Blog Posts

“Do Nothing, yet nothing is left undone”

The above quote from the Tao Te Ching, written by Lao Tzu, fascinates me.   What? Why? It doesn’t make any sense!   Paradox (n): a seemingly contradictory or absurd statement that expresses a possible truth.   Consider this:   The heart does not try to perform the job of the lungs. The sun does not attempt to shine during the night. Autumn leaves die and fall to the ground to feed the soil beneath them. Tulips do not attempt

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(dressed in) Blue Angel

I believe angels surround us and they present themselves in the most unlikely circumstances. I am blessed to have witnessed the example I feature in this post.   The Coast Guard Academy (CGA) Bears’ Men’s Basketball team squared off against their formidable Division III opponents, the #7-ranked MIT Engineers. Being a supporter of the Bears, I was cautiously optimistic, but hopeful they could win.   Early in the game, Coast Guard’s team-chosen captain took an elbow to the head splitting

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Servant Leadership

There are leaders who strive to be in a position of strength and upon reaching their goal, they command respect. These people are known as leaders-first. There are also leaders who humbly accept the nomination of their peers to help guide them toward their goals. They are known as servants-first. Of course there are leaders who are not well-skilled to handle the responsibilities of their position and would feel more content in being a follower. And there are those who

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Next Chapter…

Shortly after sunrise on a late spring morning, I walked to the end of the dock at my sister’s and brother-in-law’s house. After seeing the name of their boat, Next Chapter…, a heaviness of emotions consumed my chest. The quiet activity of Cornfield Creek provided a perfect backdrop while I contemplated life and sipped my coffee in the comfort of an Adirondack deck chair. I watched a bonded pair of osprey alternate nest and possible egg maintenance duties. A variety

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Right place. Right time

Within you, exists a power to change lives. I beg of you to respond when someone calls to you for help. A friend reached out to my wife, Cathy, with an urgent plea. “My neighbor is pet-sitting two dogs; one of them, Piper, escaped. Is Peter available to help?” “He’s in a training appointment, but we will help as soon as he’s done.” In my 13 years as a dog trainer, I’ve helped a handful of wayward “problem pooches” reunite with

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House versus Home

While cleaning out a closet, I found a five page memoir my mother had written about the home where she lived as a child. Today, I write this blog post for my parents. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for raising me in a loving home. That’s me in the picture above with my first and best friend, Rusty, playing in our front yard. 1 Keen Court was the address of my learning laboratory. It was a small lab; there were only two houses on our

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Finding My Direction

 I am lost, really freaking lost. The “YOU ARE HERE” signs surround me, and they look familiar, but I don’t know where I am. Over the past 30 years, I’ve needed to find my direction many times. I unconsciously visit this destination frequently. It’s filled with storm clouds and a growing intensity to the winds-of-change which threaten destruction. Despair and discontent engulf me like the thickness of a humid day. I don’t like being here! During my last visit to

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