This week I am putting together a program titled “You Are a Song”. This is for a community building program I produce once a month entitled “Songs of My Life”. My friend and I developed this project 5 years ago. Usually the topics are like “community” or “grief” or “celebration”. This month I decided to […]
Yesterday, Monday, friends and I went on, “The most exciting kayak ride ever!” My son Bryce is visiting for my other son, Gabe’s graduation. Okay, we were sitting around on my driveway eating some hot dogs and about 4pm someone says, “Are we going kayaking today?” I’m thinking, “ummmmm”. Bryce and his buddy, Ryan say […]
“We all are so deeply interconnected; we have no option but to love all. Be kind and do good for any one and that will be reflected. The ripples of the kind heart are the highest blessings of the Universe.” ― Amit Ray, Yoga and Vipassana: An Integrated Life Style My friend, Charlie Cogan is […]
I was talking to my daughter last Sunday and she asked me, “Dad, why are you so cheerful all the time? You can’t always feel that way, do you?” I didn’t exactly know what to say. I ventured, “Yes, I am cheerful most of the time. She said that sometimes it was hard to trust […]
Robert Bly died this past year. I read his book “Iron John” in the mid 90s. It changed my life. Both from the standpoint of what a man could be and also with its mix of poetry, prose, spirituality and humor what a book could be. Robert Bly is one of Minnesota’s (and the country’s) […]
Todd’s Two Cents: I read the following on facebook this morning. The original post by Robert Brezsny is here: If a cow is given a name by her owner, she generates more milk than a cow that’s treated as an anonymous member of the herd. That’s the conclusion of a study done by researchers at […]
Last week I told a joke about ducks that a high school student had relayed to me. Our group had fun with it. Why do ducks have feathers? – To cover their butt quack! Telling a good joke is an art. I’m constantly trying to get better at it. I thought I would share a […]
For most of my life, I’ve been under the assumption that I need to become a better person before I can help others. A “you can’t give away what you don’t have” kind of an attitude. Of course this is true, but also the opposite is true. By helping and engaging with others, I can […]
Like many people around the world, every morning I check the news on my phone to see what is happening in Ukraine. I see all the destruction and I am saddened. I feel pretty useless in terms of helping people there. Being a musician, I’ve found some great Ukrainian music to learn and study, my […]
Here are some proverbs about hands. Many hands make light work Idle hands are the devil’s workshop. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Wash your hands often, your feet seldom, and your head never. You cannot carry two watermelons in one hand. I feel good when I volunteer. Who needs […]