I've always been interested in the interplay of mores and values at work in our culture,  and  how people adapt to the ways they mesh and collide. How we cope with this “clash” reveals a great deal about nuance of character—the 'who we are' and 'why we do what we do.'   I’m fascinated by how people react when mores influence values and thus shift one’s paradigm—the lens from which we see our lives and circumstance.

And, I’m interested in how people learn to trust one another and to see interdependence as a positive attribute. Certainly the journey we each make, while filled with challenges, is meaningful regardless of the circumstances of our lives. But it takes on an even greater meaning when we unite, which is one reason I believe that it is our obligation—as much as it is our honor—to help others to see their lives as full of hope. By helping each other to sweeten life’s joys and ease the bitterness of its losses, to see our world as less impossible and more glorious, we nourish the spirit of one another. Yes, we are strong, independent and self-actualizing people but we must also convene in a spirit of sharing our collective wisdom knowing that whatever our paths, within each experience laid before us is the opportunity to have our lives and our work be a blessing to one another.

I enjoy engaging people in the conscious exploration of 'calling'—the intentional pursuit of that which enlightens and ignites the heart to feel joy-filled, purpose-filled and courageous.  This is one of the reasons I find writing about 'real life' (and now publishing the works of others) particularly rewarding.  Little else is more interesting than documenting the roads we travel and discerning why we do so. Certainly external events shape our lives in powerful ways: There are memorable events that inspire us, victories that bring new confidence, defeats that bring our hearts to their knees.

But sometimes a shift in attitude (and thus action) isn’t the result of an outward pivotal point, but rather an internal one—such as the realization that one's life is brimming with joy or, conversely, empty, completely void of zest or zeal. Whether a stunning victory or an inconceivable loss, the common element in both is a “shift” that can put the rest of our lives in focus.  These are defining, crucial moments. It’s just a matter of time before we learn that we are damaged less by the calamities of life than by our perceptions of them, and that we are each responsible for developing a stable, reliable and authentic sense of self.