Soon, my daughter and daughter-in-law will give birth to their first babies. I didn’t tell or de-brief them on what to expect. I thought it would be better if they discovered first-hand. For me, becoming a parent was a major life transition, emotionally intense, physically demanding and deeply meaningful. I thought I was prepared. Everything was new: feeding, sleeping, health decisions, joy, love, fear, frustration and sleep deprivation. Personal freedom was gone. Irregular s

When I retired, I was confused about my future. I never thought about retiring. I enjoyed my high-profile work, meeting people, traveling to different countries, fun conferences, and advanced training with interesting people. Then one day, the lights were turned off, the curtain came down, the applause and congratulations ended. Here I was, alone with a retirement pen and pencil set in my hand, peering at my past. Life as I knew it, ceased to exist. The horror of it all! What

What do you think about all day? In those quiet moments, enjoying your private thoughts over coffee in your favorite cozy spot. What is your silent conversation? The hidden self of you, existing everyday beneath your social and professional roles, your habits and public identity. In a competitive society our hidden self often retreats. At times our beliefs don’t fit social expectations. For me, I never seemed to fit in, but I accepted it. Maybe our creativity is discouraged a

On Instagram, I see tattooed prisoners at The Center for Confinement of Terrorist (CECOT) in El Salvador. Young men in the prime of their lives, dead ended in a harsh prison where there is no hope of escape, no future. Men born into poverty and a world of violence. Then, the next post flips to a stark contrast, middle class people in suburban America stealing packages off the front porch, then becoming indignant when the package blows up spraying paint on them. Both groups ar

Hilary Valdez “Where your fear is. There is your task.” -Carl Jung Fear is part of being human. It’s okay to be afraid. People may suppress or deny fear, mistaking it for weakness. Fear protects us from danger and helps us stay alert to risk. Everyone, even the bravest Marine or Navy Seal feels fear at times. The difference is how they respond to it. The first step toward facing fear is to acknowledge it honestly. What if you and your group of Neanderthal homies were out hun

The Journey Inward Life is not a straight line. The journey at times can be terrifying, balanced by periods of boredom. At different points on my journey I pondered where was I going. What was my purpose? What am I? Who am I? My father would say, “You’re a smart guy, but you’re not thinking.” That didn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy, but it was true. Inner confusion affects all of us at different stages in our lives. During therapeutic sessions, Sigmund Freud would go for walk

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