This, that, and the other thing

It’s been a while since I connected on a more personal level. I usually have online community gatherings (like Elevation Ceremonies) to stay in touch. But since that hasn’t happened lately, I want to share a few things that have been going on.

The Problem with Positive Thinking

Don’t worry. Be happy!
Whether it’s a secular or spiritual environment, so much of what we’re taught about how to manage our thoughts boils down to one message: “Don’t think those bad thoughts! Think only good thoughts!”  And it’s a prescription for mental disaster.

Mother’s Day for the Rest of Us 

It can feel isolating to carry old wounds into a day built on picture-perfect memories that were never yours. If Mother’s Day feels more complicated than comforting, you’re not alone.

Cannabis helps reduce Alcohol intake

For decades, sobriety meant total abstinence. But what if cannabis, used with intention, could help some people reduce or even quit alcohol? After receiving harsh pushback for saying so, I’m sharing why I believe this conversation matters – because it’s grounded in both emerging research and real-life stories. Maybe it’s time we rethink what recovery can look like.

When we change – but the world doesn’t

Psychedelic breakthroughs can feel like hitting reset – but without a clear path forward, it’s easy to slip back into old patterns. I explore the challenge of integration, emotional healing, and how to build new mental scaffolding that supports lasting change in a world that wants the old you back.

Character > Credentials – The Trait that Trumps Talent

Whether you’re hiring for your business or welcoming someone into your personal life (like a housekeeper or caregiver) the stakes go far beyond what’s on a candidate’s résumé. Even if their experience looks like a perfect match on paper, you still can’t gauge someone’s character or integrity. After years of trial and error, I’ve learned how to recognize the people who genuinely belong.

Would you wear an invisible force field that ensures lack of interaction?

Wearing something that says: “Don’t bother me” is like an invisible impenetrable force field that ensures lack of interaction… but without people in your life there cannot be feedback to help you grow and evolve. As human beings, we need each other. So when I see someone wearing essentially a sandwich board that screams “Don’t Bother Me,” I experience a wave of sadness…

How does your “losing it” story go?

How do you present yourself to the outside world? Personally, I used to hide my emotional pain and look normal enough. Professional, successful, measured. But behind that facade lived my wounded self.

Can Cannabis Make You Crazy?

As a professional embracing the judicious use of cannabis in an innovative approach to trauma resolution, I often encounter individuals worried about the aftermath of “taking too much” cannabis. Typically, their concern is linked to an undefined yet deep-seated fear that something negative might happen.