Archive for Month: January 2025

Optics: a soap bubble exhibiting interference colours

Imposers and Exposers

I’ve been thinking about windows and mirrors lately, an educational concept created by scholar and educator Emily Style. 

Windows allow readers to see into different lives and different ideas.  Mirrors reflect a person’s own culture, ethnicity, and philosophy.  As Sydney Harris, an American journalist and author, said:

“[M]ost people reflect the emotions of the time, while few open windows that bring light to dark places.”

Title: The Benefits of Travel | Credit: Tyler Hewitt | Source: Flickr | License: CC BY-NC 2.0

In Defense of DEI

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is more than just a moral imperative; it’s a powerful driver of social and economic progress. While some argue that focusing on DEI is unnecessary or even detrimental, a wealth of research demonstrates the benefits of fostering inclusive environments in organizations and society at large. One of the most significant benefits of real DEI is its positive impact on economic growth. Keep reading to find out why and how this works.

Credit: Martin Brechtl (@majc0) | License: CC0

When Loyalty is a Liability

Loyalty can morph from a valued quality to a blinding force that hinders intellectual growth and impedes progress.  As Mark Twain suggests, being “loyal” to opinions that are no longer relevant impedes progress and freedom. 

So what is the true power of loyalty?  Where does its real value lie? 

Credit: Gary Walker-Jones | License: CC0

Radiance

I’ve been thinking about what it takes to bring a little light to an increasingly dark world.  Fires, floods, fertility flops, and famines have become more frequent and more severe.  The world seems to be shifting to the right fueled by populist rage based on false information.  These rapidly changing trends are personal.  We have friends whose house burned to the ground in California.  They had just moved in two weeks ago and lost everything.  Read More

Title: paperbacks | Credit: Dean Hochman | Source: Flickr | License:

Entertainment or Expertise

Today, less than half of U.S. adults read even just one book per year.

Is Chris Hayes right that our attention has become the focus of corporate manipulation?

If all our conscious thoughts are replaced by the buzz of beeps, notifications, and texts, how can we be more than just “bystanders to our minds”?

Hopelessly Flawed

In a blinding glimpse of the obvious, I recently had a revelation during my morning meditation. It finally struck me, on an emotional level, that we are all hopelessly flawed.

The pressure to be perfect is immense. Constantly striving for an idealized self prevents us from connecting with others. Read more to find out how to harness the power of vulnerability to connect authentically and find the courage to be seen.