https://www.happyherald.com/articles.sec-8491-1-teaching-from-the-heart.html One of my favorite movies is the “Truman Show¸” in which a man has unknowingly been born and raised on a massive TV set on which the entire world watches his life unfold.]]> Do you suffer from guilt? Do you impose guilt on others? Nearly every religion, family and belief system plays on guilt to keep its adherents in line. Yet there are ways to escape from the prison of guilt. Here are the top seven, along with practical applications to become free. ]]> While visiting Egypt, a member of our tour group named Gloria found an unusual stone at the base of a sacred pyramid. The pink, round stone glowed with a mystical light, and as she held it in her hand, she could feel a special energy about it.]]> An eccentric but likeable guy in my town has literally taken upon himself the admonition to bear the cross. Years ago John fashioned a small crucifix out of wood, and since then he walks regularly along the side of a highway carrying the cross. He used to bear the cross on one shoulder while waving and blowing kisses to the folks in passing cars.]]> February is Valentine’s month, when we celebrate great love. If you are searching for love, it may be closer than you think. Kabir said, “I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty.” The love of your life might be right where you stand.]]> Situations that bother us are not curses. They are arrows pointing us to places in our mind where we are holding illusions. When we can identify the illusion that is causing us pain, we are ready to discover the truth the illusion was covering. When we do, we are free.]]> “What can I do to maintain my inner peace and help others?” we ask. “How can I use this experience to improve the quality of my life after the lockdown has been lifted?” “Who am I, as I now recognize I am united with every other person on the planet in a common goal?” The answer is simple: Be the light amidst apparent darkness.]]> As I was walking into a local market, a homeless woman stopped me. I had seen her from afar, talking to herself, apparently mentally unbalanced. She asked if I would buy her some potato chips. “Sure,” I told her. “What kind would you like?” “Lay’s - spicy, please.]]> I met a fellow who had been diagnosed with a rare debilitating disease. For seven years Stan consulted with over 100 doctors, submitted to endless tests, ingested more than 100 pills daily, and tried a wide range of treatments, none of which helped. He kept losing weight until he was down to 120 pounds.]]> In the stirring documentary “The Impossible Flight,” we ride the roller coaster of challenges and triumphs that characterized Solar Impulse 2’s epic journey. While the inventors planned to make the trip in 12 legs at an airspeed of 45 miles per hour, the fragile craft was continually thwarted by rough weather and equipment malfunctions.]]> When composer George Gershwin was developing his career, he contacted his esteemed role model Maurice Ravel and asked if Ravel would take him on as a student.]]> Many years ago a young Kansas City artist struggled to get his cartoons published in city newspapers. His offerings, however, were met with rejection after rejection. “Forget it,” editors told him. “You have no talent. Get a real job.” But the artist felt that he did have talent and he refused to compromise his career.]]> Many years ago a young Kansas City artist struggled to get his cartoons published in city newspapers. His offerings, however, were met with rejection after rejection. “Forget it,” editors told him. “You have no talent. Get a real job.” But the artist felt that he did have talent and he refused to compromise his career.]]> For the many years I’ve been writing this column, I conclude each year with an inspirational message about the importance of the holidays. This year I would like to take a different approach. I would like to suggest that the holidays don’t really matter, and there is nothing you really need to do about them.]]> An eccentric but likeable guy in my town has literally taken upon himself the admonition to bear the cross. Years ago John fashioned a small crucifix out of wood, and since then he walks regularly along the side of a highway carrying the cross. He used to bear the cross on one shoulder while waving and blowing kisses to the folks in passing cars.]]> I was honored to meet Morton Lauridsen, a genius musician considered by many to be the world’s greatest living composer of choral music. He is widely respected for his stirring opus, “Lux Aeterna” (“Eternal Light”). Morton told me that one of his dear friends, a conductor who often conducts Lauridsen’s compositions, fell into a coma.]]> Many of us make New Year’s resolutions which, according to many surveys, don’t last very long. Many are gone by the end of January, and most are gone by July. Most resolutions have to do with losing weight, saving money, and taking self-improvement courses.]]> Fortunately, the credit card company absorbed those losses, but they are not unusual. Every day crooks steal the identities of thousands of people, and as a result banks and Internet businesses go to elaborate security measures to protect customers’ identities.]]> While in Japan I met an American woman who had been living in that country for twenty years. I asked her how long it had taken her to learn the Japanese language. “A couple of years,” she answered. “But I still don’t understand everything. Just the things that interest me.]]> While driving on a country road I passed the parked truck of a tree trimming service. High above the vehicle a workman stood in a cherry picker, sawing overhanging branches. Beside the truck, facing the road, stood a large sign, bold black letters against a bright orange background: SAFETY IS OUR GOAL.]]>