A Thorn With Every Rose
I recently attended an Oxford Club chapter meeting at the Grove Park Inn, a historic hotel on the western slope of Sunset Mountain near Asheville, NC. Passing the enormous stone hearth in the lobby one morning, I noticed an engraving on one of the stones. It was a quatrain by…
READ MOREThe Melody of Life
Amidst all the insanity and meaningless chatter that overwhelms us each day, every so often we get a break – and get hooked into nature’s Sanity Support System. We have little control over when the blessed intervention will take place, how often it will occur, or what its components may be.
READ MOREOne From the Heart
I recently received an inspiring e-mail from a young friend of mine, Jay. I had not seen Jay in 30 years, and really only came to know him when he contacted me to inform me that his father, Jack, had passed away. Jack was a genuinely good human being, and…
READ MOREWhen Disaster Strikes
Sometimes life dishes out these little disasters. How you react to them says much about your character and bears heavily on your ability to carry out a successful life.
READ MOREWas It Worth the Pain?
Success is like any other high in life. It is a rush. It may be as simple as getting the closest parking space. Ahhh, that little rush of victory! And all it took was driving around the lot three times.
READ MORELiving Rich the Wrong Way: Nate’s Dream House on Oprah
I recently watched a disturbingly warm and fuzzy Oprah show. One of Oprah’s cohorts, Nate Berkus, had been directed to take a schlocky tract house in Seattle and turn it into a “dream home” for an admittedly lovely family. Were they deserving of such largess? I don’t know. I’m guessing Habitat for Humanity chooses the recipients of their good works without so much concern about how camera-friendly they might be.
READ MOREThe Curse of the Lottery
The story 20/20 did on Jack Whittaker, winner of $315 million in the Powerball multi-state lottery in 2002, was heavy, to say the least. (Since he opted to take a one-time payout, Whittaker actually received “only” a little over $113 million after taxes.) His is yet another in a long line of tales about people who suddenly find themselves immensely wealthy – and subsequently miserable.
READ MORELiving Rich: Drawing on Your Inner Resources
Being totally self-reliant, able to fend for yourself – it’s an appealing idea, one that’s been romanticized in literature and the movies.
READ MORELiving Rich: How to Read a Poem
“One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and… speak a few reasonable words.”
READ MOREThe Power of Detachment
There are many things from which you can detach yourself, and one of the most important is the habit of judging people, actions, and circumstances as being right or wrong, good or bad.
READ MOREThe Hero Within You
To the extent you work at spreading the gospel of liberty to others – explaining to as many people as possible why liberty must be given a higher priority than all other objectives – you are a hero.
READ MORE8 Great International Getaways
“Not only does travel give us a new system of reckoning, it also brings to the fore unknown aspects of our own self. Our consciousness being broadened and enriched, we shall judge ourselves more correctly.” – Ella Maillart By Steenie Harvey What makes for a great vacation? Magic, thrills, and…
READ MORE