Thought of
the week.

Most of us wait until our mortality is imminent to challenge our beliefs. To make the hard changes. To disregard our material wants for that which fulfills our basic needs. I had the honor of officiating the funeral of a truly remarkable woman this week. In guiding the crowd to…

For me, clarity is equal to peace. Peace of mind. When the heart and soul cease their worrying. Though, to arrive at a place of clarity requires intention and action. This week, I was reminded that while I can have faith in my belief that the universe will grant me…

How often do we say this to ourselves: if only “this” then “that”. If only I was richer, smarter, prettier, etc, then my life would be so much easier, better, happier, etc. Too often I think that if I only had more [insert x], then I wouldn’t struggle with my…

Difficult conversations. We avoid them like the plague. Rarely does the avoidance approach ever serve us well. So how can we turn difficult conversations into an opportunity rather than a burden? Current trends in politics, business, religion, etc would have us believe that we must subscribe to one truth and…

Acceptance. If you’ve ever given or received it, you likely understand the power of this seemingly simple act. Acceptance is one of the most powerful expressions of love. I recently had a candid conversation with a longtime friend of mine. He is an Orthodox Jew and has eight children. A…

Life boils down to a series of decisions. Decisions that, in both major and minor ways, drive the end result. While we do our best to control each one, we can not always predict their impact. Last night, my daughter got engaged (yes, I’m far too young to have a…

I write a gratitude list each morning to recognize all the positive in my life. It is the first act of my day; a foundational part of my practice to live well. One of the items on my list is that I’m grateful for the struggles and obstacles as they…

I had a huge breakthrough this week and it happened in a seemingly subtle way. For much of my life, I’ve struggled with people-pleasing. The incessant need to be liked has led to dishonesty, over-promising, denial of my feelings and often, resentment of others. After years of focus, reflection, and…

How often are we so consumed with the self that we forget all the ways in which our ultimate wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of the greater whole? The figures within the Torah remind me of that important principle. When God told Noah that he was going to destroy…

Today I saw a sign that read, “Black Lives Matter”. And that all people residing in this country, legally or illegally, are welcome. And earlier this week, I was asked to help someone who’s grandfather targeted and committed crimes against Jews. Both of these situations sparked in me the questions…