Dance according to the music
We can learn a lot about coping with change from the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof. [[Music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.]] The story takes place at the... »
Personal Accounts
All over again?
For the last 12 years, I worked as a freelance contractor for a project that I was passionate about. Due to some recent changes, though, this project shut down. I feel th... »
Shorter strides, faster progress
A couple of years ago, I started running for exercise, and I’ve tried to be consistent with it. I quickly built up to longer distances and durations than when I started,... »
Bottoms up!
I recently became the mother of two. There are so many new emotions, joys, and lessons that come along with welcoming an additional child into the family. The newest chal... »
Butterfly encounters
As I was researching material for a short story about an antique dealer who collected rare butterflies, I came across a website that revealed a rich resource of stories i... »
Having faith in faith
It’s second nature for some people to have faith and show trust in God. They somehow see the good in difficult people or trying situations. To them, the glass is always h... »
Hope and the tree of life
He's a tall, tanned, lanky fellow in his mid-sixties—older than most of the other vendors at the fruit and vegetable market. He invariably greets his customers with a rad... »
The world’s best picture
The other night I watched a fascinating documentary about the famous fresco The Resurrection, by Piero della Francesca, painted around 1463 in Tuscany, Italy. Jesus is in... »
Beyond wishful thinking
I was eight years old when I lost my grandfather at the age of 65. My family is very close knit and this was a big blow to all of us. I remember kissing Nanu’s cold cheek... »
Discovering faith
I grew up in a Christian family, but at 13 I declared that I was an atheist. When I was 18, I left my hometown of Rio de Janeiro with a backpack and set off to see the wo... »
The jasmine bush
My brother’s death hit me hard, perhaps because it was so unexpected. John died of a heart attack at only 51. Until then, he had seemed strong, healthy, and in the prime... »
Passion rekindled
I don't remember the first time we met; he just always seemed to be around when I was growing up. My parents made a point of inviting him to join us on summer vacations a... »