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There’s a theory regarding group dynamics that offers that in any group of people — a class, a team, a cast, a workplace, a family — everyone will take on the personality “type” of one of the Seven Dwarfs from…

Paul Simon wrote some great tunes about mothers: Mother and Child Reunion in 1972, and Loves Me Like a Rock in 1973, maybe others… They always come to mind for me around Mothers’ Day when I’m considering what to talk…

My friend Sandy shared with me that she often describes our Albuquerque arts communities as a culture not where people come to “make it” but where they can actually make it. Where the focus is on making art more than…

I’ve told you before about my Jar of Good Things. That’s sort of a silly name for what is essentially a basic gratitude practice, but it’s the way I first entered it into my reminder app, how it dings for…

Last week I was wrapping up my talk and said something like, “Right now, here we are. Let’s maximize this.” I was about to say, “Let’s make the most of it,” but then stopped myself because I thought that might…

Growing up Methodist, I was always aware of the special hymns and changing colors associated with the different seasons in the Christian liturgical calendar — Lent, Epiphany, Pentecost, Advent. Christmas, of course. But now, for most of the year, I…

When I began leading a weekly service, ten years ago, my very first talk was titled “Fool-fillment.” It happened to land on April 1, so the topic of foolishness seemed timely. It also felt like a decent poke at myself,…

I like Venn diagrams. Travis suggested this punny title, “Now and Venn,” about a week ago, and now I can’t get it out of my head. I’m sure you’re familiar with Venn diagrams — intersecting circles illustrating the links or…

I just heard about a hotline started by a California art teacher, Jessica Martin, and her elementary school students. Anyone can call and hear pre-recorded messages of encouragement, in English or Spanish, from this group of kids: “Press one if…

by Patty Stephens I’ve been thinking about how we express our lives with language. Especially how we speak about love, birth and death. The advantage of having a very large family of 11 siblings, 20 grandkids, 30 great-grandkids, 3 great-great-grandkids,…