art work by Gerald Shepherd There are many important skills we have been taught through books, schooling, and/or workshops: communicating effectively, patience, integrity, and accountability, among many others; however there is one that stands out among all others, I believe - ”being present". Seems simple right? But many leaders and people really have little idea what it really means to be present. Sure, many of us have heard of being present, but do we practice being prese

For most of us, this year will be referenced for many generations as 2020. We joke about it already…”yea its 2020, what else is new” right? Well, here are the words that will have new meaning for us all…forever: (Covid-19, social distancing, contact tracing, mortality rates, air born, and herd immunity just to name a few.) These words may be familiar now, but ask any one of us back in Dec of 2019 and we would have said, who knows what? This virus has touched some people more

How many of those of you remember the 1950’s sci-fi movie: The Day the Earth Stood Still? If you recall a UFO lands in Washington, D.C., bearing a message for Earth's leaders, all of humanity stands still. As a young boy, it was just another movie about the world threatened by aliens. However, it had a deeper meaning, which seems to be playing out today, not in terms of aliens arriving from another world that is. But an alien virus (Covid-19) delivering a message to humanity

I felt compelled to reflect upon the Philly 8k I just completed last weekend. I recently was talking to some coworkers when they reminded me of the classic story of "The Tortoise and the Hare" which is one of Aesop's Fables. Yes, you remember the hare is very confident of winning, so it stops during the race and falls asleep. The tortoise continues to move very slowly but without stopping and finally it wins the race. The moral or lesson of the story is that you can be more s

Recently, I made a decision to make a change at work. This decision did not come easily nor suddenly. I lamented over this uneasy feeling in my stomach for months trying to figure out why I was so unhappy. This uneasiness became more pronounced over time until it came to me that I needed to take some action somehow in my life/work. After talking with my family and friends, they had also seen a change in my outward persona towards everything in my life the last 6 months. Well

Well here we are in the month of St. Valentine’s day, this time of year we think about the ways we show others in our life the love we have for them; but what about the love for ourselves? Well it turns out, Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, considered one of the most influential actors in cinematic history and was famous for his great sense of humor and slapstick comedy skills had much to say about self-love and the heart. Chaplin begins in self-reflection by saying… “A

It's that time of year again... Yes the mad rush to buy gifts for friends and family, decorating inside and outside your home/apartment, preparing for visitors, and meal preparations plus much, much, more is exhausting at times. Yes, Tis the season! A resent article in the Wall Street Journal caught my eye regarding Depression https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-can-you-help-someone-who-is-depressed-1543242613?mod=e2fb. As I read it, I began to reflect on how difficult a time

Well it’s that time a year again! This past weekend the 2018 Sullivan Classic Wheelchair Basketball Tournament Sponsored by Jefferson Health & Magee Hospital was held at the River Winds Community Center in West Deptford, NJ. This is my second year volunteering for the tournament and it never stops amazing me the power of the human spirit. The women and men that I interacted with are all there to compete; however there is much more than basketball in their eyes… As always, the

Every morning like many of us, I stop off at my local Dunkin Donuts soon to be called “Dunkin” on the way to work. As you know, starting the day without a little Java could be quite frightening especially when you need to drive 295 every day.This past morning, I happen to get out to pick up my coffee (yes, I use the mobile app) sitting on the counter. I come out and my son says to me “who is that?” I said, “What?” Son, “who is that guy you say hi to every morning?” I said, “W

Driving to work today, filled with the everyday thoughts of another day of work and life ahead of me…Also, feeling a little frustrated with the traffic and monumental question of what to do this weekend with my wife and family. I’m a little down right? Well, as I rush to work I notice the fuel gauge reading 1/8, just great right. You know the feeling… Wow, just what I wanted to do this morning. Just to stop and get gas to add to the start of my day was making me a little frus