Whenever I visit my little niece, I end up reading children’s stories that delight me as much as they do her. My favorite of the moment is The Fire Cat by Esther Averill. It’s a 1960 classic, with drawings that capture the essence of Pickles, a stray kitty with big paws and big dreams. In the three-part story, Pickles faces the universal challenges of life: Search for one’s purpose. Adrift in the wrong environment. Choosing purpose over privilege. Being both good and bad. Being paralyzed by fear. Getting into a fine mess. Getting a second chance. Working hard to improve … Continue reading Philosophy from a children’s book: The Fire Cat

I stumbled upon this YouTube video, “Don’t Take Anything Personally,” through elephant journal. It’s unbearably New Age-y and self help-y, yet strangely compelling. It highlights one chapter of a book, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, that keeps popping into my life. I’ve never owned or even read the book, but last year it caught my eye near the yoga section at the wonderful Green Apple Books in San Francisco. Reading the title, I suddenly recalled someone (a guy sitting next to me on a plane?) highly recommending it ages ago. I skimmed the entire book, short and sweet, with just four … Continue reading The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz