What we miss with selective gratitude

One of the most difficult, yet gratifying things I did as a university psychologist was to lead a grief group for students each semester. Groups were made up of 6 to 8 students who had experienced the death of a family member or close friend within the previous year. Every one of those brave students […]

Typical gratitude starts with a judgment

Gratitude is not an easy topic for me. The longer I live, the more of a curmudgeon I become. I am disheartened by the state of the world, I’m alarmed at what’s happening in our country, and I’m perpetually annoyed by the way people drive. I hate to stand in line, and I meet people […]

Gratitude 1: the leftovers

We have just celebrated Thanksgiving, the time of year we intentionally reflect on the people, events, and things that bring us joy. Like many others, I celebrated it by gathering with some of my family and eating far too much. It’s easy to feel grateful in that situation, sitting at a table with people I […]

The uses and misuses of power: the story of Zacchaeus

Recently I talked with a young man nearing the completion of his law degree. I asked him about his process of choosing law as a career. He talked about his experiences of being bullied as a young boy. He was small for his age, studious, and not particularly interested in sports. He was the youngest […]