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Friday morning I felt witness to an amazing event. In the wake of the sick-making, heart-breaking riots here in our city of Vancouver after the final Stanley Cup hockey game, grateful citizens gathered in an impromptu fashion to give their thanks to the police officers – the men and women who, in a tremendously difficult and dangerous situation, had done their best that night to protect and serve. While running an errand this morning, I happened to be around the corner from the Vancouver Police … [Read more...] about Stickies of Gratitude

This August will mark 30 years since I intentionally and consciously made Vancouver my home. Throughout these years, I have always been very happy about that decision – until the hockey game was over last night. Along with the rest of the world – at least those of us who weren’t downtown and actively participating -- I watched with horror and grief while insanity gripped the city I love. A small group of jerks who clearly have no clue about how to have their grievances heard in any kind of … [Read more...] about The Morning After — Shame on WHO??

One of my spiritual teachers used to talk about the futility of trying to be perfect as a human being.  When she made a mistake, she would immediately say -- with a dollop of amusement --“Ooops!”  She would then add to that a resounding “Oh well!” to let people know that, no matter what, she would definitely be making mistakes. It is often observed that we are not human beings having a spiritual experience, but rather we are spiritual beings having a human experience. I really enjoy thinking … [Read more...] about “Ooops — Oh well!” : The Antidote to Perfectionism

Have you ever felt the temptation to not deal with things? I find that it’s especially tempting to not deal with issues in relationships when they come up – especially the ones where I feel shamed or disappointed by someone. When that’s happened to me in the more distant past, I would nurse my wounds and secretly feel resentful, all the while convincing myself that my feelings were better left unsaid. I think that’s the result of being brought up in a family where real feelings were never … [Read more...] about “Talks-It” or “Toxic” ~ Our Choice Point in Relationships

My heart is so heavy as I write this today. It has been four days since the earthquake and tsunami completely overtook northern Japan, and the news we are receiving is becoming more and more horrific. On a global level, this is such a monstrous tragedy, and I know I am but one or the billions of people around the world who are watching CNN and other news programs with ever-mounting shock and disbelief. But for me, there is a personal grieving as well. I have a very dear friend named Mika who … [Read more...] about Earthquake in Japan: A Personal Story