On the fateful night of April 19, 1989, a young woman known as the Central Park Jogger was raped, beaten, and left to die. After a 14-year silence, she finally revealed her identity as Trisha Meili. She has appeared at Larry King Live and other talk shows. She also tells her story in her book entitled ‘I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibilities’.
War is no laughing matter. In the midst of the “shock and awe” campaign, with images of historical explosions and destructions in front of us everyday, it is hard for me to write about humor and laughter. It feels sacrilegious to make fun of the Iraqi war, because war is always deadly serious.
What is the worth of saying “Thank you?” My answer is that it is priceless, when it is said in sincerity. The magic power of a simple expression of gratitude has almost limitless potentials.
The courageous voice of a true champion is contagious. It can turn despair to hope, and defeat to victory. For instance, the reassuring, roaring voice of Winston Churchill in the darkest days of England during World War II is widely credited as playing a major role in changing the fortunes of the war in Europe.
Despite tight security and threats of terror, the world became a gigantic party to ring in 2003. As the clock struck mid-night, the skies around the globe came alive with spectacular fireworks, and throngs of revellers burst into cheers. At that magic moment, euphoria and optimism filled the air – anything seemed possible and hope once again sprang from the depth of our souls.
Most people take oxygen for granted, until they have problem breathing. Similarly, we don’t realize the importance of hope, until it is shattered or taken away from us. Without the magic of hope, all life withers away.
What makes one life rich in poverty and another unfulfilling in abundance? Why do some organizations thrive in difficult times, while others languish in prosperity? One may also ask: What turns an average student into an outstanding success and a gifted student into a failure?
Now that the 2nd Biannual Meaning Conference is behind us, it is time to look ahead: What will be the direction for INPM in the next few years? Is there a blueprint for the future? I will use this Column to share with you some of the new developments and projects.
All psychotherapy is concerned with change. However, each school of therapy differs in terms of the kind of change it prescribes. Some focus on cognitive-behavioral modification; others emphasize changes in family dynamics; still others stress the importance of re-authoring one’s life story.
‘It is a festival, a celebration,’ exclaimed Teresa, Coordinator of Volunteers, at the end of the Meaning Conference. Indeed, the Conference was a festival of meaning, a celebration of life, very much as the late Dr. Joe Fabry and I had envisioned during my last visit to Joe at his Berkeley home.