"Every stage in a child's life is there for a purpose. If we can respect and respond to her needs fully during each stage of her life, she can be done with that stage and move on." —Naomi Aldort

There is a certain show with a certain nanny who is British (or is she?) that makes me very angry to even think about. I have only watched it a few times. I always have to turn it off because I end up yelling at the television! She is so far off base when it comes to having a loving, authentic relationship with your child. I feel sad that some parents buy into her advice. I have such empathy for the children. I also have empathy for the parents because they must be so disconnected from themselves that they are desperate enough to reach out to a woman who doesn’t even have children herself. She has made claims that she has many years of child care experience. It frightens me to think she is deemed an “expert”.   Read more...

Many years ago, when I first began the study of meaning, I struggled deeply with prosperity issues. You have to understand how I learned about money.

When I was 28, I walked into my apartment one night in tears. My dear, blessed roommate asked me what was wrong. I wailed, “I bounced a check.” She asked me if I’d balanced my checkbook. My tears stopped momentarily and I asked, “What’s that?”   Read more...

I saw this chant in a column by Queen Mama Donna Henes, urban shaman and dear friend to me. The words say it all. When you have time, give yourself a gift, and speak them aloud. Let their resonance soothe your soul.   Read more...

The first time I met Sawano Motohiro Sensei (1) I was deeply impressed by his gentle nature and open mind. We met in a rather unusual way, so let me explain.

Early in the day I had been introduced to a young American exchange student, Evan. He was a jazz major, but also loved Japanese. So, he came to Japan to learn the language. As we chatted that day, I realized his real love was music. So, I told him I would like to hear him play. As luck would have it, we were near a Kawai Music shop. My new friend had the brilliant idea of going there and pretending to buy a piano. That way he could perform using the very best instruments they had.   Read more...

It’s called “It’s Up To Us Alone,” and it’s a world debut radio play featuring Ed Asner. I’ve heard the first half of the piece, their sneak preview. Click here to have a listen.

It’s a little hokey, but so what? Asner is his wonderful, talented self, and a good point is made about peace. If we’re not cooperating with it, we’re against it. It’s that simple.

For more information about Knowmads, visit http://www.knowmads.nl. If you want to meet one of the Knowmads, get in touch with pieter@knowmads.nl.

We are happy to have you!   Read more...

If I am not being present with my kids, I respond to them with a comment that has been preprogrammed in me. I respond without really thinking. I always know when I do this because they give me a funny look, or they call me on the carpet. This jerks me back into the present moment. I often wonder exactly what our world would look like if we all responded to each other without the commentary going on inside our heads. What would our world look like if we respond to each other from the heart? How many of us really tell others what we want to tell them? How many times have you felt really connected to someone you just met, but were too scared to let them know because they might think you are strange? I know I have done that. We have been so conditioned to avoid responding from our inner voice. When adults aren’t not in touch with their inner voice, or in touch with what their heart is telling them, their kids will be taught the same lesson. “Look outside yourself for your answers.” The answers will never be found there.

As parents, we are given so much information on the “right” way to parent our children. Depending on the book you read, you may get thousands of techniques and ideas on “the best way” to raise children. I read many books when my children were little, and I was very grateful for those books. The books started me down the path to treating my children with kindness, compassion, and respect. However, there was a point when I had to stop reading the books because I was on information overload! All of this information, coupled with my already pre-programmed information didn’t leave me any room to listen to my heart. I could read all of the books in the world, and none of them would help me be an authentic, respectful parent if I wasn’t responding from my heart. I needed to learn to question the stories, listen to my own heart, and respond to my children from that authentic place.   Read more...

A client drew my attention to this new book: Creating the Peaceable Classroom: Techniques to Calm, Uplift, and Focus Teachers and Students. She sent me a friend’s blog post.   Read more...

Recently a friend told me about his best friend, Igari Yuji Sensei. (1) He told me how special his friend was. When I asked why, he told me he would send me his YouTube channel.

It turns out that Igari Sensei is a music therapist. He has his own business called The Igari Music Therapy Research Center. He works with people who have developmental disabilities. He does this in several dimensions. One is via individual and group sessions or lessons. The other is through a big band. The big band has both non-disabled and disabled persons, creating a smooth blending of worlds.   Read more...

Peace work happens. All the time. Every where. Every when.

I am a crossword puzzle fiend. Ever since the New York Times found/created Across Lite, I’ve done the puzzle online every day. I look at it as a way to wake my brain daily.   Read more...