I’m not sure if it is a word, or even if it could be a word, but I want to offer you the option of “pre-ponding.” There’s responding and reacting (and there’s over-responding and over-reacting, but those options are for another post… ), and there is pro-acting. I want to create a distinction between pro-acting…

Patience has its limits. Take it too far, and it’s cowardice. – George Jackson There’s a difference between preparation and stalling. There’s a difference between waiting-for-the-right-moment and procrastination. Knowing the difference makes all the difference.

Every calamity is a spur and a valuable hint. – Emerson Yes, I am riffing off the recent political meme in the post title. (“Never let a crisis go to waste.” (Attributed, I believe, to Rahm Emanuel).) That aside, Emerson’s words are an extremely valuable reminder. We ignore “failures” and “calamities” at our peril. Every…

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. – Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama) I could go in all sorts of directions with this one, but I want to focus on one that doesn’t occur to so many people. Be kind to yourself. Always. That doesn’t mean you rationalize or tell yourself…

Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun. – Pablo Picasso Some people have a vague sense that we can play a role in how things seem. But this sense is – generally – woefully incomplete, and below (our) consciousness. We do play a role in how things…

For every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness. – Emerson This reminds me of something I like to remind myself of something (I believe) the Buddha said: “Anger is like swallowing poison expecting your enemy to die.” I like to view anger in such a (useful) way. Do you agree? After…

To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there. – Kofi Annan Tell me about the classes you took in school about developing an accurate and resourceful self-image, knowing your values and…