why...
Pulse Nightclub: Remembering to Be a Leader of Love in a Time of Hate
A simple act of kindness goes a long way and so does using your knowledge and education to help others understand what the definition of “love” truly means. A lot has happened in one year. We have a new president, new international worries, a new kind of political...
One Love: Why We Need a Political System Driven by Compassion
What will we stand for? What will our children and our children’s children remember us for? Let’s have the courage to risk being right and that we will be known for striving to getting things right. Let’s lay claim to love as the public ethic of our times. We are...
Lessons on Love We Can Learn From Our Grandmothers
"Love is so powerful, the most powerful form of emotion you can possibly feel. When it is bounced back from person to person, the energy of that feeling is indescribable. So, when you have that special bond with someone in your life, whether it is a family member,...
Feeling Depressed? Eight Steps To Help Raise Your Spirits
"What we should all agree on is that depression is not talked about enough. Each of us is going to handle moments of heartache in our own particular way, but what needs to be understood is that one way is not better than the other." I have been sharing my life with...
Influential Chef Paula Wolfert Powers on Despite Dementia
Dementia has made it harder to read the words on the page, and to remember this afternoon what I did this morning, and even the names of old friends, but I can’t let it stop me from living. Paula Wolfert is one of the most influential chefs of our time. While she may...
Real Love: The Physical Effect that Affection Has on Our Well-Being
One foundation of loving relationships is curiosity, keeping open to the idea that we have much to learn even about those who we have been close to for decades. Whatever language we use to describe healthy relationships, when we’re in them, we feel nourished by them,...
Paula Wolfert’s Seven Keys to Retrieving Food Memories
Connecting through food with someone suffering from dementia has its challenges as well as rewards. Here are seven tips based on what author Emily Kaiser Thelin learned while cooking with Paula Wolfert for their new book, “Unforgettable: The Bold Flavors of Paula...
Three Ways to Break Free From Mental Clutter
Mindfulness is the ability to be attentive and aware of yourself and your surroundings. It involves a judgment-free openness to all the thoughts, feelings, and experiences that the day might hold. Some days the world feels crazy and overwhelming. Are you feeling it? I...
It’s Wedding Season! Advice on the Big Day From a ‘Bridesman’
"Like many things in life, the 'typical wedding day' is evolving especially if you would like to add a modern twist to it." For all the brides-to-be in the world, I must admit we have something in common – we both appreciate the joys of everything and anything...
Deliberate Rest: Why the Secret to Success Is Taking a Break
So work and rest aren’t opposites like black and white or good and evil; they’re more like different points on life’s wave. You can’t have a crest without a trough. You can’t have the highs without the lows. Neither can exist without the other. When you examine the...
How to Remember the Fallen This Memorial Day
Memorial Day is many things to many people. For most American citizens, it is a welcome reprieve from a Monday of work. For a small sliver of Americans, it is a solemn reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by men and women throughout generations to keep our nation...
Six Ways to Find Joy in Troubling Times
"We need to do what we can to help. But we are not all super heroes." A friend said to me the other day, I can’t find any joy this year. The world is just too mad. Humans are too stupid. I agreed that it’s hard and that the news is tragic. But people suffering far...
Tom Brokaw’s Tips for Maintaining Perspective in Today’s 24/7 News Cycle
Over the last 50 years, Tom Brokaw‘s voice is one that has guided us through many of our nation’s most important moments. He was kind enough to share a few tips this week on how he believes we can maintain perspective in the midst of the fast-paced, constantly...
Katrina Gilbert Stewart: ‘Never Give Up. Fight For Your Dreams.’
"It is, and was, so important to me to show my children all that they can do in life and how important it is to go to college." Every parent wants what’s best for their family. I know I do. I don’t want my children to just settle in life when they get older. If they...
This Newtown Mom Has a Mother’s Day Message of Hope
"No matter the story, speaking Emilie’s name brings light into our family." One night not long ago, I was reading a fairy-tale story to Madeline and Samantha at bedtime. The story closed with the conventional ending for fairy tales: “And they lived happily ever after....
