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I have never had any desire or intention to hijack or blow up an airplane.  Before boarding, however, I remove my jacket, take off my shoes, put my laptop in a tray and submit to other security procedures.  You see, I understand that someone else might want to blow up or hijack the plane.  It is my right to fly but my responsibility to participate in safety measures. I have a license that gives me the right to drive but also the responsibility to drive safely. Each of us has many, many other rights and responsibilities as citizens and individuals...

  Last Saturday I had a long list of things that needed to be done so got an early start.  I headed to my office to drop off and pick up items that would sum up my week’s work with clients.  There wasn’t anyone in the professional building which offered an interesting silence.    For a couple of hours, I just soaked up the comfort and beauty of the space I had decorated for clients and staff while autographing books and doing some paperwork. Next, I picked up a grocery order that I had placed online and then headed to...

When a baby elephant is born, those in charge use a chain around one of its legs and a stake in the ground to limit its ability to roam.  Over time, even though the elephant grows to more than 5,000 pounds and has considerable strength, it has a belief that it cannot move beyond what the length of the chain allows.   It has been conditioned. As humans, we also are conditioned.   In childhood we are influenced by our parents who may pass on ideas that aren’t even rational – yet we believe what they say – even into adulthood at...

A few weeks ago, I was doing a therapy session with a couple who was having a very loud argument.  The language was harsh, and they weren’t making any progress towards resolution of the issue. I jumped in with a piece of advice. The husband immediately turned to the screen and said “Linda, that is just too much like common sense.  I don’t know how to handle common sense because there isn’t any of it in the world anymore”.   Fortunately, we all laughed and that broke the tension. But what he said was also sad.  Common sense is NOT common,...

There have been so many changes in our world this year and I frequently have questions that do not seem to have clear answers.  I wonder if you are also confused about things. Here are some topics that I have been pondering: PANDEMIC SEVERITY – I told you previously that I was very ill in January but that was before we started testing for COVID-19, so I really don’t know if I had it. I am confused about why some areas were hit very hard by the number of cases while others were not.  Statistics are being questioned by many...

In the past few weeks, I have been hearing a lot about “conspiracy theories” and “conspirators” so thought I would see if I could get a better understanding of what these terms mean. The Merriam-Webster dictionary states that a conspiracy theory “explains an event or set of circumstances as the result of a secret plot by usually powerful conspirators”.  Sounds to me like the stuff mystery novels are based upon.  Joy in the reading comes from seeing the “secrets” revealed as the plot develops and motivation of the characters is uncovered. Conspiracies are tied to beliefs that individuals hold.  I...

In the first week of January 2020 I became extremely ill from “something”.  My symptoms, which evidenced primarily between my chin and my waist were highly unusual and I didn’t believe that I had ever experienced anything so horrible in my life.  It was strange because I had been faithful in taking my vitamins, had my flu shot and made sure that I always followed through with medical checkups for dental, physical and vision. My first response when I got sick was to follow health practices of the past which I had used for years to fight illness.  I went...

I find it interesting to discuss the state of our world and how it has changed.  Some people believe that it has gotten far worse over time.  Others focus on positive advancements.  A third group blends aspects from both of these stances. Let’s try to put things into perspective by acknowledging a few concepts:   There has always been trouble in the world. Those who have studied the Bible know that evil appeared to Adam and Eve in the form of a talking snake.  Their two children, Cain and Abel got into an argument that resulted in murder.  Only one...

The pandemic that arrived in late 2019 seems to have frozen much of our world.  Since it arrived there have been school closures, significant economic ramifications, government regulations to self-isolate, and restricted travel.  An attitude for citizens consisting of fear and confusion due to mixed messages is also evident. But it is not all bad.  There are many things in the world, in fact, that have improved or shifted because of the pandemic:   Business Innovation – Many owners have adapted to non-contact restrictions by offering options for take out or delivery. Some even changed the products that they were...

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could control everything?  Well, maybe not!  I can remember when, in my youth, I would think that I had some amazing ideas and if God would just appoint me to his Board of Directors, I could enact them.  How naïve!  In time I realized that it was good that I didn’t have that role as I would have messed up an awful lot of things! Now that I am older and hopefully much more “mature” I realize that I have both rights and responsibilities to enact at a personal level.  Everyone seems to focus...

World War II began in 1939 and ended in 1945.  The countries who were called “allies” included Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union and the United States.  They were fighting against Germany, Italy and Japan which were known as the Axis Powers.   I clearly remember many stories that my mom told me about the Second World War and how it changed her life as well as the whole world.  Lately I have been thinking about how our war with COVID-19 has parallels to what everyone experienced back then.   Fear – When we feel that we don’t have control...