Are You Walking in a Way that Helps?

Following the death of his mother, a rabbi once wrote: Some people say the secret to happiness can be broken down into three elements: something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to. I had something to do – I was a rabbi, and my congregants were counting on me to function…

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Are You Useful?

The well-known musician, Yo Yo Ma, in a recent quote, said, “The pandemic accentuated that part of me that says why I am useful.” Am I useful for anything? I’m only useful if I feel I can respond to need.” There are those who quickly respond to needs, almost as soon as they are expressed,…

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Are You Too Old?

“Too old for what,” you may ask. Certainly the answer can vary. Am I too old to go for a walk? I hope not. How about too old to be a gymnast in the Olympics? For me – definitely. Let’s say you are 40 years old – are you too old to play in the…

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Are You Squandering Brain Power?

You may be thinking, “I certainly hope not.” But far too many people are. As a recent study pointed out, “That little screen is always nearby – in our pocket or backpack, on the nightstand or under the pillow – beckoning us.” The average person touches their phone 2,617 times per day. That is nearly…

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Are You Resting to be More Productive?

As you read that question, your first thought is probably more along the lines of, “Wait, shouldn’t I not be resting so that I can get more done?”  My approach may sound like an upside down plan.  But I would ask you to consider a story told by author Steven Covey. There were two men…

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Are You Remaining Relevant?

I recently read an incredible story about a man named Robert Owens.  Robert’s journey has taken him from the U.S. Air Force Pararescue special operations team, to counseling troubled students at the University of Nevada, to pastoring a church in Reno.  While he has participated in marathons and Ironman competitions, probably his most physically daunting…

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Are You Ready?

When the worst tsunami in generations hit Southeast Asia the day after Christmas in 2004, “60 Minutes” discovered a group of people that had amazingly survived the catastrophe. The Moken people live off the coast of Thailand and they survived because, as “60 Minutes” reported, “they knew it was coming.” “It was their intimacy with…

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Are You Nearing Burnout?

Burnout has been defined as, “an extreme state of psychological pain.” “It’s a response to facing prolonged, chronic stressors that go beyond your ability or available resources to overcome.” Professor Michael Leiter of Acadia University in Nova Scotia states that burnout has three components – “overwhelming exhaustion, feelings of cynicism, and a sense of discouragement.”…

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Are You Lost in the Weeds?

I feel as though I am in the weeds today. What do I mean by that? Do you ever plan your day or your week, expecting to make great headway on your meaningful and significant goals – only to get derailed? Perhaps you are checking your email and you come across one that winds up…

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