Celebrating Mother: In Every Sense of the Word
"It feels good to take a moment to honor her – the Mother. May we all do that today in our own ways." Mother. She’s the “bomb.” Probably the number one brand in the world and the most recognized archetype of them all. Who is this woman? Illuminated and idealized,...
Caroline Boudreaux Is On a Mission to Find Every Child a Loving Home
"We’re trying to find a loving family for every child in the world so that they can grow up getting what they need to thrive." Caroline Boudreaux is on a mission to make sure every child in this world feels loved. Through her nonprofit organization The Miracle...
Prevent Stress From Aging You Inside Out
"When under stress, our brain is bathed in cortisol, a potent stress hormone." When I was 10 years old, I couldn’t comprehend how my mother’s cousin could be younger than my mom. To my eyes, she clearly looked much older. It didn’t make sense. “How could that possibly...
4 Easy Ways to Keep Your Blood Sugar (And Brain Health) in Check
"Fasting blood sugar numbers are now showing to correlate with your chance of developing dementia." There are a number of low carb, slow carb and no carb diets out there, and for good reason. They work to not only keep your body healthy, but also your brain! The...
5 Tools for Changing Your Life on Your Own Terms
"Choosing to make a change comes from a place of strength, but keeping that conviction to do so should be supported by the simple fact that change takes time." There are plenty of self-help books and Instagram quotes that encourage us to “make a change” in our lives....
5 Ways Spring Cleaning Can Help You Build Resilience After Loss
"Over time, I figured out that repurposing objects, or simply parting with them, made me feel happier and more connected." After my parents died, I felt a responsibility to hang on to nearly all their belongings – my father’s neckties, my mother’s scarves, their...
Take Our Daughters to Work: A Q&A With Creator Nell Merlino
"We thought if the workplace was full of girls people would show them respect for what they want to accomplish and not objectified them." Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is coming up this Thursday, April 27. In honor of that, we wanted to catch up with the...
Choosing Love & Sacrifice in Today’s Cell Phone Culture
"As a society, we’ve missed out on what it means to cultivate human beings who grow up to be agents of peace in the world." By now, virtually everyone has seen the video of Dr. David Dao being forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight after he was one of four...
7 Simple Steps to Connect With Your Heart’s Center
"In your mind, you can rationalize all kinds of things you may want for yourself and others, but the crucial choices you make come straight from your heart." Technically, your heart is the primary muscle of your circulatory system — located on the left side of your...
Matthieu Ricard: ‘The World’s Happiest Man’
"It is essential to wish for others’ happiness because the pursuit of selfish happiness is bound to fail." Every week in Maria’s newsletter publication The Sunday Paper, we honor individuals who are using their voices, their hearts and their minds to Move Humanity...
The Power of Silence to Show Us Our True Selves, and the World
"It is only by listening that we get to really know the other as well as ourselves." It is very easy to valorize silence. Who isn’t looking for eternal peace and quiet? But the fundamental challenge of it remains: Why do I want peace and quiet so desperately? What...
One Woman’s Marathon Toward Healing Her PTSD
"When I reflect on the past four years since that tragic day, I am reminded of immeasurable blessings mixed with unbearable pain." My story begins at a finish line. On a bright Patriot’s Day in 2013, I stood at the finish line of the Boston Marathon waiting for my...
What Gets You Up in the Morning?
"Purpose is a uniquely powerful source of fuel – and satisfaction." In the last several weeks, I had two radically different experiences spending extended time with leaders at two large, global companies. A long, alcohol-fueled dinner with the first group was a pure...
3 Ways to Stop Trying to Control What You Can’t Change
"It’s important that we be at peace with ourselves and others before we can tap into the energy of passion that is required to move forward in life in a happy and fulfilling way." In Maria’s fourth New year’s resolution of 2017, she vowed to get out of the “ridiculous...
Janine Shepherd: “A Broken Body Is Not a Broken Person”
"The truth is that our strength to overcome physical and emotional challenges has nothing to do with our bodies." Every week at The Sunday Paper, we honor an individual who is using their voice, their heart and their mind to Move Humanity Forward. This week, we honor...
