I had undertaken a project that I was beginning to feel was beyond my personal resources to accomplish. I had asked a friend and colleague if I might organize a workshop in the New England area that he would teach. After many months of collecting information, I was at the point of choosing and committing to a conference center. Next would come the advertising, invitations, mailings, registrations, etc. It happened many years ago in the early stages of my new career, and I was beginning to feel t

This is a brief guided meditation, including instructions for reading it, to help you to making an idea solid, centered, and grounded.

The beginning of a new year, like the beginning of anything, brings with it thoughts of change, rejuvenation, new life, and resolutions about how to accomplish these changes. Life offers possibilities of a fresh start for our relationships. But we don’t always carry through on our resolutions.

Walking down Lincoln Avenue in Portsmouth, I am struck by the beauty of the day forsythia, tulips and daffodils, bright sun, warm breeze and the freedom and privilege I have to walk in a healthy body, through a friendly neighborhood, of my own volition. I think about how much I take for granted, and how easy it is to feel centered and content when life is easy, flowing, and conflict free.

The Holidays are filled with key moments — and Ki Moments. Are you ready for them? Gift decisions, company parties, Holiday dinners with friends and family — they’re loaded with opportunities, aren’t they? Will the pressure of the moment help you reach peak performance or will you look back later wondering why you did what you did — again!

I am a martial artist and black belt in aikido, a practice that continues to teach me about life, both on and off the mat. For example, at the end of each aikido practice, I express gratitude to my partners by bowing and saying: “Thank you very much.” I’ve found over the years that sometimes I have obvious reasons to say thank you – working with that person was exhilarating and fun. However, sometimes the reasons are not so obvious – my partner was stiff, rough, unconscious, or generally difficult to work with.

How are you inventing your life today? How does the way you think affect your actions? And how might you become more aware of the process?

Mimi and I had gone on an aunt-niece shopping adventure, and at age 15, I became the proud owner of my first mini-skirt. Upon seeing it, my dad hit the roof, and as usual, I was angry, scared, and tongue-tied. Years of admonitions to not “talk back,” had my voice stopped in my throat.

We’re so busy trying to get it all done — and trying to get it all done right — that we sometimes miss life in our hurry to get to the goal.

The more I practice centering, the more I realize that as important as it is to be able to identify and access the centered state, it is equally important to be able to know when I’m NOT centered. Otherwise, how do I choose?