We’re experiencing a run of glorious spring weather in the Chicago area. Cool nights, brilliant blue-sky days, interspersed with much-needed rain to coax all things green into their splendor. It’s a beautiful time of year and I forget from one spring to the next how glorious it is. Whenever possible, we’re a “windows wide open” household. … More Blanket Bliss
The elderly woman held tight onto her checkbook in her hand and was trying to get the lawyer’s attention. He worked full-time as a family law and real estate attorney, but helped support his business by also serving as a local municipal solicitor. He had his back turned to the woman and was giving me … More One good deed deserves another
One year in elementary school, my class visited a local nursing home and sang Christmas carols for the residents. I wasn’t much of a singer — okay, let me be honest, I’m still not much of a singer — but I loved everything about the season and had a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I wasn’t … More Ten lords a-leaping
I turned the corner and the dark night erupted into a twinkling light show, full of bright red and greens. There were snowflakes, snowmen smiling from cheek-to-cheek, reindeer in mid-flight, and a jolly old St. Nick. There was, of course, a manger scene too. On Thanksgiving night, we drove past two homes where the owners every … More Let it shine!
My wife winced as soon as she woke up. She had a splitting headache. I told her to lie back down and I would try to get rid of the pain by rubbing her temples and neck muscles. When she got back up after a few minutes and said that the headache was gone, I … More A grateful heart
“One person caring about another represents life’s most significant value.” Jim Rohn I was struck by a moment of utter, age-related joy a few weeks ago which then turned to age-related horror. Given that we are discussing gratitude this month what better time can there be to share. Please note however, I AM poking fun … More Still Younger…With Some Wiser Tossed In
My wife and I shuffled out of the hospital exhausted. We both still wore our wrinkled work clothes, my dress shirt was untucked, my tie loose around my neck, and we had dark circles under both our eyes. We had been through the ringer. Our daughter who had come into the hospital emergency room looking … More The kindness of strangers
If you’re asked to describe a courageous person, what comes to mind? A firefighter, dashing to save a life? Galileo Galilei’s defense of the Earth revolving around the Sun? Roald Amundsen’s expedition to the South Pole? In each of these cases, there’s a need to face danger, so courage is present. But is this the … More Can You See Different Shades of Courage?
I’d guess 90% of my days are pretty predictable. That is to say, there is probably a low probability of randomness within any given day. Sure, we might head out for an evening walk to pet some bunnies and end up going to the ice cream shop, and making new friends along the way. But … More One Thing Led to Another
When I was in elementary school, I got an invite for a friend’s birthday party. I should have been excited about the invite, and I was, but I was nervous too. The party was going to be a sleepover. I remember worrying that my friends would figure out my deep, dark secret. I was scared … More Scared of the dark
The Heart of the Matter 