How To Thrive

In preparation for a speaking engagement in May, I’ve been analyzing the qualities that help people thrive when faced with a challenge. So far I’ve come up with this list:

Read Full Post »

The Lure Of More

Big enough is big enough, biggest isn’t necessary. Seth Godin
In an article titled Infinity: they Keep Making More Of It, Seth Godin describes the dilemma of our obsession with numbers. In a global, mobile world, there’s no practical limit to growth and, apparently, no such thing as big enough.
Our culture defines churches, businesses, and Facebook [...]

Read Full Post »

Developing Resilience: Optimism And The 8000/2000 Principle

An optimist looks at a piece of moldy bread and sees penicillin.
Leonard was tired of my endless complaining. More than a year after my accident I still invested more energy in seeking sympathy than working to get better. He was sick of my lousy attitude.

Read Full Post »

Developing Resilience: Creativity

“Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” – Albert Einstein.
I’ve been thinking a bit (an unusual and dangerous development) about the notion of overcoming adversity. As a paraplaegic, I’m often asked questions like: How did you deal with it? How did you get past it? What helped you move forward?

Read Full Post »

Developing Resilience: Perseverance

In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins – not through strength, but through persistence.
Do you recall waiting in long lines to get your driver’s license?

Read Full Post »

Becoming Resilient

“How do you develop resilience?”
We were discussing an approaching event at which I’ll speak to a group of nonprofit leaders about the notion of confronting and overcoming adversity.

Read Full Post »

Trapped Behind An Open Door

I like to read bumper stickers. I think there’s something clever about expressing an important bit of philosophy in a few memorable words and convincing someone to display your wisdom on their car.
I saw a catchy phrase yesterday that summarized the way I seem to live a good deal of my life: trapped behind an [...]

Read Full Post »

Where’d He Go?

An odd thing happened. Monday arrived, and Easter apparently became one more family holiday memory. Taxes and tea parties dominated public discourse, and bitter bickering resumed. Echoed cries of “HE IS RISEN INDEED” faded into oblivion.

Read Full Post »

Blame Or Response-ability

Name it and Blame it. Doesn’t mean you solved it, nor owned it, nor changed it. Grace McGarvie
Blame has apparently replaced baseball as America’s pastime. The burning question of the day is, “Whose fault is it?”
I understand. From my permanent seat in a wheelchair I’ve wasted countless hours asking, “Why did this happen?” And I’ve only [...]

Read Full Post »

Is This Who I Think It Is?

If you’ve read RELENTLESS GRACE, you understand the varied levels of significance embedded in the question, “Is this who I think it is?”

Read Full Post »