Monthly Archives: March 2018

Surviving in the Hardest of Hard Times

Rousseau said, “To endure is the first thing that a child ought to learn, and that which he will have the most need to know.” I remember my Grandpa Pat sharing stories of the Irish Potato Famine (1845-50), crying as he spoke.  The collective tragedy was so great that it continues to scar the Irish psyche to this day.  Hard times may be collective, like … Continue reading Surviving in the Hardest of Hard Times »

The Crucible of Character

  Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through the the experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. – Helen Keller   I’ve often found myself asking, “Am I the real thing?”  I’ve wrestled with my shadow self through much of my life, maybe because it’s been easier hyping the image of me than experiencing … Continue reading The Crucible of Character »

A Successful Life

What constitutes a successful life?  We are accustomed to defining success in terms of wealth, power and prestige.  But is this what truly makes for a successful life? The word success comes from the Latin succedere, which simply means “make something happen.”  So what if the something accrued to the benefit of others rather than oneself?  What if success was defined by a person’s value to others? The connection between successful … Continue reading A Successful Life »