Robert drives the same road each day. He passes the same shops and parks and likely most of the same people and he wonders how and why. At least he wonders why on a good day. Most days though, he’s simply angry with his life. We get together sometimes and talk. “How did I get here, how come I’m so fed up and angry? What happened to my life? I had dreams and plans but now I’m ...

Real kindness requires a commitment to others that says, I care to the point of involvement. I will get wet to help you if you need me to get in the water. I will risk standing out to be involved in caring for you. I will get dirty if required and understand that it is being in the dirt that enables my humanity. Our "rules" come from traditions passed from generatio...

The basics of life lie in our ability to be social. There simply can't be anything greater for one human being than to be needed by others. Refuse to believe that caring doesn't matter or make a difference. I will be kind because it feels good. Maybe it matters that I gave a damn. The problem with how we relate to each other is the older than old "me first". U...

Crisis brings us face to face with things important. It might be a struggle with a life threatening illness. It might be having someone you love die. It might be the end of an important love relationship or the loss of your livelihood. It might be examining the state of the world but it is in these crisis moments when we can see clearly. For some, that certain p...

When we have problems or there are things troubling us, there is no shortage of people who are willing to offer suggestions and advice. Without doubt, your friends and family want you to feel better as quickly as possible but chances are, even though they mean well, they really aren’t sure what to say or do to be of help. There are a number of things to keep in mind whether yo...

There are places where we can come into conflict when it comes to our need to grieve. Our place of work and our friends and neighbors are often less patient and understanding then we need them to be. In many cases the amount of time where we receive understanding and support is less than we require. You may very likely still be reeling from the pain of grief, and yet your...

The pain and suffering that accompany the loss of a loved one is beyond description. The shock and uncertainty, the disbelief, disorientation and sense of abandon those grieving are left with, is akin to the physical trauma that goes along with being seriously injured in a horrible automobile accident. I would compare the grief that accompanies the death of someone you love t...

Any significant loss that is not acknowledged, and dealt with, will in time become an impediment to our health, growth and well-being. We allow those who have lost someone they care about through death, to take a little time to grieve. Most companies permit a few days bereavement leave. Hardly enough to even begin to grieve an important death, but at least a little time to do...

Introduction: There is a social problem that has far reaching consequences we don’t speak of. It is a problem that has the ability to tear at the fabric of our society and diminish us as individuals. Most of us, by the time we get to adulthood have suffered huge losses that needed to be responded to. As children many of us have been greatly affected by things that we have l...