There must be hundreds of millions of songs written. Music is a melody for the mind, hopefully a comfort or safe place for everyone. There are love songs, fun songs, sad songs, hate songs, dance songs, loud songs, soft songs, political songs, anthems, religious songs, lullabies, wedding songs, Christmas songs, drinking songs, marching songs, patriotic songs, heartbreak songs, protest songs, celebration songs, and more. Favorites - all of us have at least one favorite. Her

Race is ubiquitous in everywhere and everyone. Should race be relevant? For the most part, the answer is "no" but unfortunately, it IS relevant. I grew up in Peoria, Illinois, in a dominant white middle-class neighborhood. My Mother was racist, but my Father never made a comment. When I was in 7th grade a black family moved in across the street. They had two boys, one my age and the other a couple years younger. We played together, went to school together and laughed t

We all have heros. Maybe a mother, father, athlete, spirit, political leader, or anyone. With the recent 9/11 25th anniversary, there has been plenty of "heros" remembered for great tributes. But, "we" also can be heros. A" hero is someone who by the quality of their everyday life raises the level of character in everyone around them" (Glenn McDonald) - meaning, you and I can be heros. Now there's a challenge for each of us.

"Talk is cheap," certainly can be an accurate phrase. How often are we out with friends or colleagues, talking about a topic, and the conversation goes back and forth about each person's own experience? What's missing is an engaged dialogue by "listening" to someone and responding with a question, comment, compliment or empathy. That, is an engaged discussion. Next time you're out with people, "listen" to them and pursue engagement. If the person is one who only talks ab

There is another four-letter word that compliments "Wife" and that's "Love." The words are united, and I am fortunate to have both. My wife is not just the person I love the most, but she's my best friend. I mean it, she is my best friend. I still feel it when we are out, get separated, then when I see her, there's an indescribable feeling of love, relief, comfort, and thrill. It's the "butterfly" feeling. I know the feeling and I hope other spouses know that feeling. My

Kill is a strong word. Kill it. Kill them. Kill time. Kill me. The U.S. has started a war with Iran with the intention to kill people. Iran is defending their sovereignty by also killing people. Regardless of war, people kill people daily for a myriad or reasons. Kill is hate's end. The U.S., under the Trump Administration, is becoming a "hate" country, coincidently resulting in more killing (within and outside our borders). Why do we kill? Religion, land, hate, env

Pity - "self-pity" is the worst form of pity and a sign of insecurity. A pity-party should be a small, short party.

What is Pain? How does one feel Pain? Is Pain what MLK felt as the police baton struck the left side of his head in Montgomery, Alabama, while he lead a march for Civil Rights? Is Pain what Emmett Till felt in Mississippi as he was tortured and lynched for whistling at a white Carolyn Bryant in 1955. Is Pain what Emmett's Mother felt as she buried her son in Chicago? Is Pain what a 14 year-old boy felt when he didn't make the Pony Leagure baseball team? Is Pain what a 1

Fear = False Evidence Appearing Real - chase that around you mind and you'll feel better.

Vote - Cast a vote every year for yourself - you deserve it! And, should you vote if you don't believe in a candidate? Both political parties tell you to vote no matter what....you even get a sticker when you vote. If the politicians are saying "Vote", then maybe you shouldn't vote if you are not certain of your choice. It is "your" vote.....

Cash - the 4-letter word I use for money, and whoever said it - yes, the root of another 4-letter word: Evil. We are a society of consumption, abundance and gluttony. Recently, our government appears to promoting a caste society, with Mr. Trump behaving like an emperor, building ballrooms, adding gold finishes, figurines, statues around the White House. The gap between the elitists and less fortunate grows precipitously.

F### - the most abused 4-letter word. Once, a seldomly used word to add drama by adults, it is now commonly used by all ages for no apparent reason other than to add drama. That transition has degraded our society. I suggest a substitute to be used: "Cufk". It's a shuffle of the "f###" letters. It works. Try it: cufked, cufk it, cufk you, cufker, cufking. See, you feel better already!

The best aspect of "Pray" is you don't have to belong to a specific religion to pray. Maybe you can be an atheist and still pray? Regardless, the act of "Pray, Prayer, Praying" is a peaceful place. One might be desperate, or distraught or even distracted, but "Pray" has an element of hope, serenity, inspiration, closeness with our higher power, and self-effort. To change the world for the better, maybe we should start by "Praying" for ourselves - that we can be filled wit

In the business climate we would joke that "Hope" is not a strategy. Ironically, in our personal lives we use "Hope" as if something significant is dependent. I "Hope" we all know what we're "hoping" for is critical. Try this: https://johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/i-get-it-hope-feels-stupid-right?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Hate/Evil - as powerful as Love. A divider of people, sometimes falsely based or inherited. Ironically, it is used casually similar to “Love”. John Lennon's lyrics in the song "Imagine" are brilliant: "Imagine there's no heaven - It's easy if you try - No hell below us. - Above us only sky - Imagine all the people, living for today - Imagine there's no countries. - It's isn't hard to do. - Nothing to kill or die for - And no religion too - Imagine all the people, livi

Let's begin with unfortunately, the obvious, but most crude. Fuck - the most abused 4-letter word. Once, a seldomly used word to add drama by adults, it is now commonly used by all ages for no apparent reason other than to add drama. That transition has degraded our society. I suggest a substitute to be used: "Cufk". It's a shuffle of the "fuck" letters. It works. Try it: cufked, cufk it, cufk you, curker, cufking. See, you feel better already.