One thing I know about happiness is that it comes from the narrative of our life. The story we tell ourselves. But too often, we let others write that story for us. Unhappiness and discontent inevitably follow. The only person who can write the story of your life properly is you. In order to change our narrative to an authentic one, one we write ourselves, we must change our perspective, and thus our perceptions of our world. This is not a new idea. Plato explained it in “Allegory of the Cave” over 2,300 years ago. A small change in perception can mean a huge change in what we see. And changing how we see lets us write a new narrative. The Dalai Lama also explores this idea of the relationship between perception and a good life in his book The Art of Happiness (99¢ in the remainder bin . . . maybe you can buy happiness after all!).
On a recent Friday morning, I was brushing my teeth while getting ready for work. Due to gum issues, I use an electric toothbrush. When I finished, I pulled the Sonicare out of my mouth without turning it off. The device then proceeded to splatter bits of saliva and toothpaste all over the bathroom at […]
The Zen of Toothpaste Read More »
“Hold still,” my mother commanded. It was hard to understand her because she had straight pins in her mouth. “Ouch,” I yelped as one of the pins poked my leg. “See what happens when you don’t stand still,” she said. I sighed knowing I would get no sympathy from her. I turned in whatever direction
Confessions of a Fashion Failure Read More »
I fought my battles I did my time, I did it well Bitter memories of the hell I lived. Broken dreams and broken men Are all behind me now Many miles I walked alone To stand on one last hill. Now I see the desert, my journey’s end. Add one bloody green jacket, All I
Requiem for a Soldier Read More »
I don’t know which woke me first, the bright light or the loud boom. What I do know is that the combination scared me out of sleep and out of bed. The hair on my nine-year-old arms was standing straight up as I ran into the living room where my father was holding his newspaper
Shocking Discoveries Brought to Light Read More »
I sat in the bow of the 16 foot aluminum boat as we bounced across the Minnesotan lake. The spray hit my face with a refreshing chill that gave instant relief from both the bugs and the heat. My cousin sat behind me and in the rear, manning the Evinrude, was Lt. Bob Green, a
Parents Do Not Know Best Read More »
Sam Fox peered over his shoulder into the darkness. For a second he thought he saw a movement. A light perhaps, shining just beyond his line of sight. But staring produced no definite image just the grey glow of the blacktop. Afraid of stumbling, Sam returned his gaze to the road ahead. The steady slap
Footsteps of a Ghost Read More »