An Innovative Concept: College Students and Seniors Living Under One Roof
"As they open up my eyes to their world, I hope I open theirs to my world that I have lived/living of art and books, and an old lady’s perspective on life and living!" - Laura Berick, 81, Judson Manor resident Every week, we honor individuals who are using their...
Eleanor Alvarez Wants to Reimagine How We Care for Alzheimer’s Patients
"They really do understand and know and feel so much more than we realize." - Eleanor Alvarez, founder and CEO of Ganzhorn Suites We all build homes tailored to our individual preferences and needs, so why should care facilities for seniors be treated any differently?...
Four Easy Ways to Get Yourself Moving More Every Day
"The more we sit in chairs, the harder it becomes to do anything else." What if we told you it’s possible to not only maintain your strength and mobility, but also improve them, no matter how old you are? Joan Virginia Allen, Shelah M. Wilgus, Lora Woods and Joyce...
Sallie Krawcheck’s Effort to Transform Women’s Relationship with Money
"When women invest, the research indicates, we are better investors than men and earn better returns." - Sallie Krawcheck In recognition of Women’s History Month, The Sunday Paper has been honoring incredible women who are using their voices, their hearts and their...
Women: We Stand With You, Always
"I think a lot of it boils down to fear and the running old topic of what is masculine versus feminine." I have made it a point and my purpose to write about my love for women and show my gratitude to the women in my life who have influenced me, motivated me, and...
Sports Commentator Jim Nantz Finds His Calling in Alzheimer’s Advocacy
"We need to make Alzheimer’s research a priority. It’s a devastating disease and an evil opponent that must be stopped." - Jim Nantz Every week at The Sunday Paper, we honor an individual who is using their voice, their heart and their mind to Move Humanity Forward....
More Reflection, Less Action: Why We Need to Create White Space in Our Lives
"Regular reflection also provides the space in which to decide what not to do." Earlier this week, I found myself talking with the chief of staff to the chief executive at a large company. The two of them had been on the road together for four consecutive weeks. I...
Why a Busy Brain Is an Unbalanced Brain
"A well‐functioning PFC is crucial to your ability to rewrite the negative stories you tell yourself. " Many of us have at least some familiarity with the “busy brain” feeling of being overwhelmed. We all have days when instead of catching up, our task list seems to...
How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
"It’s possible that we are being spared instead of punished when things don’t go the way we think they should, even though we may not see it that way at the time." This week it’s time to bury Maria’s third New Year’s resolution: making comparisons. “Even though I know...
‘Fearless Girl’: A Q&A With the Sculptor Whose Work Has Shaken Up Wall Street
"As an artist, I think any work which begs a question and induces debate is always a good thing!" - Kristen Visbal Kristen Visbal’s “Fearless Girl” statue has shaken up Wall Street since it was first installed across from the iconic Charging Bull on International...
Caitlin Crosby & Katie Meyler: Young Entrepreneurs on the Frontlines of Humanity
"Without question, these women have committed themselves to creating a more conscious, caring and compassionate world." Each week in Maria’s weekly newsletter publication The Sunday Paper, we honor individuals who are using their voices, their hearts and their minds...
How to Overcome Fear in Your Life
"Knowing you are supported will help bring your mind out of confusion." In Maria’s New Year’s Day essay, she mentioned that she wanted to bury the fear in her life in 2017. “ I want to grab my fear by the you know what. It’s got no place in my life in 2017. Time is...
‘Chasing Slow’: An Excerpt From Erin Loechner’s Book About Slow Living
"And I see it now: the blazer, the manicure. The cappuccino, the conference. The many. Yes, I was measuring it. All the time." “There are two ways to get enough: one is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.” —G. K. Chesterton Today, I...
![One Mom’s Inspiring Story of How She Reignited Her Professional Mojo [EXCERPT]](https://mariashriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/mojo-400x250.jpg)
One Mom’s Inspiring Story of How She Reignited Her Professional Mojo [EXCERPT]
"I was powered by the instinctive drive to honor my husband’s legacy, and a fierce resolve to not let my children be diminished or even defined by being fatherless." Growing up, we all dreamed of becoming some sort of princess. My princess was going to live in a...
