|
Introduction
The essays in this book were written over a two-year period between May 2008 and June 2010. This book is a follow-up to my earlier book, Musings on Life, that covered the previous two years of similar writings.
As before, they are organized according to topics or themes rather than in the order in which they were written. However, I do note the month in which each article was written-since many of them refer to some current incident or personal experience.
Again, I want to quote from Douglas Hofstadter in saying that "I tell many first-person stories in this book...because it provides all sorts of examples that I suspect are typical of most people's lives."
I begin most of the pieces with a reference to something from my own experience, then broaden the focus to reflect on the larger issues involved, inviting you to consider how they impact you personally.
I again tried to write about issues that are universally relevant or meaningful-because the underlying theme of the book is recognizing and acknowledging the many things that bind us all together as people.
It's my hope that these writings will serve as motivation or inspiration for each of you to take time to do your own "musings on life."
Table of Contents
To read some excerpts, click on the listings with a *
|
- Chapter 1: Perspective
- Perspective on Life
- Living Life to the Fullest
- Some General Principles to Live By
- *
Slow Down
- Silence is Golden
- Everything Old is New Again
- It Couldn't be Done
- Lessons from the Olympics
- The Truth about Others' Lives
- Ain't it Awful
- Chapter 2: Acceptance
- Unconditional Acceptance
- *
The Masks we Wear
- What's in a name?
- The Impossible Dream
- What did you expect?
- Impulsive Personality
- Regrets
- Do you hear what I think I'm saying?
- Winning vs. Succeeding
- Chapter 3: Changes
- Moving
- Timeless Wisdom
- Planes, Trains and Automobiles
- Economic Turmoil
- Worst First
- What do you want to be when you grow up?
- Changing Old Habits
- Daily Routines Hard to Change
- What's going on now?
- You Can't Go Home Again
- Chapter 4: Lifestyle
- Lazy Days of Summer
- Age of Anxiety
- Cool Technology
- *
Maggie and Me
- Death and Taxes
- Multitasking
- Money or Finances
- If only I'd known then…
- Empowered to Do your Job
- Being Responsible Consumers
- Chapter 5: Pleasure
- Laughter Makes us Think
- Summer's County Fair
- Music Makes the World go Round
- Finding Your Play
- Road Trips
- It doesn't look like the picture
- Rainy Days and Sunshine
- Too Cold
- Obsessed with the Weather
- *
Sitting on Top of the World
- Chapter 6: Love
- Divorce is not an Option
- Make Someone Happy
- Inspiring Love Story
- *
Lasting Love
- On Being Loved
- Trust can be Romantic
- Love Will Keep us Together
- Chapter 7: Family
- A Testament to Fathers
- A Remarkable Man
- Family First
- *
We are Family
- The Importance of Families
- Family Ties of Compassion
- The Last Move
- Babies
- Chapter 8: Women
- Woman to Woman
- *
"I'm Sorry"
- Capable at Any Age
- Women Today
- Tribute to Strong Women
- Chapter 9: Body
- Body Maintenance
- Taking your Medicine
- Dealing with Doctors
- Body for Life
- Me and my Shadow
- Better Health with Dr. Oz
- Eat Real Foodress
- Born to Run
- The Numbers that Really Matter
- Chapter 10: Mind
- Using your Whole Brain
- Love that Kindle
- Educating all our Children
- Our Education System
- Information—Knowledge—Wisdom
- Education is Powerful
- Chapter 11: Meaning
- The World is Flat
- The American Crisis
- Politics and Religion
- Winning and Losing
- Come Together
- World Peace
- The Best of Times, the Worst of Times
- Call to Service
- The times they are a-changin'
- Fascinating Facts
- One World
- Where All Things Belong (Revisited)
- Beyond Race?—Not yet
- Make the World a Better Place
- The Message of "Avatar"
- Plastics!
- The Power of Mother Nature
- *
What's Wrong with this Picture?
- What's Wrong with this Picture?
- Only the Good Die Young
- One Planet, One People
|
| 
