Before going to sleep, take another look at the day you just lived. Across spiritual traditions, practices of self-examination ask us to notice our actions, intentions and relationships—and what we might do differently tomorrow.
September has a sound. There are fewer cicadas at night. Some birds leave while others pass through on their way south. Leaves begin to dry, changing the sound of wind in the trees. Soon we'll hear them underfoot. Scientists listen to these changes, too. Soundscape ecology uses
William Blake found a world in a grain of sand. Across spiritual traditions and modern psychology, the smallest things can reveal something much larger about meaning, connection and our place in the universe.
Memory, faith, doubt, regret, imagination and earlier versions of ourselves all inhabit the life within. What can Proust, spiritual traditions and psychology teach us about this inner world as we grow older? I'd use “The Inner Life: What Grows Within Us as We Age” for the
A new film adaptation of The Odyssey has once again brought Homer’s ancient hero into the public eye. That raises an interesting question. Why do we keep returning to a story nearly three thousand years old? Perhaps it begins with the Cyclops, the Sirens, and the
Before he died, Indianapolis businessman Terry Kahn gave his attorney one unusual instruction: Do not spend money on an obituary. Kahn did not believe anyone would be interested in reading about his life. He was wrong. When Kahn died in 2021, he left behind an estate worth
Why Empty Time Matters More Than We Realize “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” — Mahatma Gandhi There was a time when waiting was simply waiting. We sat in doctor's offices and looked around the room. We stood in grocery store lines and noticed other people.
“May my thoughts, words, and actions be in harmony.” — Traditional Sanskrit prayer It is an aspiration most people immediately recognize, even if we rarely put it into words. Many of us spend years trying to become someone—building careers, raising families, meeting responsibilities, and fulfilling expectations. There is
A few days ago, thousands of people gathered in Chicago for the official opening of the Obama Presidential Center. Organizers described it as a celebration of democracy, culture, service, and hope—a place intended not simply to preserve history, but to encourage people to participate in
“The best balm for the soul is friendship.” — Eddie Jaku Imagine losing your wallet. Not a hypothetical wallet. Your wallet. Driver’s license, credit cards, perhaps a little cash, and all the small things that accumulate over time. How likely do you think it is that a stranger