I hear people all the time say the words, “I can’t.” I can’t leave my job right now, because I have too many bills. I can’t change my relationship, because he/she just won’t change anyway, and I can’t leave, because, well, we’ve been together too long and there are theContinue Reading
I just finished a performance tonight at an awards concert. I accompanied my French horn student, who was the winner of a scholarship competition. I was a little nervous, as it’s been a long time since I’ve played on stage. I’ve been a musician for decades, soloing in high schoolContinue Reading
Steven Pressfield wrote in his book The War of Art that resistance with a capital “R” raises its ugly head anytime we try to pursue something that calls to us from our higher nature. Such activities, he says, may include any calling in any creative art, any diet or healthContinue Reading
I finally got a chance to see the movie 127 Hours a couple weeks ago. After all the accolades I was looking forward to finally getting a chance to share in what everyone was talking about—the amazing story of this young man who cut off his own arm to surviveContinue Reading
In a recent issue of The Writer (April 2011, Moira Allen), I came upon this quote: “Success will become impossible if you cannot bear failure.” Most of us don’t like to think about failure—especially when we’re talking about dreams and goals that mean a lot to us in life. WeContinue Reading
Part of taking responsibility for our own lives involves figuring out where and how we get in the way of our own progress. Seeing ourselves objectively, however, is something most of us find extremely difficult. We can go on about all the missteps of those around us—how a sister drinksContinue Reading
We all have them—distractions that keep us from listening to our own inner voices. They include the ones we might suspect—drugs, alcohol, sex, and television. But distractions can come in other forms not so readily noticeable. Sometimes we can really fool ourselves into thinking we’re being productive, when really we’veContinue Reading
Back in the late 1930s and early ’40s, King George the VI of England had to be the voice of the nation through the dark days of World War II, and he had to do it via various speeches delivered over the new “wireless”—what radio was called in those days.Continue Reading
I was just as shocked as anyone to see the news story on the shooting at the Panama City, Florida school board meeting yesterday, December 14th. If you didn’t catch the story, a disgruntled ex-convict named Clay Duke attended the meeting where the board was discussing typical school-board business. HeContinue Reading
I’m a fan of the show 24. It makes for great motivation while I’m working out. With all that action going on the screen you can’t help but run faster. Actor Gregory Itzin plays American President Charles Logan in season 5 and 6. He received an Emmy nomination for hisContinue Reading