Architect of Change of the Week: Betty LaMarr
"I knew if I could overcome my adversity of being a teen mom and living in the inner city, I had to share my story with others who were facing the same prospects." - Betty LaMarr Each week in Maria’s weekly newsletter publication The Sunday Paper, we honor individuals...
Lu Parker and Architect of Change Russell Simmons on His New Wellness Studio
I created The PATH with Lu Parker as a way to share stories of how certain individuals are making big change in our communities and our world. Russell Simmons is one of those people. I did not know much about Russell prior to him opening Tantris. The yoga center is in...
10 Life Lessons I Learned From That Epic Oscars Fail
"Always ask for help in a 'big' situation. Don’t be afraid to say, 'something’s not right here'." From Maria: I met Nadine in the CBS newsroom more than 30 years ago. She is a journalist, a mom, a wife, a mom, a beautiful writer, and a loyal go-to friend who always...
Maria’s 30-Day Mind Reboot: Three Tips For Burying the Critical Voice in Your Head
"Creating these new mental habits will reduce your mental stress and break the old habit of feeling bad or unhappy." In the first Sunday Paper of 2017, Maria shared her personal resolutions to bury four habits that were creating stress in her life: The critical voice...
How Tim Robbins Is Using the Arts to Transform CA’s Prison System
"Prison and whatever led them to prison is not and never is the whole of the person." - Tim Robbins Every week in Maria’s newsletter publication The Sunday Paper, we honor individuals who use their voices, their hearts, and their minds to Move Humanity Forward. This...
New Film Paints Humanistic Portrait Of Life After Prison
"I believe truly dimensional portrayals of the most vulnerable members of our society can be a core strategy to advancing social justice." - Daniel Beaty, actor & co-screenplay writer At a time when the United States’ incarceration rate is the highest in the world,...
A Q&A with Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York
"I’m constantly being amazed by the lives and narratives of randomly chosen people." - Brandon Stanton Every week in Maria’s weekly newsletter publication The Sunday Paper, we honor individuals who use their voices, their hearts, and their minds to Move Humanity...
How This Director Is Using Music to Awaken Individuals with Alzheimer’s
"It’s Michael’s mission to reimagine how our society views the elderly and to foster a culture of empathy and acceptance." Every week in Maria’s newsletter publication The Sunday Paper, we honor individuals who use their voices, their hearts, and their minds to Move...
Architect of Change of the Week: Rev. Andy Bales
"Recreating community is the biggest step toward ending homelessness." - Rev. Andy Bales Every week in Maria’s newsletter publication The Sunday Paper, we honor individuals who use their voices, their hearts, and their minds to Move Humanity Forward. This week, we...
Sunday Paper Exclusive: Tom Brady on the Mind of a Champion
"I believe that what we get out of our bodies is a direct result of what we put in." - Tom Brady Tom Brady has done it again. On Sunday, The New England Patriots’ quarterback led his team to an incredible fifth Super Bowl championship. The odds of a win seemed slim...
The Two Things You Need to Achieve a Winning Mindset
"When we form habits, those habits form us." As players from the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons walk into Houston’s NRG Stadium on Sunday, it will, for many of them, be the culmination of a life’s effort both on and off the field. Meanwhile, as millions...
Andy Puddicombe Brings Guided Meditation to the Masses
"The more aware we become in our lives, hopefully, the more compassionate we become in our lives." - Andy Puddicombe This week, we honor Andy Puddicombe as our Architect of Change of the Week. Andy is the visionary leader and voice behind Headspace, an app that is...
Architects of Change Share How We Can All Move Forward
"When I fail and fall, I mourn it, cry it out and get back on the horse." - Nely Galan On the eve of Friday’s presidential inauguration, we released a special edition of The Sunday Paper. Our goal was to remind you that we have navigated change before and we will...
5 Essential Goals I Work on All Year Long
"When you get rid of negativity it removes misery and pain from your life and always promotes the opposite — joy and peace." I like to set goals and stretch myself; to learn new things by taking online classes, reading and always trying to know myself and grow. It’s...
