The economy seems to have picked up a bit—an observation that has nothing to do with the state of my 401k and everything to do with the topics my clients want to talk about in our sessions. These days, nearly all of them mention a desire to reclaim their sense of play and creativity. The desire for self-expression is pretty high up on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. You have to … [Read more...]
Growing up, I enjoyed Christmas as much as the next kid. I became ambivalent toward the holidays some time in my mid-20s, but it wasn't until I got married that my indifference toward Christmas flared into genuine dislike. I found the unbridled materialism unpalatable (now that I was at an age when it no longer benefited me personally), the music irritating, and the moralistic … [Read more...]
I’m feeling anxious about Thanksgiving. It’s my favorite holiday, but for some reason the always-simmering but (usually) contained political hostilities within my family have flared up, and this can make family gatherings mighty uncomfortable. I don’t know exactly what has triggered the rage that’s spilling out all over my loved ones' Facebook pages this week. I don't really … [Read more...]
During a solar eclipse, the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth and temporarily blocks our view of the Sun. The Sun is furiously pumping away, emanating warmth and symbolizing spiritual and creative power to beat the band. Then along comes the Moon, who instead of reflecting the Sun’s light back to Earth, jealously hoards it all for herself. At the solar eclipse, … [Read more...]
I pick up the phone to hear my sister's voice in mid-reminiscence: "Hey, you know what I remembered today?" "What?" "Remember when we used to go to pick mom up from work, and we'd be sitting in the car waiting…and finally she'd come out, and as she was walking towards us, one of us would say, 'That's my mom!' And the other one would say, 'Hey - that's my mom too!' And then … [Read more...]
