Messages From My Friend

“Messages from My Friend” is an ongoing collection of real-life experiences about "Making even one life breathe easier", by resolving the daily challenges of: Family, Relationships, Cultural Issues, Joy & Loss, and Inspirational Experiences, while searching for the “True North” of our heart.

My friend's experiences are augmented by the writings of: Shakespeare, Kipling, Emerson the Books of the Bible, "The Book of Virtues", "The Breakthrough Effect", "The Seven Seasons of the Man in the Mirror, "The Quotable Lewis", "Things That Matter", "The Book of Joy", "The Greatest Generation", "1776", "Signature in the Cell", "Let There be Light", "The Purpose Driven Life", "The Traveler's Gift", "When in Doubt, MAKE BELIEF", etc.

The websites listed under "Other Sources" on the Navigation Bar also provide additional insights & inspiration.

This website's purpose is to open minds, soften hearts, and touch souls to "Make even one life breathe easier", through the common denominator of shared experiences, that often requires "Treating the Imposters of Triumph and Disaster,  just the same." (paraphrased)

ONE Blog Post is Published Per Category at the beginning of each month.                                                                                                                                                                  EACH blog post has an "Embedded YouTube MUSIC VIDEO" which enhances the Theme of the blog post Message

• You can access All the Previous blog posts Per CATEGORY by simply "Scrolling Down" after reading the current month's blog post under a Category
• You can access All of a Previous Month's blog posts Per MONTH by "Clicking" on the desired month under the "Archives" section on the right of the Home Page.
• You can access All Current Month's blog posts by "Clicking" on "Read More" after the brief summary below.

The "MOST POPULAR" Posts are listed to the upper-right: simply "CLICK" on the Title.

ALERT: PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED  blog posts have been Updated & Enhanced with Music Videos, Pictures, and  Edited Prose to combine for an Enjoyable & Enlightening, Experience. PLEASE TAKE A NEW LOOK at the Enhanced Blog Posts, and Enjoy.

"COMMENTS" are welcome and easily made at the end of each blog post. Thank You.          

April Recent Posts

Family - A Vacation Adventure – A/L/A Griswold – My friend & his wife enjoyed the setting & romance of the movie, “Same Time Next Year”. So, my friend found a similar idyllic, water-front cabin, at a charming Lodge, to celebrate his wife’s October Birthday. Everything was going along according to ”Script”, when my friend decided to take a boat out onto Lake Michigan, A/L/A Griswold…   (Read More)

Relationship - A Family’s Enduring Relationship with a Stranger – A neighbor referred a “Santa” to my friend, when her children got “too old”. The “Santa” called my friend with specific instructions about presents, but more importantly about what each person did that was “Naughty & Nice”. Both children & adults loved ”Santa”. After a decade, “Santa” was transferred out of town. Everyone was distraught. Then, he returned for one more memorable Christmas…    (Read More)

Culture - What is the Basis of “Social Justice”? – My friend was a Christian Formation Instructor to Public High School Sophomores at his church.  Their Session Topic was Social Justice. My friend asked the HS students, “Why would you care about anyone? You’re taught that everyone is the result of the “Survival of the Fattest” & ”Random Chance.” Why would you care about Equal Justice” for someone else? The room was silent. My friend explained, “The “Source” of “Each Person’s Inherent Value” is…      (Read More)

Joy & Loss - An Immigrant’s “Triumph & Disaster” – My friend told his youngest son the story of the son’s great-grandfather coming to America. It’s a story about a bright young man who came from Poland without any money, but with an astute sense of discernment, charm, and risk-taking perseverance. He parlayed those attributes into a 2-million- dollar fortune by 1928. Then, …     (Read More)

Inspiration - The Buddhist Tonglen Prayer, With Christian Values – My friend attended a seminar about ”Spiritual Enhancement for Seniors”. He came for the Free Coffee & Bagels. He was totally unprepared for the “Buddhist Tonglen Prayer” Exercise – which was to Breathe-In the “Pain & Sorrow” of your partner, then Breathe-Out “Peace & Joy” to her. He was paired with an attractive, 30-something divorcee'. He “Breathed-In” the pain & sorrow of her recent divorce. Then, my friend ”Breathed-Out” Peace & Joy to her by saying...   (Read More)

True North - God Speaks to Us in Many Ways, Not Just Through the Bible – God speaks to us through the delicate intricacies of Art, Music, Poetry, Sculpture, etc. God speaks to us through the profound Laws of Anthropology, Astronomy, Paleontology, etc. God speaks to us through the Majestic Beauty of a sunset, the Swings of Pleiades, and the reddening of a rose, etc. So, if the Bible were never written, the Sanctuary of our Soul would find the companionship of God, through…     (Read More)