George is Not a Commodity

Over a catch-up dinner last week, a friend confided something I did not expect to come out of his mouth. An executive with a big firm he said, “I’m starting to feel like a commodity.” Are we all becoming a commodity? Are we so easily replaceable? Is this what the chaos, uncertainty, unpredictability and complexity is causing us to feel? That we’re no different from anyone else. Is this the root cause of stress and anxiety at work? I went […]

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My Dry Cleaner’s Choice

She greeted me with the same positive, glowing smile she always does but had an inquisitive look on her face today. “Hey Bob!!! What are you doing home during the week? Did your house get flooded with the hurricane? All ok?”, Elma asked as I walked into her dry cleaning store today to drop off my shirts. I explained that I’m home this week because I’m on vacation and was attempting to spend some quality time with the kids before […]

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Weekend with Irene and Katy

I was sort of prepared for Hurricane Irene to hit us in New Jersey. Had the flashlights all out. Got milk, eggs, bread, almond butter (kids with food allergies), candles and big heavy towels by the front door where it always leaks! What I didn’t anticipate was all the anxiety and stress the uncertainty of Hurricane Irene would cause my 6-year-old daughter. As the news media got feverish with the potential looming devastation of Hurricane Irene headed towards us on […]

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Who’s Got Your Back?

Going back into the city this morning after yesterday’s earthquake in New York, I asked myself a question: Although the tremors were quite brief, in times of sudden possible crisis and chaos, what helped me feel a little bit better? I thought about that question as I got on the bus today at 6:45am for my usual commute to the city. My mind began to wander but as I entered the building where I work, coffee and bagel in hand, […]

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Do we really need to Supersize kiddie Birthday parties?

Do we really need to spend a thousand dollars on renting a super slide for our backyard for a 6 year old’s birthday party? This summer, I’ve been to a lot of kids parties and older adult parties. It used to be that the older you got, the more money you have, the less time you have left on this planet and so you partied in style. Not these days. It feels like the most expensive and outlandish parties these […]

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