A Restaurateur’s Commitment to Hiring Individuals with Disabilities
"It starts with finding the right hearts to work with." - Scott Wise This week, we honor restaurateur Scott Wise as our Architect of Change of the Week. Scott is the founder of A Pots and Pans Production, the company behind the restaurants Scotty’s Brewhouse, Thr3e...
Life Lessons Learned on the Track
"The motivation is seeing your end in sight, no matter how far off it may seem." Since they were five years old, my daughters have been champions, record breakers, and Junior Olympian track stars. It’s been a great run so far. We’ve had our share of injuries, setbacks...
The Girl Who Saved Christmas: A Tale of Forgiveness
It is easy to get lost in the pageantry of Christmas, and to forget the holiday’s deeper meaning—the promise of forgiveness. Each year, I look forward to decorating the tree, hanging the lights, and celebrating with my family. But the most wonderful Christmas I’ve...
4 Tips for Accountability in the New Year
"My experience in moving forward in life has a lot to do with taking accountability for my own actions, life decisions and personal choices." I’m not one to shy away from planning personal goals months in advance. Strategizing, outlining and checking off boxes is...
Gregg Renfrew and Beauty Counter: Creating Beauty Products to Better Our World
"I really felt that if I died that day, I hadn’t done all that I could do to make this Earth a better place." - Gregg Renfrew This week, we honor Gregg Renfrew, the founder and CEO of the all-natural skincare company Beautycounter. Renfrew was inspired to start the...
This Woman Is Using Letter-Writing to Touch the Lives of Millions of Breast Cancer Patients
"In this age of text message and email, we’ve forgotten that something handwritten has so much personality." - Gina Mulligan This week, we honor Gina Mulligan, a Folsom, California, resident who is using the power of writing to help comfort women diagnosed with breast...
Dr. Tom Catena’s Powerful Story of Serving as the Lone Doctor in a War-Torn Area
"It seemed like a nice challenge to help open a new hospital in a very remote region with very limited healthcare." - Dr. Tom Catena This week, in recognition of the United Nations’ upcoming Human Rights Day, we honor Architect of Change Dr. Tom Catena. Dr. Catena is...
Lori La Bey’s Wants to Make Alzheimer’s and Caregiving Support Available to All
"Most people aren’t even aware that we have a care culture or what it means." - Lori La Bey This week, we honor Lori La Bey as our Architect of Change of the Week. Lori is a woman who is truly moving humanity forward. She is the founder of Alzheimer’s Speaks, a...
We Need Each Other: The Importance of Intergenerational Relationships
"I wanted to help him find the words he was groping for, so that he could let us know how the experience had felt for him." My grandfather, Lester E. Potts, Sr., was my best childhood friend. He died when I was 10 years old. We shared a special bond forged over Sunday...
A Jazz Club Giving Hope to Youth on Probation
"What if we could create a really safe environment that allows the youth to be seen for who they are, not just mistakes they’ve made?" - Teresa Goines We’ve talked a lot lately about bridging the divide. Teresa Goines is someone who lives and breathes it through her...
Scott Hamilton’s Story of Resilience Can Inspire Us
It would be hard to find two more inspirational people on the planet than Scott and his wife, Tracie. They are devoted to each other, to their family, to curing cancer, and to saving Haiti. Scott was recently diagnosed with his third brain tumor, yet despite this news, he and Tracie remain eternally optimistic.
Team Rubicon Gives Military Vets a Renewed Sense of Purpose
"Find a veteran and ask him or her their story." - Jake Wood Friday, November 11, was Veterans Day and on that day we held a special Architects of Change Live conversation with my brother Bobby Shriver and Jake Wood, the CEO of Team Rubicon. Jake co-founded Team...
Desmond Tutu’s Message on Forgiveness, Healing and Finding Joy
"One cannot change what has happened, but one can seek to forgive and reconcile." - Desmond Tutu We are in the midst of a historic week, and regardless of how you voted, we all must now find a way to heal and move forward. In order to help us do that, Maria Shriver...
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Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper: What’s Your Reaction?
"Reaction: a boat which is going against the current, but which does not prevent the river from flowing on." — Victor Hugo My entire life, I’ve always been that person who says to the doctor, “I’m not allergic to anything.” I’ve also been that person who reads the...
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