"We are surrounded by images pretending to be love" ~ Deepak Chopra (The Path to Love, 1997, p.24). Every day, in large part due to social media, we are bombarded by advertisements and images of sex, romance, and what we have learned to believe is "love." We are told what to buy, how to change our appearances, and ways to improve our social status in order to attract the "perfect" mate.  However, what we have learned is not real love or even intimacy, nor is it romance or sex. It is an illusion that breeds both fear and scarcity and a constant search for the next "fix". 

Remember the movie Titanic?  Such a beautiful, state of the art ship that seemed perfect; able to contain an enormous amount of life! It was filled with so many wonderful stories, new and lasting partnerships, and an incredibly bright future.

The Titanic seemed unsinkable and indestructible; it was as if nothing could stop it.  From the outside it looked like it had everything it needed to succeed, right? Unfortunately, it wasn't the design of the glorious Titanic that brought it to it's demise. The real threat to that amazing ship was underneath the waterline; that which was unseen.

It has often been said that the two most important words in the English Language are "I AM." In religious and spiritual contexts, these two words have been directly attributed to one's higher power; with "I Am" literally being God. 

I have been exploring the concept of happiness lately, specifically from the Buddhist perspective. My exploration has caused me to ponder: Is happiness fleeting? Meaning, does it come, go, pass through us, even pass us by at times? Or, can we connect with happiness at any time if we choose?

"Your parents did the best they could (and still are)."  For many, this statement is a difficult one to grasp. Especially if one's childhood was not ideal (for most people, this is the case).

Folks oftentimes argue that their parents "should have known better." Sure, we could all "know better" if we are given the healthy resources and tools. However, a lot of parents (especially the older generations) have used the skills they observed from their parents, or they did the best they could to parent on their own,  for instance, if their parent(s) were absent or abusive.