Repairing Our Broken Pieces

January 24, 2024

Repairing Our Broken Pieces

My brother-in-law, Miles Smith, is an accomplished potter. I first admired his work when he used the ashes from the Mount St. Helens volcanic eruption to create a pottery collection that infused that event into its very soul. Most recently, he designed simple bowls and was kind enough to gift us a few at Christmas. I’m always cautious when using, washing, and putting them away. We have just a few, and knowing the love and care Miles puts into each...

January 17, 2024

Intentional Friendships

In the intricate dance of our marriage, Sheila and I navigate on distinct time clocks. My early-to-bed, early-to-rise rhythm contrasts with her penchant for staying up late and indulging in a bit more morning slumber. This arrangement has served us well over the years, affording me precious moments to decompress at night and reflect on the day ahead in the morning. Recently, Sheila observed that some mornings pass without our customary exchange of “good morning.” As I’m already immersed in...

January 10, 2024

Yea, You: Freudenfreude Your Team

Amid football playoff season, my approach to supporting teams mirrors a shift in how we can foster positive dynamics within our professional lives. When the Steelers head to Buffalo this weekend, I’ll cheer on a team I love. That is not always the case when a game involves any two others. Sometimes, I find myself cheering for a team not out of genuine affinity but rather as a strategic choice to support their opponent, driven by some calculated dislike. If...

January 03, 2024

The Delight Chronicles: Crafting a Year of Happiness

My email box overflowed this week with ideas on how to finish 2023 and begin 2024. I bet you received plenty of tips as well: And… Then, take on one of the many New Year Challenges. These may include: You get the idea, and you may be motivated to “resolve” to change your life in 2024. It’s part of our biology to look for opportunities to start again, and the New Year, like our birthdays and other special holidays, offers...

December 27, 2023

Making Memories

We’re with all our kids and grandkids in Palm Springs, CA. We’ve rented a cool house with a spa, swimming pool, billiard table, and even an arcade video game. The weather has been great, with the full sun and moon filling the sky. Granddaughter Kyra will love hanging out with her older cousins, and she’ll schedule the games and events around the house, which will probably include “Diving for Dimes” and playing “Things The Never Taught You In School.” The...

December 20, 2023

The Season of Lights

The sun will reach its nadir tomorrow, December 21, at 10:27 PM EST, in the northern hemisphere, as we procrastinators will be resting from our last-minute shopping. We begin our 6-month journey back to the fullness of sunlight and the warmth of the summertime in just a few hours. No wonder we are built for resilience as nature showers her experiences of recovering from the depths of winter’s darkness towards the fullness of summer’s long days like the clock she...

Absolute Citrin

by Richard Citrin

January 24, 2024