My very favorite element of the internet is the ability to share inspirational stories with others, and especially inspirational videos. I use that word “inspirational” with some trepidation. Often what’s labeled “inspirational” in our culture moves in the direction of sappy, happy, and Hallmarky (I know that’s not a word but you know what I mean). But I mean inspirational in the old-fashioned sense of where the word came from. “Inspiration,” like “respiration,” has to do with breathing, with breath. In fact, “in-spire” literally means “to breathe into.” And breath, of course, is connected to life. Hence, to...

This seemed like a perfect Monday post, especially the first Monday of the New Year. Moreover, I’ve decided to start a new category for the New Year, named simply “Good!” and placed in the Living Well section. Why? Because I think it’s so incredibly easy to feel somewhat overwhelmed by all the bad news that surrounds us – on the television or internet, at work or in the community, maybe even at home. In fact, sometimes it feels like is about all the gets featured in the media and we get so used to it that we don’t even notice how it’s sucking our energy and diminishing our vision. And so from time to time, when I come...

Unless you possess the inimitable confidence of Calvin in the cartoon strip below odds are you’ve made a few New Year’s resolutions.                         After all, lots of us face the prospect of another new year resolved to break some bad habits and take up some good ones. The vast majority of us, however, have given up on our resolutions before the month’s out. But if you truly want to change yourself for the better in 2013, then you’ll do well to pay attention to these three research-driven tips. Pick One The first step in making a dent in your New Year’s...

The trail of gratitude on the internet can at times be both long and complex. Case in point: I came across this piece on Christmas gifts at MaryAnn McKibben Dana’s great blog, “The Blue Room,” where she referenced an article written by Gretchen Ziegenhals on Duke’s fine Faith and Leadership website where she (Gretchen) talks about an idea she received at a workshop given by Susan Vogt. Still with me…? 🙂 I suppose it doesn’t matter. Here are the relevant paragraphs on Christmas gift-giving at home, first from Gretchen (as quoted by MaryAnn): At a retreat on Christian life, I heard Susan V. Vogt describe a wonderful tradition...