Most of us have met people who have had a profound impact on us.    I have been blessed to know many people who have brought joy and light into my life.  I have always wondered why I have been so fortunate, and how I can honor my relationship with these joyous people.

Little did I know when my friend Joe invited me to lunch several years ago that it would become one of my most favorite activities.  I met Joe’s mom, Nadia, who cooked the most wonderful Lebanese food for us. …

Our childhood experiences can shape our personality and have a decisive impact on our current beliefs and our outlook on life.   As children, we interpret stressful events to the best of our ability and do our best to survive.  Our parents and friends negative comments can stay with us for a lifetime.  A child’s defensive mechanism is to stop feeling his/her pain by numbing his/her feelings, hence creating a belief system (most likely a limiting one) to explain what they are…