A collector of Hearts--an epitaph to be remembered by. I have always loved all things in the shape of a heart. You could say I'm drawn to hearts. Several years ago two of my closest friends, myself and now happily my daughter Elise began hunting for hearts. We have a beautiful
Continue ReadingDid you know that you can actually do Yellowstone in 24 hours? I have the photos to prove it: Old Faithful and the other geysers, the Waterfall and canyons, herds of bison and elk, bear prints, moose crossings, eagle sitings, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with Pringles. We even
Continue Reading"We all want to know why we are here. What is our mission in life? Those people who know it are easy to spot: Their lives shine with meaning." -Caroline Myss Year of 39--that is what I called this past year of my life. I know everyone says that age is just
Continue ReadingA friend recently gave me a sage piece of advice, "Remember, everyone suffers from a broken heart." My background is in art history, and I'll never forget standing in awe before Da Vinci's, Mona Lisa at the Louvre, furiously taking notes and photographs. The Professor said, "A memorable portrait reveals a depth beyond
Continue ReadingThis past week I met a young man from Jordan who introduced me to the dhikir, a form of meditative prayer where one recites aloud or silently the 99 sacred names of God. Thumbing his prayer beads, I watched as my new friend remembered God, one bead, one holy
Continue ReadingHarvard is studying it, Pharrell is singing about it, and my husband is working on a new app named it. What's all the hoopla with happy? Research claims the degree of happiness in our lives directly impacts our longevity. Happy people live longer! I wish I had known my grandmother. My mother always lights
Continue ReadingIf you were walking along the Santa Monica pier in Los Angeles on a warm Saturday afternoon, you might come upon Mikey's deli. Be warned, this is not your ordinary deli serving corned beef hash or hot dogs loaded with mustard and sauerkraut. Mikey's deli only serves hugs. For the
Continue ReadingI promised some inspiring ways to invite the spirit of the monastery into your own life without getting tonsured or donning a monk's habit! For the spirit: Following is a prayer written by the famous Trappist monk, Thomas Merton. I have it pinned to my wall next to where I write. It
Continue ReadingI have a curious spirit. I am like a hound dog trying in earnest to sniff out a bone. I know there is a deeper experience of this sacred world and all its mysteries waiting to be discovered. So, like that hound dog, I put my nose to the earth
Continue ReadingI believe, help my unbelief. That is my faith. Today is Palm Sunday, and it was quite a parade at church! Over one hundred children processed down the aisle, all smiles, and waved their palm branches. You could call it the pre-party before the big show! You have no idea how much I
Continue Reading
