I hear it from so many people I love and respect: “I don’t follow the news anymore—it’s just too disturbing.” And I get it. Completely. The headlines seem designed to jolt, overwhelm, and even paralyze. When every update feels like a shock to the system, our nervous systems wisely try to protect us by shutting […]
A Gentle Practice for Troubled Times: Engaging with the News Without Being Consumed Read More »
Dear Friend, I’ve been thinking about you lately — and about how many times I’ve heard someone say, “I tried meditation once, but my mind just wouldn’t stop running. I guess I’m not cut out for it.” Maybe you’ve felt that way, too. It’s such a common belief: that meditation is supposed to “empty the
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Dear Friend, I’ve been thinking about you lately. You’ve mentioned that you’d like to start meditating — that you’ve heard it can help with stress, mood, maybe even happiness. But I can almost hear the hesitation in your voice: Does this really work, or is it just another “woo-woo” trend? First, I want you to
The Brain Science Of Happiness: Why Your Thoughts Matter Read More »
One of my meditation students asked me: “How do YOU deal with stress and worry?” Let me tell you something personal. When stress creeps in—and it does, even for meditation teachers—my first instinct isn’t to double down and push through. It’s to stop. Like, full-on walk away from the laptop, stop. I go out to
Joseph Campbell once wrote, “Life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived. Follow the path that is no path, follow your bliss.” These words have always held a certain magnetism for me, and perhaps they do for you too. There’s a beckoning in them—a gentle yet profound invitation to
The Mystery to Be Lived: Meditation and the Pathless Path Read More »
Hey there, I’ve been thinking lately about what really helps us feel happy. And honestly, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some people find their joy in jogging. Others in crossword puzzles, or weekly golf games with friends. These activities light us up—and often, they become part of our routine. That consistency matters. The more regularly we
How Meditation Helps Us Grow Our Happiness Read More »
Have you ever noticed how the word love is used so casually, and yet loving deeply, wisely, and well is anything but casual? For many of us, learning to love—truly love—takes a lifetime. It demands not only tenderness, but strength. Not just passion, but wisdom. And perhaps most surprisingly, it asks for practice. This is
Learning to Love Like an Adult: How Meditation Shows Us the Way Read More »
But we can all be heroic A Personal Journey—Yours and Ours Connie and I have “adopted” two children in Africa since 2005 through World Help. Over the years, we received letters and photos. We watched those children grow—and we grew too. We witnessed them graduate from kindergarten, and years later from high school, marveling at
Maybe We Can’t All Be Heroes Read More »
Dear friend, The sign over the nondescript door on Via Aurelio in Rome, Italy, simply said Ristorante Pietro. Walking in at just past 6:00, we could see that the building was ancient, with a domed ceiling inlaid with sandstone tiles and arches between the intimate eating spaces. The walls were lined with shelves holding wheels
A Sacred Meal: The Wisdom of Mindful Eating Read More »
Cricket Foster has lived a big, creative life. From dancing across the globe to leading yoga classes and belting out rock songs in a wedding
