All That Matters

When life throws inevitable roadblocks and difficulties, it matters that we show up, for ourselves, and for others. Jan shares the gratitude in having a dad who did just that, and the opportunity we each have to make meaning out of reaching out.

Jan shares quotes and observations from poets, performers, and philosophers to start your week, reminding us of the power in realizing we are 'alive in a broken world', capable of creating our own path of positivity, day by day.

Many cultures have created circles of stone that we marvel at, wondering their purpose. Jan shares the story of a personal stone circle and the powerful mirror to our souls these stones can represent, reminding us of the permanence of memories and what matters most in our lives.

In chaos it is possible we are unsure if we can still shine. We can. Jan shares the words of a poet who asks the questions our hearts may be asking. More powerfully, suggests the possibility of creating new maps to future light.

Life is often governed by questions we put to ourselves: What's in it for me? What's the worst than could happen? Who's it going to hurt? Jan shares the personal story of a stranger who called him to his death bed to pass on a life lesson of positivity that the man had learned from a life of manipulation, hoping to help others before it was too late.

Each of us has experiences that shape the way we see ourselves and the role we want to play in life. Jan shares the story of a welding genius whose art has taught the world what freedom can look like when you fashion with your hands the visions of your heart.

This past year has shaken us and challenged our resolve. It is a time " to come into the peace of wild things..." to renew and tap our resilience. To that end, Jan shares a personal story of an incomparable survivor and friend, Hannah, who taught him the power of purposeful living.

Right now some of us may be feeling abandonment for family, community, friends who don't show up. End of year, it may be part of our unfinished business. Jan shares the story of a dear friend and her path back from a deep rejection, and the poem he wrote for her about finding our way back home.

In the darkest month of the year, amid the shadows of war and hate, is the exact moment for kindling candles. Jan shares a miracle of a story, and the power of illumination, especially for making human connection.

When the world is upside down and deeply challenging, as it is right now, we do well to revisit the voices of those who impacted us for the better, if only to strengthen our resolve. Jan shares a personal encounter with one of the world's great maestro's and how the words of that artist have shaped him for the better to this day.

The Yiddish language shares much wit and wisdom, including how, in some ways, we are all connected: reminding us, "Di gantse velt iz eyn shtot." ( The whole world is one town.)" Jan shares some insights of a language once spoken by close to 13 million Jews before the HOLOCAUST, sayings from which we can still learn.

It can feel as if we're at the end of all light at a moment such as we're facing in public discourse, war, and a rise in antisemitism. Jan shares the meaning of faith in such a time and the powerful search for hope needed to meet the moment.

Now is not the time to shrink but to EXPAND. Jan shares a story from one of the lowest points of his life, an experience he had on a lake in Scotland that opened him to ways to meet the challenge of sadness and hurt all around him, a feeling he compares to events many of us are experiencing in the world right now.

Being in the midst of war, struggle, and a constant bombardment of hate, one's inner core and wellness is at serious risk. We must seek balance. Jan shares a true story of the Dalai Lama and a powerful lesson on how to do that every day.

In moments of darkness we must be the light. Jan shares a powerful poem by Megan Falley about how, in the shadows of horror and conflict, something seemingly small and insignificant can be a giver of life. The same can be said for words we choose to use this day.

In light of world events, beginning with the evil attacks on Israel by Hamas, people of all backgrounds are shaken. Many feel very alone. The human touch in reaching out with the simple question, "Are you ok?" is essential for sanity and ought to be a hallmark of our own humanity..

In the midst of war, we are bombarded with hate and misinformation that seeks to twist the humanity away from us, leaving us feeling pronounced loneliness. We need to hear something else, if only to balance ourselves. Jan shares the words of a poet who reminds him of an essential component to being human.

There are moments in our lives when we must be able to call evil out. When moral clarity is required in order to forge a world worthy of our ancestors and our children. Calling out barbarism for what it is must be part of that. Jan shares thoughts of recent terrorist attacks in Israel and shares a personal story where hope was formed between him and a Palestinian baker in Jerusalem as they dreamt...

Jan shares the way his mother saw sunsets and brings the crimson gift he has long chased to your ears once again this week.

Sometimes getting to a YES in Life is finding the right question to ask. Jan shares rules he discovered from a pre-revolutionary war era tavern in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts.

Sometime it takes going "a wee ways beyond" the first impression of someone or some place, to truly find the truth and power right in front of us.

Every once and awhile we encounter an individual whose grace of heart and spirit gift us with remarkable insight. Jan shares the story of reaching out to the late Richard Carlson, author of the international bestselling series of books, "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff," and taught the transformative power Richard taught him in reaching back.

On September 11, 2001, like millions the world over, poet, journalist, and activist Kevin Powell stared in stunned horror at the events unfolding at the Twin Towers. That November he wrote a simple, profound poem that, on this anniversary of that day, Jan shares with you here, excavating hope from the mouth of madness.

The folding of origami cranes is said to bring the granting of a wish, for life, for recovery. Jan shares the story of a little girl named Sadako and a lesson of love and art to lift us all.

We often yearn for a world that once was. Meet a boy from Siberia who came to live in New York City's Lower East Side. With his music, he gave hope and connection to millions during a time of devastation, planting seeds of comfort, longing, and belonging. (*Recorded during the pandemic)