Every two weeks, I pop into the neighborhood green grocer and buy two dozen long-stem roses for $20. It reminds me of the quotation by activist Emma Goldman who advocated for many social causes and women’s rights: “I’d rather have flowers on my table than diamonds around my neck.” This ritual of purchasing roses gives … Read more
As a tweenager I remember spending hours happily bouncing up and down on my pogo stick on the sidewalk in front of my home. Today my workout routine looks more like swimming in the pool at my local gym. While doing laps this morning, a repetitive activity that simultaneously energizes and soothes me, I envisioned … Read more
John Lewis was a civil rights leader who dedicated his life to advancing the rights of Black people in the United States. Although he died on July 17 at the age of 80, his bold legacy of getting into “good trouble” has continued to be a rallying cry for each of us to fight systemic … Read more
READ THE NEWSLETTER HERE In this edition of the Soaringwords newsletter, you’ll read about the National Institute of Health grant we submitted with Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services, upcoming events (including the SOARING into Strength Gala benefit), recent media features, and more. Learn how you can get involved with helping to promote … Read more
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soaringwords (@soaringwords) Are you a character assassin or a character defender? Do you spend your time obsessing about your character defects until you pulverize your sense of self worth into a pulp? If you are highly skilled at being self-critical, today I am happy … Read more
[Image: Jacob Buksbaum’s painting of his mother, Sara, who survived Nazi work camps during the Holocaust.) Today, Holocaust Memorial Day, marks the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp 77 years ago. The following story is about my husband Jacob’s parents, who were forced into work camps during the Holocaust. This close connection serves as a reminder … Read more
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soaringwords (@soaringwords) Molecular Biologist Elizabeth Blackburn was studying pond scum when she stumbled across an incredible discovery about human psychology that has a far-reaching impact well beyond the petri dishes in her laboratory. As she peered through her microscope at the pond scum samples, … Read more
All of us have experienced moments of loneliness and isolation. And the reason why loneliness is so painful is because of its twin emotion: shame. People feel a sense of shame surrounding loneliness because they think it’s a sign that they’re unlovable, weak, or inadequate in some way. However, shame actually stands for “SHOULD HAVE … Read more
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soaringwords (@soaringwords) Sometimes fear can be a useful catalyst to inspire us to take action. At the same time, fear can also paralyze us in our tracks as the mind ruminates and can’t stop. Of course, these days with access to the international connectivity … Read more
Hope for what you imagine in spite of what you see. Sixty years after Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his magnificent I Have A Dream speech, many strides have been made in the march forward for social justice. However, the words of Dr. King, written in his Letter From Birmingham Jail, are an … Read more