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Last week I stopped in at a friend’s handmade soap store. We’d shared many thoughts about her ideas over a year ago. The store has been open now for a few months and is loaded with bath and body products—all created by her and produced by her and her daughter, Zynayah. It smells heavenly, is bright

Money, sex, religion, and politics. Apparently these are the four most difficult topics to talk about. In my own marriage, in my client's marriages, and in my relationships with family, friends, and neighbors, I think money might be the #1 thing on people's "I don't want to talk about it" list. Why

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” --Leo Buscaglia Although this topic was planned a couple of months ago, I’m writing with the intent to

At 9:00 pm a couple of Tuesdays ago, I was standing in the front field outside St. Martin’s in the Fields Episcopal Church in Columbia, SC, with about one hundred people. We were all holding flashlights as we sang and prayed for the victims of gun violence and racism. We were gathered to hold up the

I hate to admit it but I don’t read many blogs very often. So if you’re reading this, you get an especially BIG THANK YOU! Yet there is one blog I read pretty regularly: The Athlete’s Way by Christopher Bergland for Psychology Today . An odd choice since I’ve never considered myself an athlete. I me

“Your daughter should start a support group called Kindergarteners With Feelings .” It was 1991 and I was at my first parent-teacher conference for my now 29-year old child. “It’s a hazard of being the child of a therapist,” I replied. We talked about feelings at our house. And about thoughts. And a

I feel reflective when I return from my annual trek in the California coastal mountains amidst the ancient redwoods. I work there every summer with a fine group of courageous people who are engaged in the process of intentional personal growth. The team of facilitators uses a powerful combination of

Happy Independence Day! And what a glorious day it is. I (Amy) cried in church yesterday singing America the Beautiful . The tune and the words just get me every time. This year I was especially emotional as I thought about the fact that it could very possibly be my dad’s last July 4 th . Today we c

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth. Muhammad Ali When was the last time you experienced something that reminded you of the power that is unleashed when you join with others? Or perhaps you participated in something that left you with the feeling that you were small but

Warning: This blog contains many personally challenging questions . Why are we here? Why are YOU here? What do you dream about doing? Who do you imagine being? What gives your life meaning? It’s an age-old question—this meaning of life. These seem like such daunting questions. Many brilliant, philos