Today I decide to let the universe guide me with its eternal wisdom. Today I pray that I learn to let go -- even if it is just for a moment.

During May, ALS Awareness Month, let's pay special tribute to my sister Nell, all the others living with this disease, and those who have gone before them. Think of them the next time you take a step. Embrace your child. Speak softly to your loved one.

Well, my friends, that cancer circus began eight years ago today. And in my books that makes me an eight-year survivor. I feel an emotional connection with today. It's right up there with my birthday and the birthdays of my three kids.

In the context of mindful living, slowing down does not imply taking a vacation every other month. It is what we must do every day. It means taking the time to do whatever we're doing. It means single-tasking rather than switching between a multitude of tasks and focusing on none of them.

This was the reality of the situation. This was the truth of the here and now. I couldn't be with him out there on the dance floor, so I had to reframe the situation and enjoy the experience in a completely different way.

Authentic people commit themselves to excellence in everything they do. They are constantly pushing the envelope and raising their standards. And they have the wisdom to know the difference between excellence and perfection.

Success comes in all forms, whether it be how you did on a test, a work project, closing a sale, losing weight, quitting smoking or another addicti...

I have come to believe that to survive and ultimately thrive we have to choose the blessings life brings to us everyday. Each day is a different one; each day brings a miracle of its own. And ultimately, it is with that belief we build our staying power every day.

I didn't choose to cultivate equanimity. It chose me. My experience has taught me that nothing is permanent. Change is inevitable; sometimes it brings pleasure, sometimes pain. While you can't avoid pain, you can choose to suffer less.

Adversity can be both awful and wonderful. Soldiers regale each other with tales of heroism and courage in the face of adversity. Adversity shapes us slowly but steadily just as water carves out canyons and wears down mountains.

We are not passionate about things that are easy. We are not engaged wholly by the things we have all the answers to. We are driven by our passions in part because we haven't quite mastered them.

Gratitude reminds us to find our happiness in exceptional things, mundane things, the good things, the so-so things -- even the terrible things. Rather than focusing on what might be more, better, or different, why not start being grateful for what is in front of you right now?

Healing and growth are possible. We can reeducate our egos and heal our souls. We can come together with humility and cooperation. But first we need to be willing to see that these changes are necessary. And we need to bring this consciousness into the political arena, or we all lose.

When you allow the self-regulating function of the mind to do its job, you uncover enduring and impactful answers -- and, at the same time, demonstrate to others the might of looking within.

Climbing a mountain physically is not that much different than climbing emotional mountains or overcoming obstacles in our life that come in all shapes and sizes. If we are listening to someone else's music, how can we hear the beat of our own heart, our own drum, our own feet carrying us forward?