When my family gathered for the Passover Seder in 1998, I didn’t know it would be the last time I’d see my younger brother Gary alive. Fifty-one days later on the second day of the Jewish holiday Shavuot, I received a phone call at four in the morning telling me that he had died suddenly … Read more
Sometimes relationships evolve in unusual and synchronistic ways. Although this Saturday marks the 25th anniversary of my brother Gary’s sudden death, I’ve continued to experience his presence over the years in powerful, unexpected ways during many significant moments. Synchronicity is defined as the simultaneous occurrence of events, which appear significantly related but have no discernable … Read more
“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” –Rabbi Harold Kushner Dr. Robert Emmons is a psychology professor at the University of California, a leading scientific expert on gratitude, and gratitude myth buster. He … Read more
A few years ago, a friend of mine explained the concept of humility in an entirely new way to me. She shared the following joke to illustrate the concept of minimizing our ego and sense of all-knowingness: Q: “What’s the difference between God and me?” A: “God doesn’t think he’s me!” Through 12-step recovery programs, … 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
Chanukah always falls during the darkest time of the year when the days are shorter. That’s why it’s so inspiring to light ascending candles for eight nights to bring hope and illumination into our homes and into the world. Sometimes a few simple words can create an enormous gateway for healing and transformation. Often, we … Read more
Anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation tend to rise during the December holidays, which is why I am delighted to share some insights about High Quality Connections by my Positive Psychology mentor and friend Dr. Jane Dutton, the pioneering scientist who has promoted this important theory to help people experience greater well-being and better interactions. … Read more
Recently, I heard someone use the expression, “There’s a rhinoceros in the living room that wrecked EVERYTHING and everyone is pretending it is a coffee table!” This idea illustrates the way we can often be in denial of a big, rhinoceros-sized problem—even if it’s staring right at us. It also reminds me of the curious … Read more
Please enjoy this Thanksgiving story from my debut memoir, SOARING into Strength: Love Transcends Pain. An Uber driver took us to Aunt Margie and Uncle Steve’s home in Saddle River, New Jersey, for Thanksgiving dinner. After transferring my dad from car to wheelchair, we made it up the stone steps thanks to the muscles … Read more
Are you showing up for a conversation or a confrontation? These words from my dear friend Greg stopped me in my tracks. Civility is the ability to recognize divergent viewpoints without entirely discounting the person who holds a different view from yourself. Well, today civility is clearly in short supply. When having a disagreement or … Read more