Category Archives: Spiritual Practice

Composting Old Habits

Today I cleaned out the compost bin, discovering that what had once been banana peels, vegetable parings and coffee grounds had become like potting soil—dark brown, crumbly, rich with nutrients. With my old garden shovel, I loaded two loads of … Continue reading

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Peace of Mind in the New Year

The tall pine tree outside my window stands serene. Birds nestle in its boughs and sunlight sparkles through the raindrops on its branches. Just looking at it brings me a sense of peace. A few paces beyond, the world is anything … Continue reading

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You Are Not Alone

This Wednesday I was taking the train to meet my agent in San Francisco. A few days earlier, I had gone to the Santa Clara station to plan my trip, but the old station office was now closed down. There … Continue reading

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Your Story

In the age of social media I see people sending pictures, leaving brief comments on the news, and sharing great amounts of information created by corporations and networks. I also enjoy the abundance of data that is always available through … Continue reading

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What Should I Do Now?

Each spring at Santa Clara University students have to meet with their faculty advisors to review requirements and plan their courses for the year ahead. One day in May, Ellen, a graduating senior, shyly knocked at my office door, asking … Continue reading

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The Gift of Community

In America we prize individualism, valuing our self-reliance.  And perhaps some of us grew up in dysfunctional families so we didn’t learn to trust, felt we had to be strong and had to do everything ourselves. But as I learned … Continue reading

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Reach Out to Joy

I was exhausted at the beginning of the summer. After multiple deadlines and the completion of different projects I felt tired, unfocused, depleted. How do we return to our best selves when exhaustion settles in? Who are the friends that … Continue reading

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Something to Prove

A friend of mine went into retirement after a successful career in business, but when I met him again he was reluctant to celebrate. I was moved because even though he was being celebrated for his career, I could still see … Continue reading

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Look for the Light

One summer, when counseling homeless women, I met Denise, an African American woman in her sixties. Unwilling to make eye contact, she was slumped over in shame. She had grown up in poverty in the deep South, working hard since … Continue reading

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Noticing and Releasing

Whenever I lead a retreat, I encourage participants to keep a journal. Autobiographical writing is part of our spiritual practice, and through our reflections of the past we can arrive to powerful moments of realization. Lindsay, one of the participants … Continue reading

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