Giving Back and Volunteering

Life blessed me with a gaggle of nieces and nephews, but I never had kids. While in many ways not having children worked for my lifestyle, there are some things I missed out on: the major awe factor that comes with being with toddlers, the wit of teenagers and now, the no grandchildren factor. Read More

According to psychologists, we go through various stages of life from birth to death. Rich or poor, whatever our ethnicities, religions or culture, we share this passage through distinct phases of life. And the years after 60 or so are considered the years of giving back. Read More

If you are looking for the best gifts for grandma, I have some surprising news. While travel opportunities, unique experiences, handmade items and spa treatments are all hits with women over 50, one item is requested more than any other – gift certificates.

Yes, you heard that right! Gift certificates. Read More

Volunteering will likely mean something different to just about everyone who reads this.

Think about it. Becoming a volunteer could range from working at an animal shelter or in a food kitchen, becoming a docent or a tour guide at a museum. It could involve serving on the board of a non-profit whose mission is especially meaningful to you. Read More

There were 6 of us in the car as we chatted our way to one of Bali’s beach towns for a girls’ day out. Don’t ask me to retrace the conversational trail and tell you how we got there, but someone said, “Do you remember Kermit the Frog?” Without missing a beat I started to sing, It’s not easy being green… but stopped in mid-breath. Read More

In our 60s, we are old enough to remember the days when the scourge of AIDS seemed to hover everywhere. Many of us have known someone who was dying or have lost someone to the disease. Read More

As retirement approaches, the opportunities to embark on voluntary work become increasingly appealing.

But what to do? If you are not going to get paid, it has to be something you enjoy, something you feel passionate about and, hopefully, something that will give you a new perspective on life. Read More

“The cultivation of compassion is no longer a luxury, but a necessity, if our species is to survive.” – The Dalai Lama

In the first part of this blog, I shared several research studies that point to a compassionate lifestyle as a path to health and happiness. In this blog, I will share what I am learning at the Compassion in Education Working Group about cultivating and practicing the compassionate lifestyle. Read More

Compassion engages our capacity for love, wisdom, courage, and generosity. It’s a mental and emotional state that’s boundless and directionless, grounded in the great spiritual traditions of the world but available to every person simply by virtue of our being human. – Kristin Neff

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When we are asked to describe an ideal friend, many of us use the word “kind.” We are drawn to people who are trustworthy, sympathetic, thoughtful and caring. We may throw in some other “nice to haves,” but, at a fundamental level, simple human kindness is what we need from each other. Read More