I'm thankful for...

My faith, my husband who is my best friend, my co-workers Mark, Allie, Susan, Thomas and Debra, our great nieces Brittany and Alyssa and great nephews Kyle and Ryan, our church community, my upbringing by my parents Jim and Alberta.

I'm thankful for our military and all those who have bought us our freedom. I'm thankful that we have a home and live in a safe and kind neighborhood. I'm thankful that I'm a counselor and that I am entrusted with the lives of so many over the years. I'm thankful that as mediators we can help bring a little more peace to our world.

I'm thankful for the little miracles I see in life every day and for all that I can't now recall and that I at times take for granted.

I'm thankful for people who have mentored and helped me along my life's journey: Dr. John Keshock (JCU), Fred Vosen, Dr. Sally Wertheim (JCU), the teachers at NDA, my friend Fr. Tom Johns, my sister Jaye who has become a dear friend, Ann Clark, Terry Whalen, my classmates from St. Michael's who still meet monthly for lunch, Norma Delp, Albert Couch (our mediation teacher), my professional colleagues who have taught me so much. I have left many out, but they are not forgotten in my heart.

It is humbling to have all this and more for which I give thanks. On our wedding day, Fr. Tom told John and me that now together we have even more responsibility to do more for others and that more will be expected of us. We never forget that as we give thanks for abundant blessings.

Painting sells for $42.6M

Is anyone else bothered by this? A Lichtenstein painting, "Ohhh...Alright..." sold for a whopping $42.6M recently. Following that sale, Andy Warhol's Campbell soup can and opener went for a mere $23.9M (disappointing to some apparently who estimated it might go for up to $50M).

Pick a spot. Any spot on earth: Haiti, El Salvador, Appalachia, Africa. Does a painting justify that amount of money when people are struggling just to live through another day?

Don't get me wrong. I love the arts. I just think we should love people more.

2020 Vision - Where In the World Will Mediation Be In 10 Years?

This is a long article by Michael Leathes, but well worth reading for a brief history of mediation and a projection of where the emerging field will be as a profession in 2020.

2020 Vision - Where In the World Will Mediation Be In 10 Years?

Honoring our veterans

Today I took a dear friend who is a Viet Nam veteran (Marine)to lunch. We didn't talk about the war but spent most of the time catching up on family and personal matters. I could have attended one of many Veteran's Day ceremonies throughout the city like I did last year, but today I wanted to personalize it. It's not too late to do something to honor a vet today. Attend a memorial event, surprise her/him with a treat, thank them, say a prayer.

On another matter germaine to the day, why do government employees get a holiday, but veterans go to work? Why is this not a national holiday like Memorial Day?

Hats off to Caregivers

President Obama recently declared November as National Family Caregivers Month. Professional caregivers choose this professional because they have a passion for helping people in need and receive appropriate training. Non-professional caregivers, on the other hand, are often put in a position by default or choose to help their loved ones who are ill or incapacitated, and have little training. They "learn as they go," juggle their own families,careers and commitments along with their caregiver responsibilities.

So blessings on those caregivers who wear so many hats...chauffeur, cook, financial supporter, medicine dispenser, schedule organizer, decision-maker, and often a shoulder to cry on. We tip our hats to you!