I always eagerly anticipated New Year celebrations as a young girl. We often celebrated at home as a family—my parents, my younger brother, and me. My mother created several alluring and memorable child-centric rituals which our family enjoyed over the years. One such tradition was watching a blockbuster movie in theaters. A big movie-going family, … Read more
As I write this, I’m sitting on the beach by the Atlantic ocean, soothing my senses. I’m literally inhaling calm and exhaling the past 10 weeks of tension, trauma, and fear. Did you know that the way we breathe impacts our overall wellbeing? As a Positive Psychology thought leader, I’ve led many workshops teaching people … Read more
I still smile when I recall the thrill of seeing hundreds of runners from countries all over the world pounding the pavement on the city streets during the New York City Marathon. I’m seriously considering signing up to participate in next year’s race, with a three-pronged goal. First, I just want to be able to … Read more
Two days ago, I attended the funeral of Rabbi Simon Glustrom, my family’s Rabbi throughout my childhood. He was a welcome presence who presided over important lifecycle events throughout my childhood including my bat-mitzvah, the coming of age ritual ceremony for 13 year old. He also was one of three Rabbis who stood under the … Read more
You’re familiar with the expression GO WITH THE FLOW and you’ve probably experienced being suspended in a state of flow. Today on the anniversary of his birth, we honor the life of Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, pioneering Positive Psychology thought leader and world expert on Flow States. Dr. Mihaly Csíkszentmihályi defined flow as “a state in which … Read more
There’s something so delicious and thrilling about cracking open a brand new book. Who will you encounter? What will you discover that’s unknown to the characters but obvious to you? How will you be transported to different destinations, cultures, and times? One of my favorite activities is to get lost in a great book. Historical … Read more
Labor Day was made an official holiday in 1894 to honor the contributions of laborers who built America’s railroads, highways, and infrastructure. Today, like many modern holidays, it’s viewed as an opportunity for big sales and to enjoy leisure time away from work, of course. Living in New York City, it’s impossible to ignore the … Read more
It’s back-to-school season and I’m getting ever so nostalgic. Whenever I duck into the Staples store in my neighborhood, I’m swept up with positive flashbacks from my childhood back-to-school excursions. My mom was wonderfully supportive, always encouraging my love of learning. For this annual rite of passage, we’d go to the local stationery store in … Read more
Events around the world these past few weeks have been anything but idyllic. However, as the calendar pages turn towards the last week of August (calendar pages used to be a real thing), it seems that many people have headed for the hills, beach, or staycations. After spending a couple of days leaving lots of … Read more
In celebration of Be Kind to Humankind week, I am delighted to share wisdom from the ages on the subject of kindness—a gentle quality that has powerful reverberations. Lebanese-American writer and poet Kahil Gibran said, “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention.” Kindness is a soft verb; one that must … Read more