Build Your Foundation

Act without expectations. Lao Tzu I wrote the following in my journal just yesterday. I had seen this Lao Tzu quote on Instagram (shown above), and a realization about my mindset smacked me upside the head: “”Act without expectations.” From Lao Tzu. I think I’ve spent my entire life expecting a return from doing things…

This year, I’ve started to write in my journal every morning, or what some folks call doing their “morning pages.” I’ve read for years about the benefits of this practice, and as an (amateur) historian, I have observed countless subjects of history that kept a journal or diary, which was ultimately the basis for their…

As of this writing, we are living in crazy, crazy times: Economic distress, a raging and never-ending pandemic, venomous political polarization, and rampant out-of-control media fanning the flames. It is enough to drive pure desperation, hopelessness, and anger. You are left feeling like there is no viable path forward to a normal, happy life. But…

I’m tiring of the endless chatter about how awful the year 2020 is. To the latest negative news that’s reported, someone inevitably responds with “Cuz 2020.” The amount of online dialog about how lousy this year has been is staggering. With every passing day, there seems to be some new low that only reconfirms how…

“The  journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Lao Tzu In the Beginning As a child, I always wanted to be a writer. I suppose in reality I was as I would spend hours each week creating stories. To bolster this creative path, my family loved to go to the movies, attend the…

You often hear people ask us to “be present,” or “be in the now.” But what does this actually mean? Different things to different people. This is my personal list of how I practice living in the present, and like everything else, it does get easier with practice. I thought I’d share with you. This…