A Failed City? Forbes and Politico call Portland a failed city. Like many places in the country, it went from wonderful to war zone almost overnight. Job losses created an influx of people without shelter. George Floyd and political tempers

Blah, Blah, Blah. Powerful words coming from a teen who doesn’t want to wait until she’s in her sixties before greenhouse gas emissions are under control. Greta Thunberg from Sweden is understandably impatient. I am too. I have a shorter

Eastern Oregon Contemplative  Expansive, settling, calm, beautiful, meditative—walking in nature helps maintain perspective and mental health. Invisible Injustice “Be prepared. The worst is yet to come,” is the message released by scientists getting ready for the UN’s Global Conference on

Soaring Freedom by Mastery Discussions about individual rights and political freedom plaster the news, while other types of freedom are rarely discussed. Infants standing upright to take their first steps,  gain freedom by moving beyond their crib or parent’s arms

Gold Static When you care, your care circulates to make us all better. But what is the best way to show compassion that initiates change? Millions take to the streets to protest social injustice and societal wrongs, but does it

Knowing Where To Look Proof that people are good is all around if you know where to look. With so many troubles facing society, it is easy to forget there is much to celebrate.  Though trained in psychology, I didn’t

In 1964 Billy Mills, an Oglata Lakota (Sioux) from South Dakota, won the Gold Medal in the 10,000-meter run. It is considered one of the Olympic’s greatest upsets because the victory came from an unknown Native American athlete. Though Mills

The Whys of Healthcare Frustration Last week I wrote of my frustration with a health care system that no longer focuses on patient satisfaction. A reader suggested I explain why costs are so high and what led to the degradation

House Call  Medicine – What happened? Medical care today is beyond my comprehension. As technology, sophisticated treatments, and pharmaceuticals improve, the quality of interactions between physician and patient appears to decline. Instead of getting to know patients and their families,

Take the Hard Road A few days ago I watched a TV show where a high school athlete was given a scholarship opportunity on the track team at UCLA. Acceptance rested on her willingness to move far away from home,