The Real Work

This life is almost confoundingly beautiful and good.  Earlier this summer, more than a few of my friends commented on how idyllic my life looks these days, referring, no doubt, to photos of rustic cabins and lakeside retreats in places like Montana and the Berkshires, … continue reading

Gregory C. Ellison II: Fearless Dialogues

The primary foundations of our work are creating spaces where we can see and hear, and then, with that foundation laid, we begin envisioning possibilities for change. Seeing and hearing those who have been overlooked is a primary task of leadership and a prerequisite for … continue reading

The Life-Changing Magic of Clicking a Digital Candle

When lighting that first candle, I put my gratefulness glasses on and wrote a dedication to my friend. In doing so, I saw so clearly how she is a tremendous gift to me. Here in our Stories of Grateful Living, we honor the voices of … continue reading

This Matters Not at All. Or Else It’s Everything.

In the itty-bitty-est way, in my world, I’m turning a corner, stepping out, trying something new. One small step in the direction of inclusion—having an open mind—is possibly everything. Here in our Stories of Grateful Living, we honor the voices of our community as we … continue reading

3 Tips to Incorporate Gratitude In Your Life

…waking up with gratitude can literally change the way your day goes. What a lovely day! No matter where we are in the world or what we’re doing, waking up with gratitude can literally change the way your day goes. Scientists have researched how gratitude … continue reading

Living Beyond Boundaries Thanks to Dad

We drove on through the dark, he and I, talking and laughing and pretending we were piloting a ship through the waves. Living beyond the boundaries of streetlights, I often drive on dark country roads where fog hides in the hillsides. Sometimes only tendrils of … continue reading

Summer Blessings: An Invitation

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” ~ Henry James Source of all blessings, you bless us with summer! A time when many of us are drawn to the nourishing embrace of nature, time … continue reading

Can Loss Make Us Larger?

When we are passing our gifts along to others, or feeling deep gratitude for the gifts we receive from others, our hearts are already on a path of healing. Can loss make us larger? This was a surprising question that came up in a recent workshop I led on … continue reading

Choosing Love

Are we living in the age of anxiety? And if so, as Tina Turner might say, what’s love got to do with it? If statistics are any indication, anxiety is something of a global epidemic: 260 million people are diagnosed with it worldwide, and it … continue reading

Listen to Your Mother

There is some alchemy that can happen despite us. It takes us through the fire of our resistance… until we arrive at something pure and true and so obviously authentic that was never before comprehensible. I received a thank-you note today from a friend who … continue reading