Category Archives: Transformation

Robert Pinsky, Poet Laureate: When I Hear a Word, I Want to Turn it Inside Out.

“When I was walking out of the White House and across the lawn,” said Robert Pinsky, three-time U.S. Poet Laureate, at an informal gathering of about 50 people for the U.S. Embassy’s Distinguished American Speaker program at the home of Deputy Chief … Continue reading

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Tool for Tuesday: 10 Tools for Turning Your Lessons into Blessons

I first heard the term from Kristine Carlson: blessons. The difficult lessons in our life that might be blessings in deep disguise. We don’t always understand why we’re faced with certain trials. We assume that the only end to the … Continue reading

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Tool For Tuesday: Get Better or Get Bitter.

Less than two years before my friend—I’ll call her Tracy—died, she found out that her husband was cheating on her. She was furious, obviously. He moved out. A while later, we met for lunch. I told her I was amazed at … Continue reading

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Tool For Tuesday: You Can Pick Your Friends and You Can Pick Your…Word. (And I Did.)

So, when we last met, we were rummaging around our brain cells and heart veins and soul spaces for that word of the year. My friend, Anne, wrote, “My best word forever and ever is love. Such an easy one … Continue reading

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One Really Smart Thing To Do This Year: Choose a Word

My freshman roommate from Cornell, Mary Eldred, whom I’ve written about in The New York Times here, picks a word each year to focus on. In the past, she’s chosen the following words: connections, balance, center, grace, faith, open, and … Continue reading

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Tool For Tuesday: Open That Door. Use Your Eyes.

“Your eyes are the mirror of the soul.” That’s a Yiddish proverb. (I love Yiddish proverbs; for more, see here.) That’s why when you look people in the eye you can make a serious, simmering, solid connection. You can reveal everything … Continue reading

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What Are You Revealing Without Even Knowing It?

Phrenology–the theory that bumps on your head can reflect your character—has been disproven. But it still makes sense. Our thoughts and feelings do show up (sometimes unwillingly) as outer wear. You can spot an angry person, can’t you? Sometimes all you … Continue reading

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Tool For Tuesday: Find The Line

My friend Lily (I’ve written about her here) reminded me that during stressful holiday times, it’s important to find the line. Set your boundary. Where does your lawn end? Where does someone else’s territory begin? Don’t trespass into someone else’s … Continue reading

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Tool For Tuesday: Pray. Even If You’re Not Sure Why.

I’m posting today the blog I wrote for The Huffington Post here, called “Why Pray?” Because of my prayers, the recent conflict in Gaza suddenly stopped. Or so I’d like to believe. I was standing on my head outside my … Continue reading

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Interview With Cynthia Morris: Tapping Your Juju

I’m happy to welcome Cynthia Morris, author of the novel, Chasing Sylvia Beach, and owner of Original Impulse. First: her novel, which gives readers a passport into Paris before World War II and insights into the life of Sylvia Beach, … Continue reading

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