Ijime: Bullying (いじめ) （建設的な生き方）

Here is a translation that I made this evening from a Japanese Constructive Living website. The topic is a dark one that is a persistent problem in Japan: “bullying.” Here is my translation: Bullying Bullying has occurred in every time period. So, it probably won’t go away from now, either. It is a problem not [...]

Constructive Living: Listening

The following is a quotation from Constructive Living Reflections on St. Augustine’s Homilies by David K. Reynolds: “Let’s talk about talking. Each of us speaks a private language, some of which is shared with others. Aim to hear the nuances of each other’s private speech. Do your best to translate your speech so that it [...]

Mindful Absorption: Fluidity and Mindfulness

Carl Rogers talks about “the fluid nature of the self.” But, how does one achieve such an awareness of the fluid nature of the self? Aside from my recent article, I will expand on a few key elements to this most elusive yet ordinary way of living, hopefully, moving us toward a better understanding of [...]

Walking Your Path

“Many paths lie before you. Some paths highlight quiet sitting in peaceful surroundings. Some paths highlight sharp action and danger. Some paths are highly visible to others. Some paths require many hours of isolation. Your path is individually designed for you. You discover it only by walking it. Looking back, the twists and turns make [...]

Five Quotations for Your Learning Pleasure (Selected by Your Humble Editor on a Rainy Tuesday Evening)

You will see throughout this blog, quotations from a handful of thinkers that I admire and learn from. The following are five selected quotations for your learning pleasure. Perhaps, one or more of these quotations will help you along with your day or stick with you and re-emerge when the time is right or ripe. [...]

Effortful Living: Seth Godin on Effort and Luck

Seth Godin has written a nice piece on “effort” and “luck” entitled, “Is Effort a Myth?”. In this article he opens up the popular misperception that a great life comes through luck and not effort. I think (and perhaps Godin would agree with me), that a great life can be built through an awareness of [...]

Actualizing (A Constructive Living Approach)

In his book Reality’s Reminders, Dr. David K. Reynolds reminds us, ” For all your hopes and dreams your life now is as it is. Reality responds to what you do and not to what you think or hope or dream. Actualizing involves action.” What this means to me is that goals become actualized through [...]